WPATH stands for The World Professional Association for Transgender Health. WPATH ‘guidelines’ are considered the gold standard for the field of health care for those diagnosed with gender dysphoria. But critics say that WPATH cites flawed, cherry-picked studies to support their conclusions, and betrays a strong bias toward studies promoting social and medical transition, and ignoring detransitioning and desistance. They’re also at odds with a growing number of medical professionals and groups around the world who are sounding growing concern around the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery on young people. Why should this concern you? It’s because transgender research and policy in New Zealand comes out of the University of Waikato’s Transgender Health Research Lab. Unfortunately, the unit is driven by activists and an agenda, and the director just happens to be on the Executive Committee of WPATH.
