“Assuming the medical ‘needs’ for a child regarding gender and forcing medical procedures and drugs upon the body of a minor constitutes nothing less than the literal definition of child abuse”

July 18, 2022

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A recent article from the Christian Post highlighted the horrifying stories of several children who underwent transgender modifications—such as puberty-blocking drugs, opposite-sex hormones or cosmetic surgeries — as minors and are now speaking out about the trauma it created in their adult lives. Calling themselves “detransitioners,” many people coming out of the transgender movement say these procedures done to them as children left them with disfigured bodies and health complications.

One girl, age 17, stated that she was unaware of the “ramifications” of the medical decisions she made at age 13 (including hormone blockers and a double mastectomy), stating, “I was unknowingly physically cutting off my true self from my body, irreversibly and painfully.”

Judge Phil Ginn, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES, www.ses.edu), commented on this movement of “detransitioners,” emphasizing that not only are children too young to fully grasp the irreversible damage of medicalized and surgical gender transition, but the actions of the adults involved are akin to child abuse and therefore should be illegal.

“The concept of transgenderism is certainly and almost suddenly a divisive subject in America,” Ginn began. “While less than 1 % of the population fits into this proposed category, from the public conversation you would think that the numbers are far more significant than they are. Suffice it to say that because of our belief in the truth of Scripture and our understanding of natural law, we at SES do not believe that anyone should seek to change himself or herself in any way from what God created them to be. 

“With that being said, what one person believes about their own gender, whether fictional or not, is one thing. To impose one’s belief on a minor child is quite another altogether. Adults — even parents — assuming the medical ‘needs’ for a child regarding gender and forcing medical procedures and drugs upon the body of a minor constitutes nothing less than the literal definition of child abuse.”

Ginn continued, “It is a well-sustained concept in the law that a child under the age of adulthood cannot enter into an enforceable contract. In fact, in cases where a child has a legal cause of action, a guardian must be appointed to pursue litigation and approve settlement on their behalf. In addition, most state laws say that any statute of limitations in these cases does not begin to run until a child reaches the age of majority. Now that some of these mutilated children who underwent medical experimentation are attaining the age of adulthood, our court systems may well be filled with lawsuits for what these children have had forced upon their bodies without their consent.

“If these experimental major interventions like mutilating surgery, puberty blockers, and opposite sex hormonal treatment are being performed by the medical community without proper authorization on behalf of the minor, should the flood gates of litigation be opened? Then, in turn, will such litigation lead to major windfall verdicts and settlements when these children reach the age of majority?”

Ginn concluded, “Quite frankly, I see no apparent reason why this scenario ought not lead to major litigation and astronomical recoveries. More importantly, this is precisely one of the reasons why the law should be a justifiable resort to rectify wrongs committed against a vulnerable population who do not have the ability to protect themselves from such abuse and horrific damage.” 

Judge Phil Ginn was appointed president of SES in April 2021 after a distinguished career as both a lawyer and a judge. He holds a B.A. from Appalachian State University, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Ministry from Southern Evangelical Seminary. Prior to his appointment as SES president, Judge Ginn served as SES Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 

The mission of SES is to train men and women, based on the inerrant and infallible written Word of God, for the evangelization of the world and the defense of the historic Christian faith. SES offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees (along with several for-credit certificates) that uniquely integrate theology, philosophy, and apologetics to build a complete and systematic Christian worldview.

For more information on SES, visit its website at www.ses.edu or its Facebook page, follow the SES Twitter feed, @sesapologetics, or call (704) 847-5600.

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