Children are not allowed to vote, drink, smoke, drive, consent to sex with adults, be drafted into the military, or engage in other activities that are legal for adults. These laws and regulations exist because we recognize that children’s minds are still developing and require protection and guidance. Therefore, should we not agree that children should also be unable to consent to sex-transition operations? 

It is often said that adults should have the freedom to make their own choices, even if I may personally disagree with someone making irreversible changes to their body based on the belief that they are in the wrong one. However, children should not be pressured to make similar decisions. 

This is not an argument to ban sex-transition operations entirely; rather, it calls for the bare minimum: children should not be allowed to make irreversible choices based on transient feelings and emotions. It is important to note that sex-transition operations have not conclusively produced positive outcomes for all individuals with gender dysphoria and, in some cases, have led to later harm or regret. 

One might argue, “Well, they chose it,” but therein lies the issue: how can children truly know what is best for them? Children and teenagers often experience periods of instability and experimentation regarding their gender identity. It has been common for girls and boys to express themselves in ways that may not align with societal expectations. In the past, we referred to girls who played sports or behaved in a traditionally masculine way as “tomboys,” and we were accepting of it. 

Let us not guide children towards making choices that could potentially harm them mentally, physically, and emotionally.