by Renee McGuinness
Walt Heyer, de-transitioner and international speaker on the risks and complications of so-called ‘gender-affirming care’, presented truth with love at Vergennes Union High School that pierced through rhetoric from individuals, organizations, and media that hosting such an event at a public school is hateful and dangerous.
Pro-trans activist leaders and ideologists portray themselves to be open and accepting of diverse people and opinions, simultaneously disregarding Walt’s own lived experience, while members of ANWSD administration and school board have determined themselves to be the arbiter of the entire community’s values.
Heyer presented several key points: 1) terminology was changed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) from ‘gender identity disorder’ to ‘gender dysphoria’ in 2013, making hormones and surgeries accessible without requiring therapists to determine the necessity of medical and surgical treatments through an identifiable diagnosis; 2) Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can cause trauma that affects identity during brain development, which requires a focus on mental health, and that parents are best equipped to work with therapists to identify and treat causes of trauma in their own children; 3) an extensive list of side effects and complications from hormone blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries; and 4) Sweden – a pioneer of ‘gender-affirming care’ – has medical records on everyone in that country, and found that the suicide rate is nineteen times higher ten years after transitioning.
Much of the information Heyer presented can be found through links on his website, sexchangeregret.
The most encouraging part of the evening was seeing three individuals from the concurring Pride Joy protest among the 105 in attendance, taking in Walt’s presentation. I could not perceive their reactions but was grateful for their presence, as were other attendees. Most likely they heard facts about so-called gender-affirming care that they had never heard before – facts that were delivered with much care and concern. Hopefully, they will disperse the truth to others who were unnecessarily afraid to attend.
The author, a Monkton resident, is affiliated with Vermont Family Alliance.