Photo courtesy of Times of India

On Jan. 26, 2024, at approximately 5:51 p.m., an audio recording leaked of an “X Space” (an audio-only way to communicate via X) hosted by Representative Brad Paquette of the Michigan State House of Representatives, representing the 37th House District, revealed Representative Paquette, Representative Schriver (H-66, R), and Representative Kunse (H-100, R) discussing transgender gender-affirming care with Senators Johnathen Lindsey (S-17, R) and Senator Lana Theis (S-22, R) as well as Ohioan Representative Gary Click (OH, H-88, R). They also hosted Prisha Mosely, a detransitioned woman who spoke out against gender-affirming care.

In the leaked audio, Rep. Josh Schriver said, “In terms of end game, why are we allowing these practices for anyone? Why would we stop this for anyone under 18, but not apply this for anyone over 18? This is harmful across the board, and I think it’s something that we need to take into consideration for the end-game.”

This prompted a response from Representative Gary Click of Ohio, with him saying, “Rep. Schriver, that’s very smart thought there, and I think sometimes what we know legislatively that we have to take sometimes small bites. And I think the thing we can say for minors is that sometimes they are not, they are not capable of providing informed consent.”

The sound continues with the representative listing things minors cannot do, as he voices support for the thought, advocating that “puberty is the natural cure for this. 89-95% of kids who have gender dysphoria will desist after they go through puberty.”

Another issue brought up in the clip is that there are no longitudinal studies done on trans individuals. Representative Josh Schrivner brought up the issue of consent, saying that individuals who seek gender-affirming care “Consent to mutilation, consent to self-harm, and consent to killing themselves. There’s not a lot, but a large group of people want to legally be able to consent to killing themselves like they do in Canada.”

He says that in addition to restricting children’s access to gender-affirming services, focus should start to shift towards attesting to adults. 

In their debates, Representative Click advocated for a slow and steady approach to continue to reach this alleged “endgame.” He says, “The bible teaches us we must be wise as serpents and soft as doves, so we must figure out how to get a foot in the door and go for what you can get passed to get that passed then go for the next bite.” 

Prisha Mosely chose this point to speak up, agreeing with Representative Click for a slow and steady approach. She claimed that children and the “gravely ill or mentally unwell” couldn’t give consent to such procedures, to the praise of all the representatives in the space.

Mosely also advocated that gender-affirming care was, in her words, a lie, since it is being offered as an alternative to suicide for transgender individuals.

“It is a lie. It’s lying about the effects,” Mosely said. “It’s saying it’s a straight-up cure for every bad feeling you’ve ever had.”

The space then continued, attesting to how new and experimental the treatments were, and advocating for the complete discontinuance of such treatments. 

The 1 hour and 13 minute X Space was automatically made public after its conclusion. During the live space, there was limited access, and the public could not listen in.

The Space is still up for viewing on Brad Paquette’s X account, on the handle @BradPaquetteMI.