At the young age of 9, Chloe Cole began feeling out of place in her body. She felt more comfortable playing with her older brothers, keeping her hair short, and wearing less feminine clothes. After creating an Instagram account at 12 years old, she saw transgender-related posts online that encouraged her to think that her uncomfortable feelings during puberty could mean she was “born in the wrong body.” When she voiced these feelings to her pediatrician, she and her family were swiftly directed toward “gender transition” procedures. Her family was told that even young children’s feelings about “gender identity” should be accepted as real, and if they did not let her “transition”, Chloe would likely commit suicide.
The procedures were painful and unfulfilling. Chloe was prescribed puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. Despite having healthy breast tissue, she underwent a double mastectomy at 15 years old. Only one year later, she would come to regret these decisions.
When she decided to detransition, she found that this industry “only affirms in one direction.” The insurance that covered all the previous procedures declined to pay for any reversal treatments. Not even mental health services were available to help her process her regret and trauma caused by this type of mutilation.
People suffering from gender dysphoria or who are confused about their so-called gender identity often have undiagnosed trauma or mental disorders that are never treated. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Williams Institute found that 75% of those who identify as transgender have experienced childhood emotional abuse, and 44% have experienced physical or sexual abuse. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has seen a rise in those who have autism identifying as transgender. Having autism can make life changes, such as puberty, a more difficult process, but too often, these young people are labeled as “trans” instead of given information to help them cope with the myriad of physical and emotional changes that puberty entails.
A nine-year study conducted in Germany found that 2 out of 3 children who struggle with gender dysphoria will grow out of it within five years. Over 72% of minors will change their minds in their later teenage years if “watchful waiting” strategies are implemented. This study also confirmed and expanded the findings relating to underlying mental health disorders in those with gender dysphoria. Nearly three-quarters of people who identify as transgender, no matter their age, had at least one other psychiatric comorbidity, such as depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or post-traumatic stress disorder. Chloe was previously diagnosed with ADHD as a child and was later diagnosed with autism after she de-transitioned.
Chloe still lives with the daily reminders of what these doctors did to her. Her chest stays bandaged because her mastectomy never fully healed. She has reoccurring urinary tract infections, severe uterine cramps, and menopause-like symptoms due to the powerful drugs she took to block puberty and “transition.” Testosterone has changed the shape of her face and the tone of her voice.
According to Stop the Harm, between 2019 and 2023 in the United States, nearly 14,000 children began treatments to alter their bodies and 62,682 prescriptions were issued to minors for cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers.
Chloe knew she had to warn others, so she has spent the last several years speaking at events such as Eagle Council, testifying in front of Congress and state legislatures, and creating an online presence exposing the dangers of gender mutilating procedures. She has made it her mission to uncover the truth. In February 2023, Chloe sued Kaiser Permanente for deliberately and maliciously misleading her and her family about so-called gender transitioning. She noted the off-label medicines she was given, the absence of alternative options offered, the lack of actual informed consent, and the false information they received from medical professionals. Her case is still ongoing. Since then, the Supreme Court has upheld state bans on gender transitioning procedures for minors.
The Trump Administration has made eliminating any federal involvement in gender transition services a priority. The Department of Health and Human Services has made strides in stopping the mutilation of children consistent with President Trump’s executive order from earlier this year that made clear, “it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.” The Federal Trade Commission has also launched an investigation into the federal funding of so-called “gender affirming care.”
This week, Representative Bob Onder (R-MO) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Chloe Cole Act, which will prohibit medical professionals from participating in chemical and surgical mutilation procedures that involve any interstate commerce, transportation, or payments. In addition, the bill defines sex as biological, and provides a private right of action for children and families who have been damaged to sue those responsible. The statute of limitations for such suits is extended to 25 years after the child reaches age 18, or four years after de-transitioning, whichever is later. Chloe Cole stated:
Puberty blockers, cross sex hormones, and surgical procedures left me with lasting damage when I was still a child. The damage done to my body is in many ways irreparable, and seeking restoration has been nearly impossible. Physicians who engage in chemical or surgical mutilation of children must face consequences. I’m proud to lend my name to this bill and help others whose lives have been forever altered due to these barbaric treatments.
Chloe Cole’s story shows how one person can impact countless lives by speaking up for truth. There is a large appetite to pass the Chloe Cole Act in the House, so we are hoping to see this move to a floor vote before the end of the year. Eagle Forum wholeheartedly supports the bill and will record any votes on the legislation in our Congressional Scorecard. Join Eagle Forum today to stay up to date on this and other pro-family legislation.
