Do people deserve the right to control what happens to their own bodies? As Americans, we say we value independence and believe everyone has unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Shouldn't those rights include making decisions about their own bodies?
Gender-Affirming Care for Cisgender People
Cisgender people are those whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, when a baby is born, a doctor typically announces, “It’s a girl!” or “It’s a boy!” based on the baby’s physical anatomy. If that child grows up and identifies with the gender they were assigned, they might say, “Yep, the doctor got it right!”
Many cisgender people receive gender-affirming care without encountering the barriers faced by other populations.
Examples include hormone replacement therapy, breast implants or reductions, hair removal or restoration, erectile dysfunction medications, and reconstructive surgeries.
Gender-affirming care helps people feel comfortable with their bodies and gender expression. It isn't exclusive to transgender people.
Bodily Autonomy for Intersex People
Intersex people are born with variations in chromosomes, hormones, or reproductive anatomy that don’t fit typical definitions of male or female. Estimates suggest that up to 2% of the population have intersex traits. Sometimes these variations go unnoticed, and individuals may never know they are intersex.
When intersex traits are discovered at birth, some children undergo unnecessary surgeries (often hidden from the intersex person) to make their bodies appear more typically male or female, often before they can consent. These procedures may not align with the person's eventual gender identity and can cause lifelong complications, including chronic pain, reduced sexual function, and additional surgeries.
Intersex advocates are fighting for the right to delay nonessential procedures until individuals are old enough to make informed decisions about their own bodies.
Learn more at interact.org.
Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender People
Transgender people identify with a gender different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
While intersex individuals often undergo unwanted procedures, transgender individuals often encounter barriers to accessing the care they actively seek.
Research demonstrates why access matters. A study published in JAMA Network Open found that transgender youth receiving puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones had 60% lower odds of moderate-to-severe depression and 73% lower odds of suicidality or self-harm over 12 months.
The Trevor Project also reported that state-level anti-transgender laws were associated with increases in suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth.
These findings highlight the importance of supportive environments, individualized healthcare, and access to appropriate treatment.
Learn more at transequality.org/trans-101.
Becoming an Ally
Bodily autonomy means respecting people's ability to make informed decisions about their own healthcare and identities. Whether someone is cisgender, intersex, or transgender, dignity, compassion, and personal choice matter.
Want to learn how to better support transgender youth?
PFLAG Ithaca/Cortland and the Cortland LGBTQ+ Center invite you to join award-winning author Nico Lang (they/them) for a conversation about supporting trans kids during a turbulent era.
Sunday, November 15
1-3 p.m. - Grace and Holy Spirit Church
6-8 p.m. - Cortland LGBTQ+ Center
Monday, November 16
9 a.m.-4 p.m. - Bru 64
7-9 p.m. - Dryden Center for Community