On the Dan Fagan Show on Wednesday (650 KENI), gubernatorial candidate Les Gara, a Democrat, claimed he does not know what puberty-blocker drugs are.
For those who haven’t heard of them, they are the increasingly prescribed medications that some children are being given to delay the onset of puberty, so that they can undergo “gender affirming” transition surgery. Boys who are given puberty blockers will not develop lower voices; later, when they have their penises cut off and breast implants installed, they can sound more feminine. These drugs were previously given to sex offenders as a form of chemical castration, but are now being given to children who are confused because society is giving them a choice about what gender to be.
When explained by host Dan Fagan what the drug does to children, Gara responded, “Look it, I’m a pro-privacy person. I’m not going to tell somebody what to do. Here’s what I will say about our trans kids, is roughly 40% of them think about committing suicide at some point in their life. I’m not going to try to get a single vote off those kids. Those kids are equal neighbors. They’re people that we should love. It’s not my business who you love. It’s not my business what you do with your body.” Listen to the rest of his statement here:
Gara said it’s up to parents, kids, and doctors, and he has no opinion on the matter.
Read more about the rise of the use of puberty blockers for children at City Journal.
Gara, when pressed, said a 13-year-old child should not be able to smoke pot, but said he will not make medical decisions for families on gender transition chemicals for children.
“I don’t believe in telling other people how to live their lives,” he said.
