text: Some of the scientific assertions in the Jefferson City document are questionable. At one point, it advises playing the "waiting game" with trans students: "Research indicates that most children who explore gender identity conform to the sex assigned at birth by mid-twenties." A more accurate statement is this one, from Pediatric News: "Finally, children who have gender dysphoria beginning at puberty or persisting after puberty generally have persistent gender dysphoria in adulthood." (citation: Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2011 May 17;7(8):466-72.)
  
  Also, the statement that "Students with gender identity concerns tend to have higher rates of attempted suicide" masks the real finding, that "the incidence of mental health problems among transgender and gender nonconforming youth is higher . . . [and] this is especially true if they are unable to live as the gender with which they identify." 
  
  I find it quite reckless that diocese is willing to distort some of the basic research this way.