A thematic analysis of disinformation in gender-affirming healthcare bans in the United States

Meredithe McNamara; Quinnehtukqut McLamore; Nicolas Meade; Melisa Olgun; Henry Robinson; Anne Alstott

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116943

A thematic analysis of disinformation in gender-affirming healthcare bans in the United States

Soc Sci Med. 2024 May 9:351:116943. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116943. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Meredithe McNamara¹, Quinnehtukqut McLamore², Nicolas Meade³, Melisa Olgun⁴, Henry Robinson⁴, Anne Alstott⁴

Affiliations

¹ Yale School of Medicine, United States. Electronic address: meredithe.mcnamara@yale.edu.
² University of Missouri at Columbia, United States.
³ Yale School of Medicine, United States; University of Missouri at Columbia, United States.
⁴ Yale Law School, United States.

PMID: 38759383
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116943

Abstract

Context: Bans on gender-affirming care (GAC) for transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) people are grounded in scientific disinformation and have been challenged in American courts.

Methods: Five legal filings by state officials in defense of GAC restriction from initial litigation were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Themes and subthemes of disinformation were identified after review and analysis of these filings.

Findings: Five themes of disinformation emerged: False and misleading claims about (1) gender dysphoria and gender identity, (2) the evidence regarding GAC, (3) standard practice of GAC, (4) the safety of GAC, and finally, (5) rejection of medical authority. These themes were well represented across the analyzed documents.

Conclusions: The five disinformation themes and subthemes have been noted in lower courts, but have seen some purchase in appellate courts, suggesting that medical disinformation in law may have far-reaching consequences for medical policy.