The Patriot Post® · No Scientific Evidence for 'Gender Identity'

Leftists love to insist their rationale for their social and political opinions primarily rests upon “science.” Indeed, “follow the science” has become an overused trope thrown at any who dare question the Left’s radical claims, whether it be climate change, COVID, or the biggest social contagion of our day, “transgenderism.”

From a scientific — or, more specifically, a biological — perspective, what exactly is a “transgender”? Well, an international group of clinicians and researchers recently sought to address this “gender identity” issue from a purely biological perspective, and they published an article about it.

The international group of scientists, known as the Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), effectively threw a bucket of cold water on the “transgender” lobby by noting that there is no biological evidence to support the claims of gender nonconformity. The article states: “The assumption of the core biological underpinning for ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender dysphoria’ remains an unproven theory: while biology likely plays a role in gender nonconformity, currently, there is no brain, blood, or other objective test that distinguishes a trans-identified from a non-trans identified person once confounding factors such as sexual orientation are controlled for.”

In other words, there is no scientific evidence that backs up the claims of the “transgender” activists who assert that individuals can be born into the wrong bodies. This reality should come as little surprise to most sober-minded folks, as feelings don’t make facts. However, with more and more academics and intellectuals capitulating and pushing the insanity of “transgenderism” into the wider culture — and, more specifically, onto children — the need to confront the activists’ promulgation of scientific misinformation is becoming critical.

So, why did SEGM wait until now to publish this badly needed piece of rationalism? The impetus likely was a prominent gender doctor publishing a “pro-affirmation” paper that was filled with several scientific myths. Furthermore, with an increasing number of medical professionals green-lighting medical transitions for children, the lack of modern studies expounding sound science begged for correction.

The SEGM member who wrote the article, J. Cohn, highlighted five myths promoted by the pro-transgender movement. These myths include the claim that “gender identity” is a biological trait. Cohn observes, “A biologically ‘ingrained’ gender identity would appear to be in direct conflict with observations where gender dysphoria has resolved, either spontaneously, or with help of psychotherapy, at a variety of ages.” He notes research showing that upwards of 90% of children who express some form of gender dysphoria ultimately grow out of it, accepting and embracing their biological sex as they become adults.

Cohn debunks several brain studies often touted by the media as scientific evidence for “gender identity.” He notes, “Brain studies that purport to distinguish objective differences in brains of trans-identified individuals are highly flawed: the differences disappear once confounding factors such as sexual orientation (or exposure to exogenous hormones) are controlled for.” Furthermore, “Other studies rely on extremely small sample sizes, find nothing conclusive, or detect no signal.”

In other words, scientists have not found a “transgender brain,” and, if anything, the brain differences mirror the differences observed in homosexuals. “When we scan the brains of the heterosexual type,” says Ph.D. student of neuroimmunology Samuel Stagg, “we find they are more typical for their natal sex. This is because sexual orientation correlates with a brain that is sexatypical.”

The notion that everyone has a “gender identity” that is unearthed based not upon their biological sex but upon some sex-based stereotypes of preference and behavior lacks any scientific support. Dr. Quentin Van Meter, a pediatric endocrinologist, says that there is “zero point zero zero” scientific evidence for “gender fluidity” and “gender identity.”

Indeed, the whole “trans rights” lobby is grounded upon the false scientific claim of the existence of “gender identity.” It is a scientific myth that, as Manhattan Institute fellow Leor Sapir insightfully noted back in 2015, has everything to do with creating a political movement in order to claim special social privileges. “It’s not obvious why there would have to be an argument for ‘brain sex’ in order to give people the rights to identify as they please,” Sapir pointed out. “But in the American civil rights tradition, if you can convince a judge that being transgender is like being black, then you can tap into this entire body of judicial precedent and civil rights laws that immediately applies and gives you all the policies you want.”

In the end, it’s all about gaining political power and influence. Scientifically speaking, there is no such thing as a “transgendered” individual. Feelings don’t make facts, and fantasies don’t create reality.