Y'know i've stayed out of the whole "teens getting hormones and bottom surgery" discourse apart of trans rights because every other trans person I knew as a teen was entirely unable to do so. Either because of expenses and/or parents. The plans they did have were reasonable and expected to have to wait several years into adulthood in order to earn the money to do so. So they figured out other ways to be happy with their appearance until then. And every trans person I talk to has a different plan for when/if they incorporate medically transitions into themselves. Not everyone wants to medically transition.

But reading the phrase "Teens cannot consent to taking hormones" in regards to trans kids got a chuckle out of me. Because teens can. For a lot of other issues actually. Antidepressants are a hormone based medication. And I was on them as a teen. I consented and fought for them because I knew it was what I needed.

And it's not like taking medications for any reason has ever been treated lightly. I was working with a therapist for a good while until she said "we're really going anywhere because you're too tired to pull yourself out of this and work on these skills. You might really need antidepressants. I'll help you explain this to your mom so you can go to the doctor."

And then me and my mom went to the doctor with these concerns and my desire to go on antidepressants. And she was a good doctor. Checked my thyroid first in case it was that. Consulted with Adolescence because I was a teen and she was a pediatrician technically. Answered any questions and concerns my mom had. And then wrote the prescription. And stressed to me that hormonal medicine isn't like the normal medicine you're used to taking. I had to work up to my full dose (and it was still the lowest) and for that first week I had to be mindful and have a good support system in place as my body adjusts. I understood that. And then I really understood that as I went through my first week of medication. And then I continued to reasonable and mindful of myself as I stayed on it.

And that was that. I eventually didn't need them anymore. But my time on hormones didn't damage or kill me or anything like that. And its not like testosterone or estrogen are the only hormonal medications teens can take. Many are on hormonal birth control for a couple of reasons and those have a lot more damaging side effects.

I think if you're going to have discourse about trans teens, you need to give both teens and their doctors a bit more credit. Most people are reasonable and sensible. Most people have genuinely good intentions. With any medical process ever, you have to work with a doctor. Choices aren't being made blind and uninformed.

You're also going to have to figure out the double standards. Two girls want a boob job at some point, either to go up (or down) in size for whatever reason, and one happens to be trans. How is the trans girl meaningfully different from the cis one?

A lot of teens, for better or for worse and for whatever reason, want cosmetic surgery. And a lot of them do get that parental consent to do so. Both cis and trans.

And if you're going to say "oh it's all poor body image from the internet and bullying, teens to work on confidence instead of mutilating their bodies!" You gotta accept that bullying people for being obviously trans or otherwise gender nonconforming is apart of that. Telling trans kids they'll never be a real boy/girl because of their chest/other body parts is apart of that. You gotta create an environment where any and all gender nonconformity and experiment is safe to do. Otherwise you're creating more incentive for people to medically transition so they can be safe by passing.