Social conservatives welcomed the [Cass] report. But it has also been heralded in some liberal quarters in Britain, where even the Labour Party has supported its conclusions, and around the world as a model of open-minded rationalism, of well-intentioned — progressive, even — unbiased scientific inquiry attempting to provide information in young people’s best interests. This, they declare, is what following the science and the evidence looks like.
But is it? In an effort to evaluate the Cass report’s findings and recommendations, I spent the months since it was released poring over the document, researching the history of transgender medicine and interviewing experts in gender-affirming care as well as epidemiologists and research scientists about the role of scientific evidence in determining care standards. What I have come to realize is that this report, for all its claims of impartiality, is fundamentally a subjective, political document.
I’ve noticed it’s the same with bs gurus and cults. (Not to say that all gurus and religions are bs.)
They, without exception, start by making sensible statements. Perhaps some truisms but also some epiphany material. Then once you’re set up you get the nonsense.
Take scientology for example, or homeopathy. In both cases they’ll listen to your problems and provide a basic form of psychotherapy. In homeopathy the so called doctor will listen to you for an hour. That in itself is effective and unfortunately doesn’t typically happen in the standard healthcare system. And with scientology they’ll listen to all the bad things you’ve done, not unlike a catholic confession. I’m sure that must be a relief and help your mental health. But we all know what comes next.