FAIR News: Open Letter to the American Psychiatric Association
FAIR News: Open Letter to the American Psychiatric Association
Newsletter
Dear Friends of FAIR,
On November 8, 2023, Gender-Affirming Psychiatric Care was released by the American Psychiatric Association’s official publishing house. This “textbook” wrongly dismisses widely-accepted, less invasive psychotherapeutic treatments as “conversion therapy.” Instead, it proposes that patients struggling with gender-related distress be taken at their word that “gender” is the source of the problems. It encourages providers and parents to rush to treatments that may lead to irreversible sterility, anorgasmia, surgical complications, and life-long dependence on exogenous hormones and medical interventions.
It is imperative that parents, the public, mental health providers, schools, teachers, lawmakers—anyone involved in the life of a child—are made aware of just how radical and far from science the APA has become. Raising awareness of the harm caused by politicization of healthcare is one of FAIR in Medicine’s goals. Through this initiative, we will continue to support viewpoint diversity, the highest standards of training, research, and practice necessary for patients and physicians to flourish.
We wrote an open letter to the APA. Here, anyone can review our letter, access over 30 up-to-date resources, and sign to support our ongoing efforts. Our goal is to raise awareness for all patients, especially our most vulnerable patients, distressed children and teens and their families. Additionally we have called on the APA to explain why it glaringly ignored many scientific developments in gender-related care and to consider its responsibility to promote and protect patients’ safety as well as mental and physical health.
Warmly,
Carrie D. Mendoza, MD
Director, FAIR in Medicine
Emergency Medicine Physician
Lauren Schwartz, MD
Board Certified Psychiatrist
Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association
Fellow, FAIR in Medicine
Aida Cerundolo, MD
Emergency Medicine Physician
Fellow, FAIR in Medicine
FAIR is proud to announce our newest addition to our advisory board: Michael Shellenberger! Shellenberger is an American author whose work is mostly centered around the intersection of climate change, policy, and politics. He authored Break Through: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility, Apocalypse Never: How the Left’s New Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All, and San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities. Shellenberger also has a political history, running as a Democratic candidate for Governor of California in 2018 and again as a “No Party Preference” candidate in 2022. Shellenberger and colleagues released An Ecomodernist Manifesto, which discussed possibilities for economic prosperity while simultaneously protecting the environment.
Shellenberger is a graduate of the Peace and Global Studies program at Earlham College. He also received an MA in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Welcome, Michael!
Standing Up to Racial Discrimination and Ideological Orthodoxy on Campus
Join FAIR Legal on Tuesday January 16th at 6pm EST for this next installment of our Legal Case Updates webinar series, where we bring you updates on the legal cases that FAIR is supporting! For this upcoming webinar, we are excited to be joined by Dr. Zack De Piero, former professor at Penn State University, and his counsel, FAIR network attorney Michael Allen.
How to Star-Man: Using Compassion to Cure our Divided Discourse
Join FAIR Board member Angel Eduardo and the Institute for Liberal Values on Tuesday, January 16th from 7-8pm EST for its January Liberal Values Laboratory. Start the New Year off with the tools and tactics to help you have more meaningful and productive disagreements.
Countering California’s Gender Ideology Laws
Join FAIR in Medicine Thursday, January 25th at 8pm EST for a conversation with Erin Friday, Attorney, California mother, Co-Lead of Our Duty-USA, an advocacy group raising awareness of the harms of the gender industry, and executive committee member for Protect Kids California. California plays an important role in setting legislative agendas across our country and has been at the forefront of passing legislation that places adult decisions in minor’s hands. As the Western Region Lead of Our Duty, Erin is challenging regressive policies in a progressive state. Join us to learn about Erin’s inspiring work to safeguard children in California.
FAIR in the Arts Virtual Community Meetup
Join FAIR in the Arts Wednesday, January 31st @ 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET for a virtual Community Meetup to ring in the new year! Featuring FAIR Executive Director Monica Harris and moderated by FAIR in the Arts Director Brent Morden, we will speak with Monica about her career in entertainment, how she sees the arts playing a pivotal role in FAIR's mission, and FAIR in the Arts' goals for 2024. Come to connect with like-minded artists and participate in a community discussion around the future of the arts & culture.
Watch FAIR in Medicine’s most recent webinar featuring special guest moderator Leslie Elliott, with Sasha Ayad, Lisa Marchiano, and Stella O’Malley for a discussion of their new book When Kids Say They’re Trans: A Guide for Thoughtful Parents. Hear about their experiences as professionals working in the field and their specific advice for parents with gender-questioning children who do not believe that hasty medical intervention is the best path forward.
Antisemitism on Campus: Balancing Student Safety and Civil Liberties
Watch FAIR’s webinar featuring panelists Nadine Strossen, Jeffrey Lax, and Sahar Tartak. Moderated by FAIR Advisor Jonathan Kay.
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FAIR Educators Alliance & Other Networks
Connect with other pro-human educators through the FAIR Educators Alliance. We bring together educators from all levels to share experiences and work on developing resources that can support teachers, community members, and FAIR chapters.
Teachers, administrators, librarians, and educators of all kinds are welcome. For more information and to join any of these networks, please email educators@fairforall.org.
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Oh, no. I hope this letter reaches medical professionals who are not affected by this outcome, such as an activist, a person who has transitioned, a doctor who doesn't make money off these procedures, etc. I can't believe how far the AMA has strayed from its purpose. I also wonder if they know this seems to be pushing gay and lesbian people to disown themselves as they are. The message seems to be that if you happen to be gay/lesbian, something is wrong with you that should be "fixed." Horrible.
Also, congratulations on adding Michael Shellenberger to your team. He will be nothing but an asset, I'm sure.
Sterilizing kids is wrong. Very wrong. Just stop.