Transgender Youth: Why Both Sides Are Getting It Wrong (2025 Insights)

Transgender youth are complex individuals, not merely political talking points. As public discourse intensifies, it’s crucial to approach their experiences with empathy and a deep understanding of psychological nuances. While both major political parties claim to offer the best path forward, they often simplify a multifaceted reality, seeing just one kind of trans kid. For parents seeking to support their children, a balanced understanding of social influences and individual journeys is paramount.

Why Understanding Transgender Youth Matters in 2025

According to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, approximately 724,000 youth aged 13–17 in the United States identify as transgender. This represents about 3.3% of that age group, and these numbers are consistently rising (Herman & Flores, 2025). Despite this prevalence, the issue of youth transitioning has taken on an outsized role in American political discourse. Politicians on both the left and right, both getting entangled in simplified narratives, have made trans youth a focal point, each asserting their superior ability to “protect” children.

As a child and family psychologist with years of experience working with trans kids, I’ve observed that both political parties frequently misinterpret much of this reality. However, it’s also true that each perspective often captures elements of truth. This article, the first in a two-part series, will explore the Democratic perspective, highlighting what they get right and where their understanding falls short. The subsequent article will delve into the Republican viewpoint.

The Democratic Perspective: What They Get Right and Wrong

Democrats generally affirm the existence and validity of gender dysphoria, advocating strongly for transgender rights. This includes supporting a child’s right to express their gender identity free from discrimination and oppression. They promote gender-affirming environments in schools, where children can use chosen names and pronouns, and where they receive age-appropriate information about gender diversity. These positions are fundamentally correct and deserve strong support; every child deserves dignity and freedom from discrimination, irrespective of their gender identity.

In my clinical experience, parents with more progressive views often exhibit greater openness and acceptance when their children come out as trans. While initial surprise is common, many quickly become supportive and affirming. However, the situation isn’t always straightforward, and this is where the Democratic narrative can become overly simplistic.

Understanding Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD)

There is growing evidence suggesting that not all young people arrive at a trans identity through the same pathways—a critical distinction often overlooked by both major political parties. In 2018, researcher Lisa Littman introduced the concept of rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD). This concept emerged from parental reports describing a relatively sudden onset of gender dysphoria, predominantly in natal females, often coinciding with puberty.

Children in these reports typically hadn’t displayed earlier signs of gender nonconformity, such as preferring toys, activities, or clothing traditionally associated with the opposite gender. Many had also joined new peer groups, frequently online, where others also identified as trans. Parents often noted a significant increase in social media use prior to their child’s coming out. While Littman’s study faced criticism regarding its sample (Leonhart et al., 2025), the journal PLOS ONE upheld the study after a thorough editorial review and clarifications.

More research into ROGD is undoubtedly needed, but the hypothesis holds merit, aligning with extensive existing research on social influences. In clinical practice, many professionals have observed patterns consistent with Littman’s descriptions. Some adolescents coming out as trans show no prior indicators of gender dysphoria and are deeply involved in online communities where trans identity is a prominent theme. These adolescents often struggle to fit into traditional peer groups, finding acceptance and community in their online interactions.

In many such cases, I’ve observed young people in the suspected ROGD group gradually move away from a trans identity over time—sometimes within months—especially as their relationships with parents improve and their overall mental health stabilizes. This shift occurs naturally; no one has ‘talked them out of it.’ Crucially, parental responses to their child’s coming out significantly influence these outcomes, a point worth emphasizing.

The ROGD hypothesis gains significant plausibility when viewed through the lens of established knowledge about social influence. Decades of research, including work by Dishion and Tipsord (2011) and Christakis and Fowler (2013), demonstrate that behaviors and attitudes are highly contagious within social networks. Whether it’s fashion choices, musical tastes, slang, or emotional states, teenagers are profoundly influenced by their peers.

It would be illogical to assume that gender identity is somehow immune to these powerful social influences; there is no empirical evidence to support such a view. Adolescents constantly imitate one another’s behaviors, making it plausible that, for some, identification as trans could be shaped by their immediate social environment. This is where the political right, both getting some aspects wrong, along with the left, often falls short in its understanding.

While Democrats are correct to support trans youth and oppose discrimination, they frequently overlook how powerful social forces can shape a teenager’s emerging sense of identity. Thus, not all children who identify as trans exhibit signs from an early age, despite a common belief on the left that this is universally true. The political right, both getting caught in ideological opposition, often misses the need for basic affirmation, while the left, in its zeal to affirm, sometimes misses the complex developmental pathways.

Moving Forward: A Balanced Approach to Support

Navigating gender identity requires a nuanced, individual-focused approach. For parents, this means fostering open communication and seeking professional guidance from therapists who understand gender identity without adhering to rigid political dogmas. It involves acknowledging the child’s expressed identity while also considering all potential contributing factors, including social dynamics and mental health. A truly supportive environment balances affirmation with thoughtful inquiry, ensuring the child’s holistic well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions About Transgender Youth

What is Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD)?

ROGD is a hypothesis suggesting a sudden onset of gender dysphoria, often in adolescence, without prior signs of gender nonconformity. It’s often reported by parents who observe their child’s gender identity shift coinciding with increased social media use and new peer groups, sometimes online.

Research indicates that social networks significantly influence adolescent behaviors, attitudes, and identities. For some youth, particularly those seeking community and acceptance, identification as trans could be influenced by their immediate social environment and peer groups, both online and offline.

What role do political parties play in the discussion of trans youth?

Both the political left and right, both getting entangled in their respective ideologies, often frame the discussion around trans youth through a political lens. The left emphasizes affirmation and rights, sometimes overlooking developmental complexities. The right often focuses on caution and traditional gender roles, sometimes neglecting the need for basic dignity and acceptance.

How can parents best support their trans or gender-questioning child?

Parents can best support their child by maintaining open communication, seeking professional psychological support, and adopting a balanced perspective. This involves affirming their child’s identity while also exploring any underlying social or mental health factors, without judgment or preconceived notions.

Key Takeaways for Supporting Transgender Youth

Complexity over Simplification: Transgender youth experiences are diverse and cannot be reduced to political talking points.
Nuanced Perspectives: Both the political left and right, both getting aspects right and wrong, need to adopt a more comprehensive view that acknowledges individual pathways to gender identity.
Social Influence Matters: The role of social contagion and peer groups in identity formation, including gender identity, is a significant factor that warrants consideration.
Parental Role is Key: Open-minded, affirming, and well-informed parental support is crucial for positive outcomes for gender-questioning youth.
Evidence-Based Approach: Rely on psychological research and clinical experience, rather than solely political rhetoric, to guide understanding and support.

References

Christakis, N. A., & Fowler, J. H. (2013). Social contagion theory: Examining dynamic social networks and human behavior. Statistics in Medicine, 32(4), 556–577. https://doi.org/10.1002/sim.5408

Dishion, T. J., & Tipsord, J. M. (2011). Peer contagion in child and adolescent social and emotional development. Annual Review of Psychology, 62, 189–214. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100412

Herman, J. L., & Flores, A. R. (2025, August). How many adults and youth identify as transgender in the United States? The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trans-adults-united-states/

Leonhardt A, Fuchs M, Gander M, Sevecke K. Gender dysphoria in adolescence: examining the rapid-onset hypothesis. Neuropsychiatr. 2025 Mar;39(1):1-10. doi: 10.1007/s40211-024-00500-8

Littman, L. (2018). Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria. PLOS ONE, 13(8), e0202330. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202330