I didn't say adolescents don't ever know their gender identity. I'm saying that adolescence is a time of experimentation and finding onesself and the mental health struggles that come with that.

I, too, knew that I was different at age 4 and did not get the care I deserved for being trans OR autistic.

But that's not always the case, and I didn't mind going to a few extra therapy sessions to be sure that everyone else does, too. The focus on gender while absolutely ignoring comorbidities is not only dangerous, but narcissistic.

Nobody is *ever* allowed to question a person about their gender identity and that type of termination of discussion is dangerous in many other areas as well as this one.

I'll say it again and hope you'll respond with less condescension: the left is just as 'take it or leave it' as the right and it's why we've become the political pinata you mentioned.

I mean, is nobody going to point out that anti-trans sentiment began around the time screaming kids on Tumblr (and now Tik Tok) began thinking that mental illness and being trans were both sexy, and demanding informed consent access to transition?

Also, Drag Queen Story Hour. Why? Why do gay men need access to children?

Because this fact isn't lost on me as someone who transitioned in 2005.

The pendulum has swung much too far the other way.

I get that the point of your article is that people making these arguments aren't qualified to do so, but I am. So maybe instead of dismissing all of us, people could spend a minute to actually consider what we're saying without being completely dismissive and calling us transphobes.

As to regret rates, I explained that already. You skipped over it entirely.