Planned Parenthood Faces Backlash for Fast-Tracking Gender Transitions

Planned Parenthood is known for unapologetically profiting from abortion, contraception, and “comprehensive” sex education. However, in recent years, the abortion giant has been quietly expanding its business model. In fact, Planned Parenthood is now the leading provider of cross-sex hormones for gender transition in the U.S. Of 600 clinics nationwide, nearly 450 locations offer transition “medication.” Last year alone, it “treated” 40,000 patients, 40% of which were 18- to 22-year-olds.  

Some Planned Parenthood offices offer hormones to those younger than 18. Minors must be at least 16 and have parental consent, except in states like California, whose laws allow minors to receive “sensitive care” without parental permission. According to insurance data collected by the Manhattan Institute, about 12,000 minors aged 12 to 17 were seen at Planned Parenthood affiliates between 2017 and 2023.  

In fact, according to many of the most prominent de-transitioners, whose nightmarish stories are just starting to be heard, a Planned Parenthood clinic was the first stop after social media in their journey of “gender transition.” For example, Helena Kirschner visited Planned Parenthood as soon as she turned 18 and received testosterone at her first visit without so much as blood work or a mental health referral. Planned Parenthood’s own advertising promises patients a hormone prescription on the same day as their initial consultation, and “no letter from a mental health provider is required.” 

In recent years, more and more de-transitioners, young women in particular, are publicly sharing how “gender-affirming care” left them with mutilated bodies, infertility, and deep regret. Promises of health and wholeness never materialized. Unsurprisingly, a number of these victims are suing doctors and clinics for injury.  

Earlier this month, Cristina Hineman announced her lawsuit against Planned Parenthood for medical malpractice. Like Kirschner, Hineman was fast-tracked into “treatment,” prescribed testosterone on her very first visit in less than 30 minutes. Within a year, Hineman underwent a double mastectomy after a single consult with a plastic surgeon. According to Hineman, the procedure cost her life’s savings. 

Like many other female teens who have fallen prey to gender ideology, Hineman struggled with various mental health problems like depression and anxiety. She also has autism, another common trait for young women who pursue gender transition. Despite knowing all this, therapists, nurses, doctors, and surgeons “happily” encouraged and facilitated her transition.  

Hineman is the second person to sue Planned Parenthood. Another plaintiff remains anonymous but is suing the abortion giant for neglecting to discuss the painful side effects of testosterone, such as vocal pain, joint pain, and sexual dysfunction. Other potential side-effects of these drugs include increased risk of cardiovascular disease, poor bone health, and changes in mood and cognition. In some cases, sexual organs can begin to atrophy as early as three to six months.  

It is odd that an organization named “planned parenthood” does so much that has nothing to do with pregnancy. In reality, abortion and trans ideology are about sexual autonomy. This is why Planned Parenthood tells teens they can put puberty on hold: “You should be the one to decide what change you want to make to your body.” 

It’s tragic that it takes the stories of young women like Hineman to turn the tide. The U.S., an outlier amongst many Western countries that halted “gender-affirming care” for minors, recently saw the first fracture in medical “consensus.” Earlier this month, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons became the first major medical association to acknowledge “considerable uncertainty” and “low quality” evidence regarding the use of surgical transition interventions to treat gender dysphoria.  

There is still a long way to go to protect young people, and the only way forward is through powerful organizations such as Planned Parenthood. Pray that between these lawsuits and a splintering medical consensus, the irreversible harms wrought by “gender-affirming care” will come to an end. 

Photo Courtesy:©Getty Images/Michael Thomas/Stringer

Published Date: October 21, 2024

John Stonestreet is President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and radio host of BreakPoint, a daily national radio program providing thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview.

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of CrosswalkHeadlines.

BreakPoint is a program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. BreakPoint commentaries offer incisive content people can't find anywhere else; content that cuts through the fog of relativism and the news cycle with truth and compassion. Founded by Chuck Colson (1931 – 2012) in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends. Today, you can get it in written and a variety of audio formats: on the web, the radio, or your favorite podcast app on the go.