Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has voiced strong opposition to the use of puberty blockers in minors, sharing a personal account that has deeply influenced his stance.
Speaking with Canadian psychologist Dr Jordan Peterson, Musk recounted how he felt deceived into consenting for his child, Xavier, now known as Vivian Jenna Wilson, to begin puberty blockers. He attributed his child's transition to what he termed the "woke mind virus," a concept he has since vowed to eradicate.
Musk's comments came during an interview where Peterson questioned him about the ethics of doctors performing sex change procedures on children. Both Musk and Peterson condemned these practices as "evil." Musk's personal involvement began during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by widespread confusion and heightened stress. He recalled being pressured into signing consent forms under the pretext that failing to do so might lead to Xavier's suicide. Musk described this claim as a lie and expressed his outrage at those who promote such treatments.
"Incredibly evil, and I agree with you that the people that have been promoting this should go to prison," Musk stated. He elaborated that he was not fully informed about the nature of puberty blockers, which he referred to as "sterilisation drugs." He criticised the term "gender affirming care" as a misleading euphemism, stating, "I lost my son, essentially. They call it deadnaming for a reason. The reason it's called deadnaming is because your son is dead. My son Xavier is dead, killed by the woke mind virus."
The controversy around puberty blockers is not limited to Musk's personal experience. A preprint study from the Mayo Clinic earlier this year highlighted potential long-term fertility issues in boys who undergo such treatments, challenging the notion that these effects are reversible, according to Fox News.
In the interview, Peterson pointed out that the higher suicide rates often cited in support of these treatments are more accurately attributed to underlying depression and anxiety rather than gender dysphoria itself. He criticised the medical community for its role in promoting these treatments without sufficient evidence of their benefits.
Vivian Jenna Wilson came out as transgender in June 2022, legally changing her name and severing ties with her father. "I no longer want to be related to my biological father in any way, shape, or form," Wilson stated.
Adding another dimension to the debate, author JK Rowling has also voiced her scepticism about early medical interventions for gender dysphoria. Rowling recently tweeted, "The vast majority of children grow out of gender dysphoria if allowed to go through puberty. The single best cure is letting nature take its course."
Musk supported Rowling's view, stating, "Almost every child goes through some kind of identity crisis during puberty. It is deeply wrong to make them permanently infertile with 'puberty blockers'. If they still wish to transition as adults, provided they are fully informed of the risks, they can then make decisions as consenting adults."
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