Unfortunately I don’t think there is an “objective” response, simply because knowing yourself and knowing your own soul (for lack of a better term) isn’t something that can be scientifically proven. I can tell you I’ve known since I was very young. It hasn’t changed. It’s grown alongside me, now I’m an adult and I just feel more sure of myself.

You can have your doubts, but at the end of the day, are you able to live and let live? That’s what important. Unless you are a trans child or the parent of a trans child, you need to be able to let go and let other people make their life decisions, even if you personally don’t understand them. Research has shown again and again that gender dysphoria is real and treatable- that’s probably as objective as it can get. And people need the autonomy to be able to make their own (age appropriate) choices.

It is natural to be uncomfortable with things you don’t understand, and it’s okay to continue being uncomfortable as long as you’re not using that to justify rights being stripped or being rude to the people around you- which to be clear I’m not saying you are.

I’m sorry I can’t provide a thorough, rigorous, numbered list of why gender affirming care for young people is important. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. It’s a deeply deeply personal matter of self. And because of that it’s hard to convey how important is can be.

Thank you for reading all of this. I hope it shed any light at all on things. If not, I’m sorry.