Renowned billionaire business tycoon and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, has recently voiced his strong opposition to the use of gender-transition measures on minors. In a series of tweets, Musk expressed his concerns about the irreversible consequences of such procedures and advocated for waiting until individuals are of legal age to make such life-altering decisions.
Musk’s comments were prompted by a tweet from Jordan Peterson, a prominent Canadian psychologist, and professor, who labeled “gender-affirming care for minors” as a “criminally evil lie.” This term encompasses various medical interventions such as surgeries, cross-sex hormones, and puberty blockers, which are aimed at aligning an individual’s gender identity with their perceived gender.
“gender-affirming care for minors” is pure evil
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 4, 2023
Highlighting the importance of protecting children’s well-being, Musk tweeted that he intends to lobby for legislation that criminalizes performing permanent gender-transition procedures on minors before they reach the age of consent. Musk firmly believes that individuals should have the maturity and autonomy to make informed decisions regarding their bodies and identities.
Earlier, in an April tweet, Musk emphasized the need to wait until individuals are sufficiently mature before making any irreversible physical changes. He emphasized the gravity of such procedures and the responsibility of adults to respect the autonomy and decision-making capacity of young individuals.
Addressing concerns raised by The Rabbit Hole, a Twitter account critical of gender-affirming care, Musk acknowledged the potential dangers associated with misusing these treatments. He expressed his concern over the possibility of using drugs or resorting to extreme measures that could harm children physically and psychologically.
This is a major problem. I will be actively lobbying to criminalize making severe, irreversible changes to children below the age of consent.
Shame on those who advocate this! It is utterly contemptible.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 2, 2023
It is essential to note that while Musk opposes gender-transition measures for minors, he does acknowledge the importance of using an individual’s preferred pronouns and names as an act of courtesy and respect. This stance aligns with his belief in treating others with good manners and promoting inclusivity.
“I should note that I do personally use someone’s preferred pronouns, just as I use someone’s preferred name, simply from the standpoint of good manners,” he tweeted.
Musk’s outspoken opposition to gender-transition measures for minors has ignited a conversation about the ethics and implications of these procedures. It raises critical questions about the age at which individuals can meaningfully consent to such life-altering interventions and the responsibility of society to protect vulnerable populations, especially children.
