How my grandfathers’ war wounds formed my belief that transgender youths deserve care

Grandpa Camerato's medals from World War II. He didn't talk much about his war experiences with his family. (Courtesy of Dr. Alex Dworak)

On Father’s Day, I reflected on the men who’ve played important roles in my life. I also thought about the patients in my care who are transgender and nonbinary. These were related thoughts, as I wouldn’t be the doctor I am without the men whose values informed me.

As a primary care physician, I’ve helped develop treatments, policies and protocols for LGBTQIA2S+, gender non-conforming and transgender patients. But recently, politicians have disregarded scientific evidence and every major professional medical association that supports access to health care for transgender people, including three states that have widely limited or sought to widely limit transition care for adults.

My home state of Nebraska is one of 25 states that have enacted laws restricting or banning transgender medical care for youth.

As a result of our state’s regulations and restrictions , several of my adult transgender patients have moved away from Nebraska, and every parent with a trans youth in my care has a plan to leave the state.

This strategy of using marginalized groups as a political football is exactly what my male elders and others of their generation fought against.

Both of my grandfathers served in World War II for our country. Grandpa Dworak served in the Pacific; his service cost him significant hearing loss. Grandpa Camerato didn’t talk much about the war, but my mother said he did mention having shrapnel in his leg from an explosion; for his valor under fire, he received the Bronze Star, in addition to later receiving the Purple Heart for a separate incident.

My father lives these values, as well, and passed them on to me. He upheld his sworn oath to use his medical school training, compassion and dedication to help his patients make the best medical decisions for them. Never, in his career of over 40 years as a radiologist, has he had medically unqualified politicians tell him how to practice medicine. I can’t say the same.

There’s a strong and well-established body of evidence, developed over decades, that demonstrates that individualized and age-appropriate care for transgender people, including transgender youth, improves mental health and overall well-being. I’ve seen these benefits among my patients, including one in particular.

Medical appointments with this patient focus on a review of the goals of treatment as well as the medical risks and benefits; he also sees a mental health professional. This patient wears a hairstyle and clothes that affirm his gender. He just wants to go to school and be with friends like any other kid, but now his parents are grappling about whether Nebraska is the right place for them.

Seventy-two percent of Americans say “politicians do not know enough about gender-affirming health care to make accurate policies.” Granted, views about allowing care for youths are more divided, but that’s to be expected at a time when so many distortions and half-truths are floating around.

I’m committed to staying in Nebraska and advocating for the right to care. I’m going to keep educating fellow medical professionals, politicians and everyone. I believe in my home state and I believe in the United States that my grandparents sacrificed dearly to protect.

We must do more to understand how removing freedoms and appropriate medical care diminishes all of us. As my grandfathers demonstrated to me, protecting the liberty of all reflects the best ideals of fatherhood and America.

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