A major Alaska hospital, which is about to begin facilitating transgender surgeries, puberty blockers and hormonal cross-sex drugs for teens and adults, recently fired one of its mental health clinicians for daring to raise medical concerns about the potentially devastating and long-term health consequences of these controversial treatments.
The planned “gender clinic” is the brainchild of the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), which operates two hospitals and 13 clinics in 27 communities throughout Southeast Alaska.
The healthcare behemoth’s decision to embrace questionable transgender treatments, such as amputating perfectly healthy breasts from gender-confused teens, comes at a time when these irreversible practices are being increasing banned or restricted in U.S. states and foreign nations around the world.
LGBTQ ACTIVIST HELP PREP NEW ‘GENDER CLINIC’
On May 8, Angela Butler, a psychiatric emergency services clinician, was invited to an online informational meeting with fellow healthcare providers from SEARHC to discuss the company’s preparation and the strategic roll out of its new gender clinic.
For the past year and a half, Butler has worked at SEARHC’s Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center in Sitka. Her job was to evaluate various incoming patients who might be at high risk for mental health issues or suicidal ideation, and to investigate the possible causes, length and severity of these disorders.
The virtual meeting was overseen by SEARHC Hospital Administrator Dr. David Vastola, who also serves as medical director for Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center. Vastola welcomed presenter, Dr. Kevin Wang, the medical director of the Providence-Swedish LGBTQAI+ Program in Washington. Swedish is affiliated with Providence St. Joseph Health, a Catholic, not-for-profit founded by the Sisters of Providence in 1856. Providence operates 34 hospitals including the one in Anchorage.
Wang describes himself as a “gay family physician.” Aside from his clinical cross-sex work, he is deeply embedded in radical LGBTQ activism, having served on the boards for Seattle Pride, the National LGBTQ Task Force and Planned Parenthood.
During the virtual meeting, Wang can be heard lecturing SEARHC employees about the reality of “gender fluidity” and the notion that it is perfectly acceptable – even healthy – for people to undergo life-altering medical procedures to make them appear like the opposite sex.
He told SEARHC employees that gender expression can change from day to day depending on environment and social contexts, and he described “demi-boys” and “demi-girls” as people who move in and out of different gender expressions.
Wang then lamented the fact that biological males who want to identify as some other gender are forced to deal with the uncomfortable reality of having a penis. He also spoke of the importance of allies and how they can support the LGBTQ community, and then thanked SEARHC leadership for supporting the establishment of the cross-sex clinic.
At one point, he instructed participants to explore their own gender identity to find out where they fall on the so-called gender “spectrum,” a theory which rejects the fact that people are either 100% male or 100% female. Additionally, he urged SEARHC employees to probe incoming patients about their preferred gender identity, and recommended that all SEARHC staff undergo training to make the hospital more accepting of LGBTQ identity and policy.
Dr. Wang said there is no need to assess a patent’s mental health when they request drastic medical interventions to appear as the opposite sex.
“This doctor spent the first half of the meeting talking about all the different genders, and that you can express yourself in different ways, and we need to respect even children when they come out – respect their gender,” Butler told the Alaska Watchman. “It was kind of frustrating for me to hear. And everybody’s kind of taking it seriously – well-educated people.”
Wang’s talk informed SEARHC medical staff about the logistics involved in facilitating a patient’s sexual transition, including how to help them “come out,” get their legal documents changed, and the medical aspects of assisting them in attaining “care” to remove their breasts, shave down facial bones and reduce the size of their Adam’s apple.
He also spoke about special undergarments patients might be given to give their chest and groin area a “flatter appearance” without surgery, or padded bras to make a biological male appear as if he has breasts.
Wang then addressed treatments that can be conducted on adolescents, such as puberty blockers and breast amputation – also known as “top surgery.”
Other surgeries, such as reshaping a penis to make it appear as a vagina, or vice versa, should only be done on patients who are 18 or older, Wang advised. He added that powerful hormonal injections and pills should also be reserved for patients who are at least 18.
At this point in the meeting, Butler typed a question into the chat box.
“Why is surgical transition still being used, even after studies are being done showing no improvement in mental health and worsening mental health? Specifically, the study that just came out in February in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.”
Wang replied that he wasn’t familiar with the study, and proceeded to cite articles from the University of Michigan and Cornell which backed his belief that cross-sex treatments can increase many patients’ “overall satisfaction with life.”
Even though hormonal injections cause irreversible changes to a person’s appearance and physical development, Dr. Wang said there is no need to assess a patent’s mental health when they request drastic medical interventions to appear as the opposite sex. The only exceptions may be when someone is under the influence of substances or experiencing hallucinations to the point where they don’t appear capable of providing consent, he said. In most other cases, wherein patients are suffering from clinical depression or anxiety, Wang claimed that giving them cross-sex hormones is part of the solution.
Everybody who participates is either deluding themselves into thinking they are healthy, or they are so concerned about being called intolerant that they just go along with it.”
Wang made no mention of the rising number of detransitioners, who are coming out with stories of deep regret and sorrow after agreeing to undergo transgender treatments. He was also silent about a new 400-page analysis by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services which found that the available science does not support providing transgender drugs or surgeries to youth.
Towards the end of the meeting, Wang explained how the new Alaska gender clinic would operate, starting with quarterly in-person clinics, along with monthly virtual clinics from his Washington-based office.
Since Alaska’s State Medical Board recently urged the Legislature to ban hormonal and surgical cross-sex treatment on minors, Wang cautioned that it might be best for the clinic began by limiting patients to those ages 18 and older.
“That would be my recommendation at this point,” he said.
Wang’s presentation, however, included a slide that suggested SEARHC could “offer care to younger patients once the clinic is more established.”
Before opening the clinic, Wang recommended SEARHC staff undergo training in how to offer and monitor hormonal injections. There should also be “training for all healthcare team members to provide inclusive environment,” he noted.
Following Wang’s presentation, Hospital Director Vastola thanked him.
“We’re thrilled to have you,” he said, adding that he expects the gender clinic to open shortly.
“You’re credentialed and we’re ready to go,” he enthusiastically told Wang. “I think we probably need to get together with the specialty clinic folks just to talk about scheduling, and we should be able to pull something off in the not too distant future here.”
Vastola then claimed that cross-sex medicine is popular among America’s Indigenous populations, including the Indian Health Service, which he said is “very, very supportive of transgender care.”
“There is a lot of support for this in Indian country,” Vastola asserted.
SEARHC’s decision to wade into cross-sex medicine comes as it’s celebrating its 50th anniversary year. Founded in 1975 under the Indian Self-Determination Act, SEARHC’s roots stem from the Alaska Native self-determination movement of the 1970s, when tribal leaders sought to provide essential services for their own people. SEARHC’s mission states: “Alaska Native People working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities.”
The day after the virtual meeting, Butler sent a message to her fellow attendees.
“Doesn’t anybody else realize how unethical this is?” she wrote. “A boy cannot become a girl, and a girl cannot become a boy. You’re attempting to treat mental health issues with medical treatment that is not necessary and is actually detrimental to the teens and young adults. Everybody who participates is either deluding themselves into thinking they are healthy, or they are so concerned about being called intolerant that they just go along with it.”
About an hour after posting her concerns, all of Butler’s SEARHC accounts were locked and she was put on administrative leave. A few days later, HR Director Candice Ivie called Butler, along with Butler’s acting supervisor Dr. Carly Allen.
“Just to be clear, I’m being fired for questioning practices performed by SEARHC that have been banned in 24 states and the Alaska State Medical Board is recommending that they also ban in Alaska.”
TERMINATED FOR ‘MY BELIEFS’
“They said they were willing to have me come back with a final warning letter,” Butler noted. “They said I could come back to work, but I couldn’t keep bringing up similar things.”
Butler said she couldn’t agree to being silenced.
“Then they called me Wednesday morning and said if I don’t sign something that says I won’t bring it up anymore, then I can’t come back,” Butler recounted.
Butler refused and later that afternoon, she was terminated.
A recording of the termination phone call makes it clear that Butler was fired because she dared to raise legitimate concerns about SEARHC’s embrace of transgender treatments.
“Angie, from our evaluation of this, it’s clear that your needs don’t align with SEARHC’s values and our standards of conduct at this point, so we’re going to be terminating your employment,” Dr. Allen told Butler over the phone.
Butler shot back: “Just to be clear, I’m being fired for questioning practices performed by SEARHC that have been banned in 24 states and the Alaska State Medical Board is recommending that they also ban in Alaska, and I’m being fired for bringing that up.”
Dr. Allen tried to claim that the firing had more to do with Butler’s “professionalism” and inability to align with “SEARHC values.”
“What values am I not aligning with?” Butler probed.
“You’re not willing to participate,” Allen responded.
Butler said she was willing to discuss the merits of the transgender clinic, but at every turn she has been shut down by SEARHC leadership.
“No one else is willing to discuss this with me,” she told Allen and Ivie. “Because everyone else just wants to ignore it and pretend that this is the best thing when scientific evidence show that this is not the best thing. And I am being fired for bringing this up.”
When Butler tried to make a final point that she was being fired due to her beliefs, her supervisors hung up on her.
When told that she was not using the “appropriate platform” to bring up her concerns, Butler noted that she has attempted to address the issue through emails, staff meetings and other venues.
“I have been trying to bring this up for months,” she said. “I keep getting shut down because nobody wants to talk about it.”
Butler superiors then told her that her beliefs ran counter to SEARHC’s commitment to “respect all of our team members.”
“My beliefs aren’t being respected because I believe a boy is not a girl, and a girl is not a boy,” Butler responded. “I’m being called intolerant and it’s being said I’m not providing patients with the best care when I believe that I am, because I am doing what is in their best interests and you guys are the ones who are providing detrimental treatments to them. And I am being fired for calling that out.”
Allen doubled down on claiming that Butler’s actions did not respect other people’s beliefs.
“So, you’re telling me it’s not appropriate to question these practices,” Butler said. “And it’s not appropriate to bring up scientific articles. And it’s not appropriate to bring up other states and countries that are banning these practices because they have been found to be unethical.”
Allen said the firing had more to do with the “accusatory tones” Butler has employed, as well as initiating conversations via the online platform.
“And it doesn’t really matter at this point, because you don’t agree with us,” Allen added. “So, that’s where we’re coming to the line in the road.”
When Butler tried to make a final point that she was being fired due to her beliefs, her supervisors hung up on her. Shortly thereafter she received her termination letter.
SEARHC’s decision to press forward with transgender services may prove costly, given that President Trump is taking steps to block federal funds for entities that engage in these practices, particularly those that facilitate cross-sex procedures on minors.
SEARHC received nearly $80 million in federal funding last year, and the organization has an annual operating budget of more than $340 million.
TAKING ACTION
— Click here to report complaints regarding the chemical and surgical mutilation of children to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
— Click here to report violation of conscience or religious liberties to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
— Click here to see who serves on the SEARHC board of directors.
— Click here to contact the executive offices of SEARHC.
39 Comments
On page 11 of the “study” Angela Butler mentioned, is the description of limitations of the study. The limitations section is a common feature of scientific studies, and point out the ways in which conclusions might be in error. This is not a real study in the way that scientists frame studies, but is instead a literature review. A literature review summarizes key texts to claim a pattern in them that would (hopefully) indicate the direction research is going. In this case, the acknowledged limitations note that the data used for the literature is of poor quality, and describes some of the reasons for the poor quality. The conclusions of the literature review, then, is that more case studies need to be gathered, and the data needs to be of higher quality, before any conclusions about detransitioning can be drawn. In essence, Dr. Butler’s use of the article to argue against Dr. Wang is misguided because the article did not make the claims that she thought it did.
I wish that Dr. Butler had not been fired, as there is certainly a need for mental health professionals. However, she did clearly violate SEARHC policy, and by the summary of her comments during the phone call with HR, she also failed to act professionally.
You can read the full study online here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387462263_Prevalence_of_detransition_in_persons_seeking_gender-affirming_hormonal_treatments_a_systematic_review
On the contrary, if it indicates additional studies are needed then a pause on irreversible surgical and hormonal interventions should be a valid reason for further discussion.
Just like the sickening left, if you don’t agree with our sick disgusting ways you’re fired.
I do hope and pray this clinic doesn’t open up.
all of this should be outlawed, and considered mutilation.
There is no other way to describe the people involved in this clinic than severely mentally ill!
Ever consider talking to a transgender person about their life’s journey?
Paul most people are concerned about confused children, what type of life’s journey’s could they possibly have? You seem to have forgotten what it was like being a child, or maybe you still are?
there is no “Life Journey” that justifies the mutilation of a human being, especially a child. ANYONE suggesting this as a solution for what is a deep seated mental health issue is either uninformed or disgustingly evil. Doctors performing the mutilations need to be brought up on charges and jailed.
So Wang says that gender is fluid and can change from day-to-day? Hmm, sounds like he’s making a great case not to amputate an appendage. The patient might feel differently tomorrow.
Good point!
What the mad scientists of our times call “Gender Fluid” used to just be called “Moods”.
What is awesome about everything going down in the medical industry right now is that only the stupid and insane will be swept up by the deception. The sane members of society will find ways to maintain their own health and will cause an industry boom of naturopathic and holistic medicines.
The old MAD system will crumble and those who have pushed the lies on us will pay their karma in full. It will not be a good time for them.
I agree with one thing “Dr” Wang said: “ there is no need to assess a patent’s mental health when they request drastic medical interventions to appear as the opposite sex.” True, the state of their mental health is self evident. Where we part company is what to do about it.
Dr. Wang is evidence that possessing a doctorate in medicine does not preclude one from mental illness, nor demonic influence or possession. The man is sadly deluded and soldiering on for Satan in that delusion. With that said, Butler is courageous and any hospital or medical system would be blessed to have her on board. As for Vestola’s statement ‘that cross-sex medicine is popular among America’s Indigenous populations’ – well given the tragic epidemic of mental illness and addiction within ‘indigenous’ populations – it is not surprising. What this population needs is ramped up addiction intervention and mental health services, not Dr. Wang aka Frankenstein, encouraging more mental illness and disfigurement. Lord have mercy.
OFFS Elizabeth. You might have a case but it is completely drowned by your religious BS. Eliminate that and maybe a few curious readers will give you more than a 10 second read.
Manny, you have made it clear that you do not believe in God, nor do you think anyone who does believe has a brain his or her head. Mighty inclusionary of you, I’d say. Have you considered that for 5,000 years, people have believed in God, for good reasons which you ignore, so you might just be the outlier? Please prove to us that there is no God. We will wait.
Manny, EH has been articulating God’s word for probably longer than you’ve been alive. She is polite, professional, thoughtful and still willing to share her faith with sinners like you. Some
Of us log on daily to spend our free time reading what she has to say because we know and trust it to be true. Didn’t your mother teach you to be kind? Shame on you for your lack of manners and for threatening someone via the comments section of a conservative news source. You must not be in control of your life right now and needed to flex your fingerboard idiocy. Stay in your lane.
Manny. Just shut the hell up.
Look, sorry you were abused by your parents and that you have nothing but hate for anything that resembles a healthy relationship, but that is not our fault. Seek help man. And FFS stop identifying yourself as your trauma. Grow the hell up.
curious readers will give you more than a 10 second read.
JUST PLAIN MENTAL ILLNESS! JUST LEAVE THESE FOOLS TO THEIR OWN IDIOTIC REASONING AND THEY WILL BREED THEMSELVES OUT OF EXISTENCE.
On the contrary: They do not breed, which is why they must prey upon the youth. They need to continue the cycle of abuse in order to legitimatize their own “lifestyle” of self abuse. It’s a cycle, and Dr. Wang is in it. Self-abuse and abuse of others has been normalized for him. Unless there’s an intervention in their lives, most victims of sexual abuse continue the cycle. They become perpetual victims and allow their experience to define themselves, even while refusing to admit that the experience itself plays some role in defining who they are. “Born this way” is just a mantra for escapism that makes it possible for a victim to ignore the reality that someone hurt him and he’s struggled more than the average person to discern who he is and who he will become because of that hurt. Adolescence is difficult to pass through, and ever more so if one has been abused. Having experienced sexual abuse is not THE defining characteristic of any human person, but to deny that an experience of that magnitude plays no role at all in shaping you is nonsense. Whenever human beings divert from God’s plan for them, the innocent -the children- suffer most.
Report these people and this hospital. Remove their federal funding.
Health care needs to return to “first do no harm”.
Butler should sue.
Reported SEARHC to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for civil rights violations.
Wang should be in an institution and no where near any responsibility.
Disgusting behavior and degeneracy, as usual from the left. I hope she sues them into bankruptcy.
They are totalitarian sex perverts totally dedicated to grooming the next generation.
Who cries for the children who have undergone surgeries and still find no relief only continuous pain mental and physical?
Dillusional subhuman species of some sort that for now are being allowed to prey on the helpless for what, oh, that’s right the grant money. They are not deluded about that. This grant money is drying up and hope and pray these individuals will be held accountable for ruining the lives of others, especially the children. They are no better than the creator of Covid-19 Anthony Faucci.
this may not I’ll be bad, I mean ladies we should at least be able to get a hysterectomy now! we might have to lie on the paperwork and say no I need gender change but this is going to be the first thing that goes. pretty messed up when surgery said are needed because of illnesses or to prevent illnesses they won’t do but if you say I want to be a boy you can get those cancer time bomb breasts removed and you can get that hysterectomy.
It appears most of you don’t know how to read a scientific study. The study says multiple times there is not good enough information to make any sound scientific judgements about detransitioning. it’s also very tellingnthat none of you know or have probably ever talked to a trans person to know what their life is actually like. Most detranisitions happen because of the hate trans people recieve from their families and “loving christians” i.e.bigots. More fake news outrage from MAGAts. How about all you fake christians practice what your beloved Jesus preached, compassion and tolerance instead of hate hate hate hate hate which seems to be the only emotion yall have besides fear.
Haha that’s funny. How do you expect people to accept you for who you are if you could not even accept yourself for who you were?
Maybe there would not be so much animosity for trans sickos if they didn’t try to push their identity and ideology in our faces with everything from corporate advertising and insertion into our movies and video games. You wanna cut your body parts off and pretend to be something you are not? Try doing it with your own money. When the tax payers are held responsible for the choices you wish to make with your body, that is where you will encounter resistance. Stop trying to indoctrinate children with your mental illness. Stay in your little safe spaces with the rest of the queers and leave the rest of the normal people out of your twisted fantasy. Or get a job or a hobby or something, anything besides your obsession with your fetishes.
Here’s some info you might be interested in: https://segm.org/first_large_study_of_detransitioners
You’ll notice that only 13% detransitioned due to “lack of support from social surroundings.” 70% de transitioned due to the realization that their gender dysphoria was related to other issues.
I feel sad for Dr. Feiglerova that this mental health practitioner is misquoting her research as evidence against gender-affirming care. If you’re going to claim a study as evidence, it helps to read and understand it first!
Groomer Dr.Wang should not be near any children, period. Hats off to Butler for her speaking the TRUTH and refusing to bow to the Alphabet Mafia’s demands she go along with their nonsense to keep her job. As for Dr. Vastola’s claims the Indian community wants this? Has he asked why? Most if not all gender make-believers are victims of childhood sexual molestation.
Has Dr Vastola revealed his implicit bias in recommending this?
Additional comment: The webpage for filing a complaint with the Civil Rights Division still asks for preferred pronouns and if you are a Mx.
The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare also examined evidence-based research on the care of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria. After a comprehensive review, the Board concluded, “the risk of hormonal interventions for gender dysphoric youth outweigh the potential benefits.”[lvii]In this report, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare noted the insufficiency of evidence for safety and efficacy of treatments (thus any definitive conclusions cannot be drawn), the poorly understood marked change in demographics and the lack of clarity regarding the cause of gender dysphoria as the number of patients continues to increase (especially in adolescent females), the increasing prevalence of young adults who chose to detransition, and the markedly different population involved in previous cases studied with evidence for pediatric transition.
SEARHC is all about the money, they’ll stop at nothing- even permanent bodily mutilation of people who need help. Pure evil! This is why I will fly off-island to another provider for anything that’s not life threatening. I knew SEARHC was evil, but this article has furthered my resolve to boycott them.
bit really, so many say that bit NO ONE willing to take them on
15 years ago when I worked for another Indian Health Service facility, due to federal funding, a woman could not get an abortion paid for with IHS funds….but a now a person can seek out a sexc change and have that paid for?
if adults want to transition, let them do so, but not at the expense of the taxpayers! And hands off kids completely! Kids are not considered competent to make decisions about a variety of different things and the transitioning thing is permanently altering. Transitioning kids is nothing less than criminal.