Ashley Blydenburgh

As a parent of two children, one of each gender, I want to share my perspective. My daughter, who has an intellectual disability, has never questioned or shown any interest in changing her gender or misgendering her loved ones. From my experience, puberty can naturally bring discomfort, especially for girls, but I believe our focus should be on teaching children to love their bodies and embrace the differences that make each of them unique. I believe that decisions about gender transition should generally wait until the brain has finished developing—around the mid-20s—so that individuals can make fully informed, mature choices. At a minimum, we owe children the ability to wait until 18. Discomfort with puberty is usually temporary, and if gender dysphoria persists into adulthood, they can make that decision with greater self-awareness and maturity. It’s also important to recognize the experiences of those who have detransitioned. Their voices matter just as much as those who have transitioned and use their success as evidence for early interventions. Both perspectives deserve consideration when shaping policy and guidance for children. Speaking from my own life, at 36, nearly 37, I can say with confidence that the choices I made in my early 20s—about my career, education, and life direction—were made with far less knowledge and maturity than I have now. Children benefit from guidance, support, and the freedom to grow into themselves before making irreversible decisions.