Im a Finn living in Stockholm, studying medicine here at Karolinska. Finlands ’turn away from medical transition of young patients’ is mostly due to our national system where we have one (1) clinic in the country for minors, and the chief psychiatrist there is the SEGM-adjacent R. Kaltiala (I have no proof of her actual membership but she collaborates with them openly).
It’s like having the only gyn clinic for minors in your country being lead by a pro-life, abstinence-only, kook.
As for adults, Finland went for self-ID legal sex process. Patients do complain very bitterly about the other clinic that’s in Helsinki, though. Apparently, not conforming to a 1950s gender role makes it likely you’ll spend another 12 months in the evaluation, or getting sent back to the queue. But I haven’t been able to corroborate this from a source that isn’t a disgruntled patient.
The Swedish reforms were stalled half-way through with the sudden political success of the extreme far right Sweden Democrats (who had to clean house of actual neo-nazis, successfully claims the party) who were able to leverage culture war issues. And, yes, the attention and blowing things out of proportion did have a chilling effect on actual medical transitions of young patients. The clinics can be said to be very understaffed, there just aren’t very many people interested in working there. (Single payer care, no private alternative exists … so physicians and psychologists apply for jobs they want, rather than where private patients would pay well)
The whole "Europe's turn toward caution" narrative is also false, except for the UK, Hungary, and maybe Sweden. Many countries have actually published reviews in favor of gender transition for trans youth and have passed trans-friendly policies in general—countries like Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, and I could go on and on.
Also, the example of Sweden is somewhat misleading. Even though they implemented more conservative policies due to their government, they did not ban transition for trans youth, and they are still far more trans-friendly than the USA.
I knew this was coming. And I knew it would contain lots of blatant falsehoods. Which wouldn't be so bad if critical thinking weren't a lost art.
Thorough and insightful reporting from Ari Drennen.
When we live in our own truth, we can tell our own stories. Doing so takes power back from liars hiding in the shadows.
Maybe they would have a better understanding if oh idk they talked to TRANSGENDER PEOPLE instead of excluding them! This is so freaking infuriating!
Im a Finn living in Stockholm, studying medicine here at Karolinska. Finlands ’turn away from medical transition of young patients’ is mostly due to our national system where we have one (1) clinic in the country for minors, and the chief psychiatrist there is the SEGM-adjacent R. Kaltiala (I have no proof of her actual membership but she collaborates with them openly).
It’s like having the only gyn clinic for minors in your country being lead by a pro-life, abstinence-only, kook.
As for adults, Finland went for self-ID legal sex process. Patients do complain very bitterly about the other clinic that’s in Helsinki, though. Apparently, not conforming to a 1950s gender role makes it likely you’ll spend another 12 months in the evaluation, or getting sent back to the queue. But I haven’t been able to corroborate this from a source that isn’t a disgruntled patient.
The Swedish reforms were stalled half-way through with the sudden political success of the extreme far right Sweden Democrats (who had to clean house of actual neo-nazis, successfully claims the party) who were able to leverage culture war issues. And, yes, the attention and blowing things out of proportion did have a chilling effect on actual medical transitions of young patients. The clinics can be said to be very understaffed, there just aren’t very many people interested in working there. (Single payer care, no private alternative exists … so physicians and psychologists apply for jobs they want, rather than where private patients would pay well)
The whole "Europe's turn toward caution" narrative is also false, except for the UK, Hungary, and maybe Sweden. Many countries have actually published reviews in favor of gender transition for trans youth and have passed trans-friendly policies in general—countries like Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, and I could go on and on.
Also, the example of Sweden is somewhat misleading. Even though they implemented more conservative policies due to their government, they did not ban transition for trans youth, and they are still far more trans-friendly than the USA.