Transgender History, Part II

A Brief History of Medical and Surgical Gender‐Affirming Care

Bibliographic Data

ID21558300
AuthorsNorah Oles (Department of Behavioral Health Saint Elizabeths Hospital Washington District of Columbia USA), Rodrigo Fontenele (Department of Behavioral Health Saint Elizabeths Hospital Washington District of Columbia USA), Margarita Abi Zeid Daou (0000-0002-4385-5194, Law and Psychiatry Division Psychiatry Department University of Massachusetts (UMass) Chan Medical School Worcester Massachusetts USA, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume43
Issue4
Pages351-356
Publication date2025-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBehavioral Sciences & the Law (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0735-3936 • E-ISSN: 1099-0798
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/bsl.2719
PMID39994868
OpenAlexW4407945536
LanguageEN
References cited28

The history of gender‐affirming care (GAC) dates back millennia. Ancient records acknowledged gender variance and early attempts at medical/surgical treatment. The twentieth century saw significant advancements in GAC, particularly in the success of gender‐affirming surgeries. The emergence of centers like the Johns Hopkins Gender Identity Clinic in the 1970s marked a turning point in GAC's recognition and acceptance. However, their sudden closure after just a few years hampered progress in GAC for the next several decades. In 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services overturned its prohibition on Medicare coverage for gender‐affirming surgery, leading to greater access. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) guidelines have played a significant role in shaping contemporary GAC. The Standards of Care 8 (2022) emphasises patient‐centered care and guideline flexibility. While challenges have marked the historical trajectory of GAC, it has also witnessed significant evolution which we review in this article

Family medicine · Gender identity · Gender Identity Disorder · Health care · Political science · Sociology · Transgender · Transsexual · Gender Studies · Law · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Reproductive Health and Technologies · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology

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