HBO host Bill Maher confronts scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson over his views on transgender athletes and gender-affirming medical care. Maher accuses the U.S. medical establishment of being "afraid" to admit that it has gone too far in allowing minors to undergo gender-altering treatment, citing recent studies and policy changes in the U.K. and Scandinavian countries.
HBO host Bill Maher ignited a heated debate with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson on the latest episode of "Real Time with Bill Maher," challenging Tyson's support for transgender rights and gender-affirming medical care for minors.
Maher argued that the U.S. medical establishment has become "way behind" on the subject of gender medical care compared to European countries, who have restricted related practices after conducting multiple recent studies.
"This is so, to me, symbolic of so much of woke excess, by thinking you're so progressive you're actually behind," Maher said, accusing the U.S. of becoming less sophisticated than other countries on this issue.
Maher cited a recent landmark U.K. medical study led by Dr. Hillary Cass, which concluded that there is "no good evidence" for the medical push to transition children's gender, noting that the effort had been "built on shaky foundations."
He also pointed to England's National Health Service banning the use of puberty blockers for children seeking treatment for gender dysphoria and ordering the closure of the London-based gender identity clinic at the Tavistock and Portman Trust amid safety concerns.
Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Finland, and Denmark have also heavily restricted gender-related medical procedures among children.
Quoting the Cass study, Maher emphasized, "'The reality is that we have no good evidence on the long term outcomes or interventions to manage gender-related distress in kids.' ... 'For most young people, a medical pathway may not be the best way. There's no clear evidence that social transition in childhood has any positive or negative mental health outcomes."
Guest panelist New York Times columnist Pamela Paul expressed her hope that the U.S. will come to the same conclusions as these European studies, but remarked that "the medical establishment, the major medical associations, are staying mum or digging in."
Maher responded, "Right. They're afraid."
Tyson, known for his vocal support of transgender rights, refuted Maher's claims, arguing that the medical consensus on gender-affirming care is sound and that transitioning is necessary for many transgender people to live authentically.
"I think you're overstepping if you think that you have a right to tell someone whether they should have surgery on their body or not," Tyson countered. "That's a decision that should be left to the individual, with the advice of their medical professionals."
Tyson also highlighted the importance of protecting transgender athletes, arguing that they should be allowed to compete in sports consistent with their gender identity.
Maher maintained his stance that the medical establishment has gone too far in allowing minors to undergo gender-altering treatment, questioning the long-term consequences and potential for regret.
The debate highlights the growing divide within the scientific and medical communities on the issue of gender-affirming medical care for minors, as well as the broader societal debates surrounding transgender rights and gender identity.
