Doctors Protecting Children: anti-transgender declaration

Doctors Protecting Children is a declaration published on June 6, 2024 by anti-trans hate group American College of Pediatricians.

It is primarily written to discredit and oppose The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and to attack the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Endocrine Society, the Pediatric Endocrine Society, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for supporting WPATH.

Prominent anti-trans activists whose names appear on the list include Erin Brewer, Vernadette R. Broyles, Michelle Cretella, Chris Elston, Stanley Goldfarb, Miriam Grossman, Eithan Haim, Laura Haygood, Patrick Hunter, Tiffany Justice, Michael K. Laidlaw, Jennifer Lahl, Carrie Mendoza, Stella O’Malley, Sven Román, Christopher Rosik, Jillian Spencer, Quentin Van Meter, André Van Mol, and Joseph Zanga.

Summary

Signatories assert four statements, including:

• “Sex is a dimorphic, innate trait defined in relation to an organism’s biological role in reproduction.”
• “Gender ideology, the view that sex (male and female) is inadequate and that humans need to be further categorized based on an individual’s thoughts and feelings described as ‘gender identity’ or ‘gender expression’, does not accommodate the reality of these innate sex differences.”
• “Medical decision making should not be based upon an individual’s thoughts and feelings.”

They then argue that “desistance” is common, minors giving informed consent is questionable, and WPATH’s practices are exposed as fraudulent in The WPATH Files. Citing the anti-trans Cass Review, they note other countries have recently restricted care. They believe transition has serious long-term risks and little evidence of benefit, so they recommend therapy for young people instead of medical transition. They claim US medical groups have lagged behind groups in other countries that support their anti-trans views.

It concludes by demanding practitioners “immediately stop the promotion of social affirmation, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries for children and adolescents who experience distress over their biological sex.  Instead, these organizations should recommend comprehensive evaluations and therapies aimed at identifying and addressing underlying psychological co-morbidities and neurodiversity that often predispose to and accompany gender dysphoria.”

Signatories

note: Names on this list have not been independently confirmed as actual signatories. Some names are misspelled, suggesting they were added by someone else. Reordered alphabetically by surname in each category.

Medical and Health Policy Organizations

• Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM)
• American Academy of Medical Ethics
• American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)
• American College of Family Medicine (ACFM)
• American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds)
• Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS)
• Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance (CHCLA)
• Catholic Medical Association (CMA)
• Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA)
• Coalition of Jewish Values
• Colorado Principled Physicians
• Genspect
• Honey Lake Clinic
• International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC)
• National Association of Catholic Nurses, USA
• National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC)
• North Carolina Physicians for Freedom (NCPFF)
• South Carolina Physicians for Freedom (SCPFF)

Doctors and Health Leaders

• Steven Albrechta, MD: Ohio State University Sports Medicine
• Jane E. Anderson, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians; UCSF (retired)
• Michael Artigues, MD, FCP: President, American College of Pediatricians

• Errol Baptist, MD: Rockford Guild, Catholic Medical Association
• Jeff Barrows, MD: Christian Medical & Dental Associations
• Thomas Benton, MD, MPH, FCP: American College of Pediatricians (co-founder)
• Karl Benzio, MD: Honey Lake Clinic; American Association of Medical Ethics; American Association of Christian Counselors; Christian Medical & Dental Associations; Focus on the Family
• Jonathan Berry, MD: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Jessica Bishop-Funk, DDS: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Darren Bodkin, MD: Neonatologist
• David Bohle, MD: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Michael R. Bouchard, MD, PhD: Clinical Sexologist
• Lisa Brandes, MD: American College of Family Medicine
• Carl Brophy, MD: Central Florida College of Medicine
• Louis Brown, Jr., JD: Christ Medicus Foundation; Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance
• Oscar Brown, MD: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
• Greg Burke, MD: Catholic Medical Association
• Michael Byrne, MD: Hospice of Southern Kentucky Sr.
• Deirdre Byrne, MD: Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts

• Joshua Carr, PhD: Texas Christian University
• Katherine Carranza, MD: Costa Rica
• Kelly Casey, MD: General Surgeon
• Christina Chan, MD, MABHP, FIDSA, FA, FCP: American College of Pediatricians
• Mike Chupp, MD: CEO, Christian Medical and Dental Associations
• Paul Cieslak, MD: Catholic Medical Association
• Michelle Cretella, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians (past ED)
• Sharon Curtis, MD: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

• Paul Dassow, MD, MSPH: American College of Family Medicine
• Arthur Delorimier, MD: University of California, Davis
• Mario Dickerson, MTS: Catholic Medical Association
• Allen Donkin, MD: First Do No Harm Southern Africa
• Joe Dougherty, MD: American College of Family Medicine

• Lisa Erhlich, MD: Internal Medicine
• Matthew Eich, MD: Mayo Clinic (retired)
• Fred Fakharzadeh, MD: Catholic Medical Association
• John Falcon, M.S., MD: South Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Scott Field, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians
• Steven Foley, MD: OB/GYN
• Francisco Bernardo Fragoso Gutiérrez, MD, PhD: Mexico
• Sheila Furey, MD: Virginia Medical Freedom Alliance

• Kenneth Gall, PhD: Tufts Medical Center
• Salwa Gendi, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians
• Brooke Gensler, MD: Catholic Medical Association
• Ernesto Gil Deza, MD: Argentina
• Prof. Luis Giraldo-Cadavid, MD, PhD: Colombia
• Stanley Goldfarb, MD: Nephrologist
• Russell Gombosi, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians
• George Gonzalez, MD: President, Christian Medical and Dental Associations
• Diane T. Gowski, MD: Catholic Medical Association
• Miriam Grossman, MD: Author, Lost in Trans Nation
• Prof. James Grinols, MD: Liberty University
• Joe Guarino, MD, MPH: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom

• Eithan Haim, MD: General Surgeon
• Donna Harrison, MD: Chair, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine
• Sr. Edith Mary Hart, RSM, DO, FAAFP: Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma
• Nicole Hayes, MPA: American Academy of Medical Ethics
• Laura Haygood, MD: Dermatologist
• Laura Haynes, PhD: International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice
• Jim Heid, MD: American College of Family Medicine
• Roy Heyne, MD: Catholic Medical Association
• David Hilger, MD: Catholic Medical Association
• Marie Hilliard, MS, MA, JCL, PhD, RN: Catholic Medical Association; National Catholic Bioethics Center
• Mark Hoch, MD, MDiv, DABIHM: American Holistic Medical Association (past president)
• Alan Hopewell, PhD: Clinical Medical Neuropsychologist
• Robert Howe, MD: Reproductive Endocrinologist
• Jane Hughes, MD: President, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
• Patrick Hunter, MD, MSC (Bioethics): Pediatrician
• Janet Hurley, MD: American College of Family Medicine
• Mohamad Hussein, MD: University of South Florida

• Thomas Jensen, MD: Denver Catholic Medical Association
• Nicole M. Johnson, MD, DNBPAS: Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
• Blaise Jones, MD: Professor, Pediatric Neuroradiology
• Jeremy Jones, MD: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Patricia Lee June, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians

• Rachel Kaiser, MD: Emergency Physician
• David Kay, MD: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Staci Kay, NP: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Mary Keen-Kerchoff, MD, FCP: Catholic Medical Association
• Chistopher Kolker, MD, FAAFP: Yale University; Quinnipiac University

• Michael K. Laidlaw, MD: Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
• Flavio Lacerda, MD: Brazil
• Marian Laderoute, PhD: Canada (PHAC/HC, retired)
• Jennifer Lahl, RN: Founder, The Center for Bioethics and Culture
• Patricia Landry, MD: Focus on the Family
• John I. Lane, MD: Past President, Catholic Medical Association
• Erika L. LeBaron, DO, MSN: Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
• Prof. James Lee, PhD: University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Diana Lightfoot: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Katarina Lindley, DO: Global Health Project; Texas AAPS
• Deirdre Little, MD: Catholic Women’s League Australia
• John Logan, MD: University of Florida College of Medicine
• Edmund Lowrie, MD: Health Care Executive (retired)
• Steven Lucking, MD: Penn State College of Medicine (retired)

• Katelyn Makar, MD: Indiana University School of Medicine
• Edgar Manrique, MD: Colombia
• Fiona Mao, NP, PMHNP, FNP: CEO, Elevate Health Now
• Gloria Marmolejo, PhD: Winona State University
• Martin McCaffrey, MD: UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine
• Peter McCullough, MD, MPH: President, McCullough Foundation
• David McKalip, MD: Bartow County (Georgia) Medical Association
• Joseph Meaney, PhD, KM: National Catholic Bioethics Center; Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance
• Carrie Mendoza, MD: Director, Genspect USA
• Rabbi Yaakov Menkin: Coalition for Jewish Values
• Bradford Merrelli, MD: Ascension Providence Rochester
• Tim Millea, MD: Catholic Medical Association
• M. Shawn Morehead, MD, MPH: Gadsden Regional Medical Center
• Travis J. Morell, MD, MPH: Chair, Colorado Principled Physicians
• Julie Morgan, MD: Pediatrician
• Peter Morrow, MD: Past President, Catholic Medical Association
• Jennifer Roback Morse, PhD: Founder and President, The Ruth Institute

• Saturnino Nascimento Neto, MD: Brazil
• Thomas Nelson, MD, MA: Mayo Clinic (emeritus)
• Michael Nowicki, MD: University of Mississippi Medical Center

• Alfonso Oliva, MD, FACS: Treasurer, Catholic Medical Association
• Anthony Oliva, MD: Catholic Medical Association
• David Olson, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians
• Stella O’Mally [sic]: Executive Director, Genspect
• Jane Orient, MD: Executive Director, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
• Philip Overby, MD: Pediatric Neurologist

• Megan Pasookhush, PharD: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• L. David Perry, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians
• Spencer Phelps: Trinity Health New York Region
• David Pickup, LMFT-S: Alliance [for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity]
• Robin Pierucci, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians
• Thomas M. Pitre, MD: Past President, Catholic Medical Association
• Matthew R. Porter, MD, FAAFP: American College of Family Medicine
• Gloria Portilla, MD: Fundación Ventris/Custodiandovidas, Colombia

• Karin Quiero-Flory, MS: VozconCiencia, Chile

• Samuel “Bose” Ravenel, MD: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Kathleen Raviele, MD: Past President, Catholic Medical Association
• Nora H. Riani-Llano, MD: Colombia
• Michael Robb, MD: Past President, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
• Rene Ricardo Rodriguez Olivares, MD: Instituto Nacional Cardiovascular INCOR, Peru
• Prof. David Roll, PhD: Roberts Wesleyan University (emeritus)
• Sven Román, MD: Sweden
• Michael Romanelli, MD: Wayne State University School of Medicine
• Prof. Charles Romig, LMFT: Professor Emeritus (retired)
• Christopher Rosik, PhD: Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity (past president)
• Steven Roth, MD: Coalition for Jewish Values Healthcare Council

• Stephen Sammut, PhD: Franciscan University of Steubenville
• Nathan Samora, MD: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
• Richard W. Sams II, MD: American College of Family Medicine
• Richard H. Sandler, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians
• Emily Saunders: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Jeffrey Sarinover, MD, PhD: Sterling Institute for Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
• Weston Saunders, MD: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld: President, Coalition for Jewish Values
• Bob Schucts, PhD: Founder, John Paul II Healing Center
• Mike Semelka, DO: American College of Family Medicine
• Janae Shamp, RN: Arizona State Senate
• Bryan C. Shen, MMSAC: International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counseling Choice
• Prof. Emerson Silva, MD, PhD: Brazil
• Jill M. Simons, MD, FCP: Executive Director, American College of Pediatricians
• Ingrid Skop, MD: Charlotte Lozier Institute
• Franklin Smith, MD: Milwaukee Guild, Catholic Medical Association
• Andrew Sodergren, PhD: Ruah Woods Institute
• Kevin Speight, MD: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Jillian Spencer: Queensland Children’s Hospital, Australia
• Michelle Stanford, MD, FCP: President, Catholic Medical Association
• Lisa Stewart, CPA: CEO, Honey Lake Clinic
• Kristin Strange, MD: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• Raphael Stricker, MD: Union Square Medical Associates
• Rev. D. Paul Sullins, PhD: Catholic University of America; The Ruth Institute

• Katy Talento, ND: CEO, AllBetterHealth
• David Tomasi, MA, MS, PhD: Vermont State Colleges
• Prof. Luke Torre: Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Australia
• Angela Thompson, MD: OB/GYN
• Craig Treptow, MD: Immediate Past President, Catholic Medical Association
• Den Trumbull, MD, FC: American College of Pediatricians (co-founder)

• Kimberly Vacca, MD, FCP: Secretary, American College of Pediatricians
• Jonathan VanGeest, PhD: Kent State University
• Quentin Van Meter, MD, FCP: American College of Pediatricians (past president)
• André Van Mol, MD: Christian Medical and Dental Associations
• Miroslav Verner, MD: Hospital Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
• Felipe Vizcarrondo, MD, MA: University of Miami Cristl
• Ruth Vonholdt, MD: Pediatrician (retired)

• Deanne Waldman, MD: Texas Public Policy Foundation (retired)
• Tessa Walters, MD: Anesthesiologist
• Ron Waterer, MD: North Carolina Physicians for Freedom
• James Weidner, MD: American Academy of Medical Ethics; Christian Medical and Dental Associations
• David Westbrock, MD: Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
• Steven White, MD: President, Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance
• Donna Whittington, RN: NHS (retired), United Kingdom
• William Williams, MD: Catholic Medical Association

• Ilene Yohay, MD: University of Chicago

• Joseph Zanga, MD, FCP: Founding President, American College of Pediatricians
• Nancy Zeitoun, MD: Saint Francis Hospital and Heart Center, Catholic Health

Supporting Organizations

• Advocates Protecting Children
• CHANGED Movement
• Child & Parental Rights Campaign (CPRC)
• Desert Stream Ministries
• Discovery Institute
• Family Research Council
• Family Watch International
• Focus on the Family
• International Partners for Ethical Care (PEC)
• Liberty & Justice for All
• Moms for Liberty
• Will Pen for Change, LLC

Supporting Leaders

• Arina Grossu Agnew, MA, MS: Discovery Institute; Areté Global Consulting
• Paul Ashby, PhD: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

• Jennifer Bauwens, PhD: Family Research Council
• Prof. Christopher Blackwell, PhD: Furman University
• Erin Brewer, PhD: Advocates Protecting Children
• Rev. Michael Brown, MA: United Reformed Churches in North America
• Dean Broyles, Esq.: The National Center for Law & Policy
• Vernadette R. Broyles, Esq.: Child & Parental Rights Campaign

• Alexandra Cardona, LCSW: Osceola County School District
• Eileen Christian, Esq.: Advocates Protecting Children
• Gabrielle Clark: Founder, Affirming Reality
• Prof. Marco Colombini, PhD: University of Maryland
• Andrew Comiskey, MDiv: Desert Stream Ministries
• Katie Comisky, MA: Desert Stream Ministries
• Robert M. Copeland, PhD: Geneva College
• Gregg Cunningham: Center for Bio-Ethical Reform

• Rev. Daniel Deyell, MA: Lutheran Church, Canada

• Chris Elston: “Billboard Chris,” Canada

• Theresa Farnan: Ethics and Public Policy Center
• Abigail Foard, MA, LPC: Desert Stream Ministries

• Gilberto A. Gamboa Bernal, MS, PhD: Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia
• Lori Gimelshteyn: Colorado Parent Advocacy Network
• Simone Gomez: Change the Story, Australia
• Diane Gramley: American Family Association of Pennsylvania
• Vermelle Greene, PhD: Vision: Concepts in Education, LLC
• Glenn Gruenhagen: Minnesota State Senate

• Mary Rice Hasson, JD : Ethics and Public Policy Center

• Tiffany Justice: Co-Founder, Moms for Liberty

• Jacqueline Kay: Our Duty UK
• Anna Kerr: Feminist Legal Clinic Incorporated, Australia
• Meg Kilgannon: Family Research Council

• Liv Levey: Detransitioner

• Jaimee Michell: Founder, Gays Against Groomers
• Roland Millare, Dr.: St. John Paul II Foundation
• Nicholas Molinari, PhD: Salve Regina University

• Caitlin Neal-Karhut: Detransitioner
• Rachael Nelson: Libertarian Institute

• John Paulton: Family Policy Alliance

• Amy Reynolds: Detransitioner; Gays Against Groomers
• Eine Ricklon: Detransitioner, Sweden
• Gheorghe Rosca: Protect Our Kids
• Judith Rose: Gays Against Groomers

• Martha Shoultz, Esq.: International Partners for Ethical Care
• Hannah Smith: Liberty & Justice for All
• Joshua & Naomi Stringer: Co-Founders, Will Pen for Change, LLC

• Wendy Terry: Outpost Ministries
• Randy Thomasson: SaveCalifornia.com/SaveAmerica.com

• Ken Williams: Co-Founder, CHANGED Movement
• Jolene Wojcik: Central Catholic Development Foundation
• Rev. Elizabeth Woning: Co-Founder, CHANGED Movement

• Christopher Yuan, DMin: Holy Sexuality

• Jozef Zalot, PhD: The National Catholic Bioethics Center

Resources

Doctors Protecting Children (doctorsprotectingchildren.org)