peacho

@syag
I am not advocating anything regarding anything. I am simply making a statement that people will do what they feel they need to do to function in society whether or not halachic guidance is involved. That is a reality and that’s not something anybody here can change. I believe investing our heavy emotions towards areas that we can change would be a healthier investment rather than putting others down etc.
I mentioned the topic of pedophile database because @avira brought that up as an equivalent issue to people who present as Trans. If they are equal I would assume there’d be equal amounts of anger and desire for change in the other area as well – but it’s all quiet. And yes I am angry by the inaction of the community at large in addressing this issue. I would hope that anyone who has kids or knows kids who are currently in our education system would be equally angered by the inaction.
Regarding those that don’t understand the effect of many schools tznius training (I know definitely in Lakewood), I’m glad you have your rosy view of tznius training. Good for you. Shaming and torturing someone are two different situations. The schools in my area generally use the shaming tactics, like measuring 8 year olds skirts and sending them to the principal if they grew and it’s not “long enough” or telling teens that their top tells guys “open me”. Or the sales ladies telling you it’s too small because you can see a body form. The list goes on, but in general it’s a lot of shaming, objectifying, and guilting of young girls. You don’t have to tell someone their too big etc to make someone ashamed of their body.
Anyway I wish you clarity in your line of work.

I hear that your belief system goes against the idea of gender transition and dysphoria in general. That’s your prerogative. It’s also their prerogative to act according to their belief system. If you have a problem with how the health system is dealing with it, take it up with them. Maybe make an appointment with members in the health system not just from the orthodox community and explain yourself and your views, you might come to a different conclusion or help others see a specific problem etc. But the bashing that I see and hear in this community towards various demographics is shameful to say the least.
On the note of halacha and Avoda Zara, I’m no scholar. I do know halacha is almost never black and white and when such issues do arise in this community (because they most probably will) each individual will do what they need to do with or without halachic guidance. There is nothing anyone can do about it. At the end of the day, this is America and year 2022 we are not Evangelical Christians and a whole lot of rhetoric I’ve been seeing on Jewish sites is very much coming right out of their textbook.

First of all the classes of drugs you are calling “psychotic” meds are called antipsychotic drugs, atypical antipsychotics, ssri, snri, stimulants, anti-anxiety/ benzodiazepines etc… calling an entire group of drugs “psychotic” is demeaning and takes away from your argument.
To begin, statistical data shows Jews of Ashkenazi descent have a higher occurrence of specific mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. These conditions are very often treated with psychotropic drugs. While behavioral therapy is helpful in conjunction, when someone is suffering a mental health disorder there is an actual change in brain chemistry and there should be no shame in treating it with the respect and seriousness it deserves.
ADHD is a neurological condition, it occurs when the brain produces too little dopamine. Different people present differently as a result of the deficiency due to various factors not excluding person specific levels of dopamine and other external factors. There are other non stimulant drugs that work for ADHD. Creating black and white scenarios for individuals with unique chemical make ups is not helpful in the long term. Some people feel at school or work they need a ADHD specific supplement and on a non work day they can do without. Others need supplements on a daily basis and there are some that don’t do well with any of the meds and need to work around their personal needs. We are all different and therefore need different things in our lives. There is nothing wrong with taking medication for diabetes or a heart condition and the same applies to mental health disorders. We are all imperfect and doing our own best in this complex world. Judging or making generalizations on groups of individuals is childish and very unhelpful.