Father Fights Against Medical Transition for Son in New Documentary

Father Fights Against Medical Transition for Son in New Documentary

When Gareth Amaya Price’s 14-year-old son Simon expressed his belief that he was a girl, a wave of unease washed over him. Price faced this challenge with a conviction that something was fundamentally amiss.

In a candid conversation with Fox News Digital, Price stated, “I thought from the first moment that the idea Simon was really a girl was absurd. I had seen my son grow up. He was unusual, sure, but the idea that, because he was unusual or didn’t share the same interests as other boys, meant he wasn’t a boy at all struck me as incredibly regressive.”

His journey from skepticism to determination became a pivotal theme in his story, which he shares in the new Independent Women’s Features documentary, “Identity Crisis: Defying the Transgender Lobby to Save His Son,” released recently.

A Struggle for Identity

By 2018, Simon, who identifies as bisexual, was grappling with anxiety, depression, and bullying linked to his sexuality at school. In search of acceptance, he began exploring the concept of transgender identity after learning about it through a health class and his school’s Gay-Straight Alliance club. By his freshman year in high school, he was thoroughly convinced he was a girl.

Upon confiding in his therapist at Boston Children’s Hospital, Simon encountered immediate affirmation of his beliefs, which led to a referral to the hospital’s gender clinic. However, Price openly opposed this pathway.

Simon recalled, “He said something like, ‘No way in hell are you a girl.’ I hated him for that, legitimately, at the time.” This marked the beginning of a tumultuous chapter in their relationship.

A Quest for Answers

In a bid to understand the complex issue of gender ideology, Price started researching extensively. He connected with other parents and became aware of the alarming rise in reported cases of what some medical professionals refer to as rapid onset gender dysphoria. This sudden identification as transgender during adolescence led him to raise critical questions about the potential long-term effects of transition.

Price stated in the film, “This was a completely new phenomenon. One of the most important things I learned during this research is that the majority of children who say this will grow out of it if you don’t intervene.” His fears about the consequences of medicalization intensified.

Resisting External Pressure

Despite the challenges, Price firmly resisted the idea of allowing Simon to visit the gender clinic. He grappled with internal conflict, largely keeping his concerns private for fear of drawing the scrutiny of state authorities.

Price confessed, “It was hard for me to stand my ground. I could not express my beliefs to his doctors or even to mine, for fear that they might make a case of it and take my child away. Simon was often angry at me, and that was hard because I loved him and I raised him.” His love for Simon compelled Price to prioritize his son’s future health and safety over immediate acceptance.

The Role of Medical Professionals

Price shared a particularly troubling interaction with Simon’s pediatrician, who questioned him directly, “Would you rather have a live daughter or a dead son?” This moment epitomized the emotional coercion Price felt from medical professionals.

He reflected, “To have the doctor say to me to my face in front of my child that if I don’t do what he says, my son is going to kill himself is the most blatant example of emotional blackmail I can imagine.” In the documentary, Price emphasized the unsettling reality he faced, stating that many professionals they encountered seemed more focused on alienating the child from the parents rather than on the child’s best interest.

A Turning Point

After initially socially transitioning during his freshman year in college, Simon faced rejection from peers over a political disagreement, which prompted him to question the ideology he had previously embraced. Over time, the relationship between father and son improved, leading Simon to identify as a “desister”—someone who retracts a transgender identity before undergoing any medical intervention.

Reflecting on his journey, Simon expressed gratitude for his father’s steadfastness. He remarked, “I never went to the gender clinic specifically because my dad never let me, and I hated him for it. But I realized that I’m very lucky that he did not let me go. If my dad was neutral or affirming, I would not be here today in the capacity that I am.”

Words of Encouragement to Other Parents

Through his story, Price hopes to empower other parents facing similar challenges. He encourages them not to succumb to external pressures, saying, “Just say no. You are not obligated to doctors, therapists, or schools. You are obligated to the man your son will become someday, or the woman your daughter will become someday.”

As the documentary gains attention, Price advocates for informed discussions around the delicate issue of gender identity and the implications of early medical intervention.

Input from Boston Children’s Hospital

In closing, it is noteworthy that Fox News Digital reached out to Boston Children’s Hospital for a response regarding Price’s claims, but the hospital did not respond. However, the hospital’s overview for its Center for Gender Health states that it provides coordinated care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals while emphasizing the importance of exploring and expressing gender to foster a positive self-image.

This complex topic continues to spur discussions and debates within families, schools, and medical communities, highlighting the necessity for careful deliberation about the direction of evolving gender identity policies.