Dr. Lauren Schwartz is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist in private practice in Oklahoma. Her recent advocacy centers on ‘gender-affirming care,’ and in just the last three years she’s made significant contributions to both the clinical and public understanding of the tradeoffs involved in the treatments. If you watched or listened to the remarkable July 9th ‘workshop’ proceedings at the US Federal Trade Commission, you will have heard Lauren speak on a panel titled “What Does the Science Actually Say About ‘Gender-Affirming Care.’

I’m delighted that she and I will both be speaking at the Genspect conference September 27-28 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Tickets selling fast - secure your seat now!)

Note: the ‘outro’ music at the end is a full-length recording of “A Woman’s Work,” one of the great new tracks by William A. Ferguson, who also composed my intro, “Moonlit Sky.” The lyrics of “Women’s Work” are not a strict thematic match with today’s episode; I just like the song, and it’s been awhile since I’ve featured a whole William AF track. Enjoy!

Links:

2024 Open Letter to the APA regarding its "Gender-Affirming Psychiatric Care" textbook, garnering over 7,200 signatures

The June 2025 open-access review of more than 50 studies, highlighting risks associated with feminizing hormones in natal males.

Dr. Schwartz’s presentation to the Federal Trade Commission on “Dangers of Gender Affirming Care for Minors” July 9, 2025.

The just-published book in which Dr. Schwartz authored a chapter: The War on Science, Thirty-Nine Renowned Scientists and Scholars Speak Out About Current Threats to Free Speech, Open Inquiry, and the Scientific Process.

Credits:

Theme music by William A. Ferguson

UnMuted logo art by Anne Gibbons

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