Chloe Cole, now 21, has stepped forward to share her story, highlighting the lasting consequences of her medical transition from female to male between the ages of 12 and 16.
Her experience has sparked a nationwide discussion on the safety and ethics of gender transition procedures for minors.
Cole began taking puberty blockers at just 12, underwent a double mastectomy at 15, and eventually started de-transitioning at 17.
Today, she speaks openly about how these interventions caused irreversible changes to her body and life.
Speaking Out for Change
On Thursday, Chloe appeared alongside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other officials to advocate for new policies aimed at protecting children from what critics call “sex-rejecting procedures.”
The proposed measures would limit federal funding for hospitals performing gender transition surgeries on minors.
These rules follow a January executive order from former President Donald Trump directing the Department of Health and Human Services to protect children from what he described as “chemical and surgical mutilation.”
Chloe’s Story: Feeling Pressured and Misguided
In her speech, Chloe described how once her gender identity became part of the conversation, doctors and psychologists focused on her feelings rather than her overall well-being.
“The entire focus was on my feelings and what I wanted, not what I truly needed,” she said.
She explained that what she really needed was love and affirmation for being a “young, tomboyish little girl.”
Instead, medical professionals highlighted the supposed benefits of stopping female puberty and starting testosterone, without fully addressing the long-term risks.
“There was nothing they could say to me that would make me understand the gravity of what I was about to go through, because I was still growing up,” Cole said.
She emphasized that her parents never fully believed she was transgender but felt compelled to support her wishes due to pressure from doctors and warnings that she might attempt suicide if they refused.
Lifelong Consequences
Today, Chloe faces ongoing physical and emotional challenges.
Her fertility is uncertain, and she will never be able to breastfeed due to her double mastectomy.
Skin grafts from her surgery began failing two years after the procedure, forcing her to wear bandages daily.
“As an adult, I’m grieving. My quality of life is still being impacted,” she shared.
In 2023, Chloe filed a lawsuit through the Center for American Liberty (CAL), alleging that hospitals coerced her into what she calls “medical mutilation.”
CAL’s executive director, Mark Trammell, said Thursday’s HHS announcement validates concerns about the safety and ethics of such interventions on children.
Financial and Ethical Concerns
Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, spoke at the event, highlighting the enormous costs of gender transition surgeries.
According to JAMA data cited by Dr. Oz, a vaginoplasty can cost around $60,000, while a phalloplasty can reach $150,000.
“We’re not gonna let taxpayer money go to hurt these children,” he said.
“Inflicting these procedures on young people costs them and the Medicaid system countless dollars, while providers reap the rewards.”
Officials argue that beyond financial concerns, children are not developmentally equipped to consent to irreversible medical procedures, and the federal government has a responsibility to step in.
Advice for Youth and Families
Chloe hopes her story will encourage children questioning their gender to pause before making irreversible decisions.
“While there are only two sexes, there are a million different ways that you can be yourself,” she said.
“God is there for you. He is the one who has created you this way, and you can seek his counsel.”
She emphasized the importance of family support, faith, and counseling over medical interventions, urging children to focus on personal growth and purpose rather than immediate physical changes.
Policy Shifts and Future Outlook
The HHS measures announced aim to restrict puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for minors, particularly in federally funded or regulated healthcare systems.
Officials stress that the goal is to prioritize child safety, informed consent, and evidence-based care.
“This is not medicine, it is malpractice,” Kennedy said, highlighting that children lack the developmental capacity to consent to permanent medical procedures.
Supporters of these restrictions argue that stories like Chloe’s show how the medical system has often rushed into irreversible interventions, instead of providing counseling, family support, and time for self-discovery.
Recent data indicates a sharp decline in transgender and non-binary identification among Generation Z, with numbers nearly halving in just two years.
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