There is a deep partisan divide on pediatric gender medicine in the U.S. Republican-controlled states are banning the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery on minors with gender dysphoria. Democrat-controlled states are declaring themselves sanctuaries and protect access to these same treatments.

The Democrats face two problems. One is that their position is not politically popular. A New York Times Ipsos poll found that 71 percent of all Americans, including 54 percent of Democrats and Democrat-leaning respondents, believe doctors should not be allowed to prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to patients under 18.

A second problem is that, even if Republicans are not consistent supporters of science, science supports the Republican approach to pediatric gender medicine.

Countries such as Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Norway, which have looked at the scientific evidence, have all restricted access to cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers. While these restrictions fall short of the total bans proposed by Republicans, they go much further toward that than anything Democrats seem prepared to consider.

In this context, a literature review, which the Department of Health and Human Services is set to publish as soon as today, could offer a way forward.

The review, which was directed by President Trump’s Executive Order on Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, will examine best practices for promoting the health of children who assert gender dysphoria, rapid-onset gender dysphoria, or other identity-based confusion. Best........

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