Reporting best practices while comparing European and U.S. gender care policies

Poor reporting on trans health care policy in Europe has consequences. Some of these distorted claims have been repeated in conservative legal briefs and by politicians like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In its recent Skrmetti ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court cited European policy changes as evidence that there are “significant concerns regarding the potential harms associated with using puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender minors.” 

Some reporting has also quoted from political documents — which may misrepresent European medical research — without requisite fact-checking. This aids the spread of misinformation and misunderstanding among the general public.

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the specific political parties, recent conflicts, and LGBTQ+ rights record of any country you intend to reference in a conversation around global policy.

Ask yourself: 

• Which government agency is making these changes? 
• Which officials are involved, and what are their political affiliations? 
• What are their positions on LGBTQ+ rights and the community more generally? 
• Are there other government officials or agencies who oppose these changes?
• What is the reaction of the medical community?

Consider the difference between rhetoric, power, and consequence

Gender care policy is changing worldwide, for both youth and adults. Some governments are attempting to restrict care, and others to preserve it. Not all of those efforts are immediately successful, nor do they all create nationwide changes. It’s important to communicate not just what officials say, but also what happens in practice.

For example, in November 2024, the Italian National Bioethics Committee recommended limiting the use of puberty blockers to clinical trials. However, as of August 2025, the government has not publicly announced any official policy changes regarding puberty blockers. A coalition of doctors from more than 20 Italian hospitals have also released guidelines stating that puberty blockers are “safe and effective, with no known severe long-term adverse effects” and that treatment decisions should “prioritize the child’s best interests.”

Treat studies, reviews, research, and recommendations like any other source. Ask questions about their expertise, authority, and point of view. When citing scientific research, look into the authors and any associated hospitals, universities, or government agencies. It’s important to understand who has governance over health care decisions. A group of physicians or a medical body may make a statement, but do they have the ability to directly change policy?

Key questions when considering medical recommendations and research include:

• Who commissioned and/or funded this research? 
• Which scientists were involved, and what else have they published recently? (If the authors don’t put their names on a report, then it does not meet widely accepted international standards for scientific research.)
• Are the authors mostly experts in clearly relevant fields, like pediatrics and endocrinology? 
• Or do they have other specialities that may make them more or less qualified to comment on youth gender care?

There are a wide variety of national and international law enforcement mechanisms in Europe. To discover a policy’s real impact, you’ll need to go beyond what one agency or politician says. 

Key questions to understand the implications of new guidelines include: 

• Are these guidelines legally binding? 
• If so, how will violations be enforced? 
• Is there reason to believe local hospitals and clinics may not follow this guidance? 
• If the changes aren’t law, or don’t directly restrict health care access, could they still affect health care access in other ways? 
• What do doctors and trans youth on the ground say about the ability to access hormones?

Don’t assume that scientific inquiry is the only factor driving policy decisions around health care. In practice, a wide variety of personal and political motivations may also be at play.