‘Lucrative business’: Child sex-change industry is exploding in the U.S.

‘There’s money to be made’

From wnd.com

  • The child sex-change industry is massive and growing, and children undergoing cross-sex treatments can bring a massive cash influx to hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and others in the medical industry. 
  • From 2017-2019 at least 56 genital surgeries and 776 mastectomies were performed on minors as part of the gender transition process in the U.S., but even this figure is outdated and vastly underestimates the scope of the child sex change industry by excluding certain patients. 
  • “There is no question that financial rewards play a role in the adoption of gender affirming care. Hospitals and physicians generate substantial payments from insurers or self pay patients when children enter into the transition protocols,” Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, board chair of Do No Harm and former Associate Dean for Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Child sex-change procedures, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries, have become a rapidly-growing, multi-million-dollar industry, according to a Daily Caller News Foundation investigation.

While there is no comprehensive data set tracking the number of children undergoing cross-sex procedures, and the cost of these procedures varies widely, existing data and experts in the field have shed light on a highly profitable and quickly growing market offering largely irreversible procedures to minors. Mastectomies and breast augmentations cost about $10,000, cross-sex genital surgeries cost about $25,000, plus several thousand dollars for anesthesia and a hospital stay, and facial and other cross-sex surgeries range from $2,000 to $15,000, according to the Philadelphia Transgender Surgery Center’s (PTSC) 2019 price list; those prices have gone up in recent years, an employee told the DCNF, but the clinic has not released an updated list and wouldn’t disclose its new prices without a patient consultation.

“There is no question that financial rewards play a role in the adoption of gender affirming care,” Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, board chair of Do No Harm and former Associate Dean for Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, told the DCNF. “Hospitals and physicians generate substantial payments from insurers or self-pay patients when children enter into the transition protocols.”

“No matter what other motives come into play, there is no way that the surgical and medical activities would be embraced by various gender clinics and hospitals if they were financially harmed by these clinical activities,” Goldfarb added.

About 300,000 children in the U.S. identify as transgender, according to the University of California Los Angeles Williams Institute, though not everyone who adopts a transgender identity seeks a medical transition. While many of these children undergo surgical procedures, particularly mastectomies, a larger portion receive puberty blockers and/or hormones, which provides a continuous stream of revenue to pharmaceutical companies and medical providers.  

There are more than 100 gender clinics in the U.S. that treat children, according to Reuters, and each of these clinics would need to see at least 100 patients annually to be successful but are likely seeing as many as 300 a year, Goldfarb told the DCNF. By that estimate, there are likely at least 10,000 to 30,000 children undergoing some form of gender transition in the U.S. each year.

The overall cross-sex surgery market was valued at $1.9 billion in 2019 and is projected to rise to $5 billion by 2023, accordingto Grand View Research, which attributed rising market value to the increased prevalence of transgender identification and improved insurance coverage for the procedures. The rise in transgender identification has been heavily concentrated among the youth population.

The medical industry is acting on these financial incentives: Johns Hopkins Medicine has been lobbying the Maryland legislature to expand Medicaid coverage of transgender procedures to include a host of interventions typically considered cosmetic, such as Adam’s apple reduction, facial contouring and laser hair removal, according to a DCNF investigation. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a professional association, has been fighting against state legislation restricting child sex change procedures and advocating for expanded coverage of trans procedures since at least 2017.

A woman identified as Dr. Shayne Taylor of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) reportedly touted the profitability of gender surgeries during a lecture in 2018, the same year VUMC opened its gender clinic, according to the Daily Wire. VUMC offered hormones and double-mastectomies to minors who identified as transgender to help them present as the opposite sex until it paused the procedures in late 2022 following pressure from the state legislature.

“This is only including top surgery, this isn’t including any bottom surgery, and it’s a lot of money. These surgeries make a lot of money,” Taylor said. “So a female to male chest reconstruction can bring in $40,000. A patient who just got routine hormones treatment who I’m only seeing a few times a year can bring in several thousand dollars without requiring a lot of visits and labs. It actually makes money for the hospital.”

From 2017-2019 at least 56 genital surgeries and 776 mastectomies were performed on minors in the U.S., though this data only includes minors who had formal gender dysphoria diagnoses and had their surgeries covered by insurance, according to insurance data analyzed by health technology company Komodo Health Inc and originally reported by Reuters. The data set doesn’t account for the likely much higher numbers of children undergoing such surgeries in more recent years amid skyrocketing rates of youth transgender identification.

“There’s money to be made, but not from the single cost of a procedure,” Mary Hasson, director of the Person and Identity Project at the Ethics and Public Policy Institute, told the DCNF. “The gender docs are creating a steady money stream by converting adolescents with healthy bodies into ‘consumers’ of drastic medical procedures that turn them into lifelong medical patients, dependent on additional drugs, surgery, and psychological help to live a stable life.”

“Unfortunately, as we know from the suicide studies, the promised long-term happy result is illusory,” Hasson said.

Based on PTSC’s estimates, the 259 minors annually undergoing top surgery prior to 2020 likely brought in about $2.6 million — and this only includes minors whose surgeries were covered by insurance and who had formal gender dysphoria diagnoses. Genital surgeries are rare for children, but if about 19 minors had those procedures annually prior to 2020, as Komodo’s data suggests, that would bring in $570,000 per year for child genital surgeries.

A sex change patient who begins treatments during puberty incurs massive costs immediately; the puberty blocker Lupron-Depot-PED costs about $2,000 a month, according to Drugs.com, so a youth patient who takes the drug from age 14 to 16 would spend $48,000 over two years of treatment. Cross-sex hormones, the next step of medical transition, are far less expensive than blockers. They’re typically offered at age 16, according to England’s National Health Service, and though some may eventually stop taking them, patients must continue treatments for the duration of their lives to continue seeing its full effects, according to Duke Health.

Hormones cost about $10 per month, according to Lurie Children’s Hospital; a patient who starts hormones at 16 and continues until age 80, would spend about $7,600 on the drugs over the course of a lifetime. The cost of routine medical visits to monitor a hormone patient would presumably be much higher; Taylor estimated hospitals rake in “thousands” each year from one patient taking hormones.

Advocates for child gender transitions argue that the procedures are medically necessary to address the mental health and suicide risks among transgender people and to allow them to live as their authentic selves. Several DCNFinvestigations and reviews have disputed claims that medical gender transitions reduce mental health problems and suicide risks.

“While transgender activists have tried to pass off their cause as a civil rights movement, it is more accurate to describe it as a profit-making machine,” Terry Schilling, president of American Principles Project, a group that opposes child gender transitions, told the DCNF. “‘Gender transitions’ are a lucrative business, enriching Big Pharma as well as numerous hospitals and clinics. And as the number of people claiming a transgender identity has exploded, so has the industry catering to their desires.” Source

This sickens me. This is diabolical.

I so look forward to leaving this demonic world to be forever with my precious Lord and Savior JESUS.

MARANATHA!

My Fellow Citizens of Heaven

by William Oldham

        What a wonderful privilege it is to be a citizen of Heaven! What hope fills my heart, knowing that one day, I will set up residence in that heavenly country forever, leaving behind, a world of sin and sorrow. What comfort and joy I find, knowing that one day, I will join my friends and loved ones in that fair land. There we shall meet face to face, the One who loves us and Who brought us to that beautiful place—Jesus Christ.

          Folks from every nation, tribe and tongue, who are united together in Christ, are fellow citizens of Heaven. “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 Now, all who are in Christ, are citizens of Heaven. 

However, we cannot enjoy the fullness of our citizenship while we are in these mortal bodies. Only when Jesus Christ comes for us, and we are given our new, heavenly bodies, only then shall we fully comprehend our citizenship. Until that Day, we are housed in a temporary, body of clay, and are “strangers and pilgrims” in this present world. But, we have the sure word of God to guide us in our earthly journey. Here we have a word from the apostle Paul:

“Above all, you must live as citizens of Heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Jesus Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies…” Philippians 1:27-28

          In reading this Scripture, it becomes very clear that above all we may think or do, there is one thing of utmost importance to Jesus Christ—the faith of His Good News. He has committed into the hands of His citizens, He has commanded us to tell the Good News (the gospel) to whosoever we may have opportunity to do so; that must be uppermost in our hearts and minds.

          The first word of the Good News of Jesus Christ is love; a love beyond all understanding; a love that would cause God to give His only begotten Son, whom He loved greatly, to an old rugged cross for the sin of the world—for sinners like me and you! It is a love that Jesus Christ would demonstrate by willingly giving His body to the nails and spear, and shedding His life’s blood for the likes of you and me. In love, Jesus laid down His life to give us forgiveness of sins and free us from all condemnation. This is the Good News Jesus wants the world to hear.

          In order to keep this the main thing, and fight to proclaim it, the citizens of Heaven, living on earth, MUST stand together, with one spirit and one purpose. One spirit means the Spirit of love; the love of the Father and the love of Jesus Christ. When a person is born again, “…The love of God is shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit.” Romans 5:4

          Every citizen of Heaven possesses God’s love; but sadly, not every citizen practices it. If we refuse to love one another as Christ loved us, we lose our unity, His purpose is lost, and the Good News falls by the wayside; and the lost remain lost. “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” John 15:12

          You may feed the poor, help the homeless, work on a disaster team, (which are all good things to do), but if you don’t love your brothers and sisters, the rest means nothing in Christ’s eyes. If you love this present world, the love of the Father is not in you. For the love of Jesus Christ, love one another with a genuine, sincere love, if in fact, you are a citizen of Heaven.

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net   

Doctrines of Demons, Itching Ears and End Times Deception: Is Asbury a True Revival?

Originally written over 6 years ago, I felt compelled to bring this article out once again. The deception and heretical movements of these end times are so far from the truth of the Word of God; it makes a person wonder how the followers can be so deceived and gullible.

But wonder as we may, Jesus did warn about the coming deception:

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4).

 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24: 23-25).

At the end of this piece I will address the Asbury (Revival), not with my own words, but with the words of a solid brother in Christ who is also a gifted writer.

Here is the original article from 2017:

” For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

As I look around today, I see this passage of Scripture so clearly coming to pass. Perhaps there have always been many with itching ears, but I think that it is much worse in these last days. Are these people truly saved? How can they be so deceived? Did they attempt to come to God via the well traveled road and very wide gate that God warns us to avoid? How can someone who has the Holy Spirit living within them want their ears to be tickled with heresies? Where is the discernment?

It makes no sense.

When I was drawn by the Lord in 1983, it was a powerful and supernatural event. I had searched for the truth about God for most of my life. On that unforgettable night, He opened my eyes and my heart, and I remember saying to the person sharing salvation with me, “This is it. It’s so clear to me now!”

I am not saying that we all have to have a dramatic two feet off the floor experience. But I do believe that it should be a memorable time when a person finally realizes that he/she is a wretched sinner – unable to save themselves and that God is HOLY and HE does the saving.

Our Need for the Word of God

Another thing I remember is that I could not get enough of His Word. I would forget to eat food because I was immersed in His Word, and could hardly break away from it. I was told to start with the Gospel of John and I did. Then I went through all four gospels. His Holy Word became the most important thing in my life.

I knew that when I went to church, I should be hearing about sin and repentance. It was ALL about Jesus and Him crucified, and the love that sent Him to that cross. I yearned to hear a preacher open up the Word to me in a deeper way. The couple who had led me to the Lord were charismatic, so I went to my first church with them.

Where Was Preaching About Sin and Repentance?

I was brand new in Christ, but I still knew that the sermons I was hearing were leaving me empty. One Sunday night I saw Charles Stanley preaching on TV, and I considered him a gift from Jesus at that time of my walk with Him. When he preached, he backed everything up with Scripture. He spoke of sin and repenting and growing in Christ. I considered him to be my pastor in those early years.

Wolves in the Pulpit

The heretical pastors with mega churches need itching ears to stay in business. I call it a business because that is what it is. When I see Joel Osteen and his lovely wife (she is pretty) standing up in front of 30,000 fans, telling them that God just wants them to be happy happy, happy -it makes me sad and it makes me sick.

WHERE does it say in God’s Word that He just wants us to be happy? But the tithes are paid and the ears tickled and everyone seems satisfied. But my Bible says that we will also have tribulation in this life  (John 16:33).

The Word of Faith preachers love the itching ears. They preach that if their members will give sacrificially, that God will surely pour out financial blessings upon them – two and three fold. So the little old lady who is on Medicare gives Kenneth Copeland her last twenty dollars, and goes without food for a week – but she is still waiting for that magical payment from heaven. It makes me want to SCREAM!

Are these people saved but extremely shallow and immature? Or is it possible that they never were saved in the first place? I can’t make that call, but it distresses me greatly to watch people who name the name of Jesus as their Savior, following after false teachers who preach a different gospel.

I do know that the false teachers will be judged harshly.

James 3:1 clearly states it:

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

Be a Berean:

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:10-11).

I pray that many eyes will be opened to the truth of the Word of God, and that they will see that they are being taught heresies.

WAKE UP!

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Let’s take a look at the “Revival at Asbury Church”

Some are saying that this is indeed a revival sent by God. Some are being cautious and are taking a ‘Wait and see’ stance.

Others are declaring that this is not a true revival sent by God; that it was orchestrated by men and women. They are saying that there are many Biblical truths which are being ignored i.e. Repentance and declaring that Salvation is only attained by trusting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Instead of me writing about my take on this – I have decided to post a most eloquent and comprehensive writing from a brother in Christ. John Haller shared this today on his Bible Prophecy Update. I decided that I would present this brother’s writing and let the readers ask the Lord to open their eyes to the truth about Asbury church.

Is the Asbury Revival A Real Revival? by Samuel Sey

From slowtowrite.com <visit Samuel’s webpage here

I’ve been to more “revivals” than I can count. I grew up in churches where “revivals” were the norm, not the exception.

I actually became a Christian during a “revival” at a youth retreat. After a weekend of preaching, “prophecies”, prayers, and “casting out demons”, most of the people at the youth retreat accepted the altar call, repeated the sinner’s prayer, and made professions of faith in Christ.

Within weeks, however, the vast majority of the people who professed faith in Christ had returned to unrepentant sin. So I’ve seen firsthand how emphasis on “revivals” instead of repentance harm so many.

It’s with that in mind and the authority of the Bible that I hesitate to call what is happening at Asbury University a “revival.”

That hesitancy, however, is offensive to people who seem to think it’s Satan, not God, who said:

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1-2)

Over the past week, seemingly anyone who shares any caution or concern over some of what’s happening at Asbury University is immediately labelled a “Pharisee”, a “Doubting Thomas”, a blasphemer and other silly accusations by people who hypocritically attack their brothers and sisters in the name of defending brothers and sisters at Asbury University.

In some ways, just as woke Christians weaponized the George Floyd incident to pressure some Christians into accepting their definition of racism—some Charismatic Christians are trying to weaponize the Asbury “revival” to pressure others into accepting their definition of a revival.

But whether it’s Charismatic Christians or woke people—anyone who demands only submission or silence on their opinions over debatable issues isn’t operating in love.

Love does not insist on it’s own way. Godly people try to persuade others who disagree with them. Ungodly people, however, try to pressure others who disagree with them.

Nevertheless, the Asbury “revival” started after a 10 am chapel service last week Wednesday when a group of about 20 students and the worship team said they felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to continue worship past the end of the chapel service.

According to one of the students I talked to, a few hours later, the president of the seminary sent an email to the students encouraging them visit the chapel to join the 20 students on what he described as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Apparently 200 students arrived for worship at the chapel soon after, and there has been non-stop worship ever since.

The student maintains the “revival” wasn’t planned. But it’s worth noting that Asbury University is part of what is known as the revivalist movement—a group of Charismatic Christians who consistently attempt to produce revivals.

This is why the university’s website says:

“Asbury University has been known through the years for its history of great revivals. There have been several occasions when significant moves of the Holy Spirit have swept the campus and reached across the nation.”

In fact, besides this current “revival”, Asbury claim they’ve had 8 revivals.

I’ve talked to current students, recent graduates, and several people who’ve visited the chapel to experience the “revival”, and there’s unquestionably several reasons why we should be concerned.

Though one student says the gospel has been consistently and explicitly preached since the beginning of the “revival”, others contradict that claim. In fact, one former student who was at the chapel this week told me he rarely, if ever, heard a clear presentation of the gospel at the school.

Another student said: “Attending the few chapels I have at seminary, apart from one [or] two chapels that preach a biblical message of repentance, it’s always been about ‘being who you are’ and God loving you ‘as you are.’ There are a lot of messages that are about being ‘true to yourself.’”

I’ve watched hundreds of videos of the “revival”, and I still haven’t seen any clips showing a clear preaching of the gospel. Of course, that isn’t evidence that people aren’t preaching the gospel.

Still, progressive Christians like Tim Whitaker at The New Evangelicals have essentially endorsed the “revival” after his visits to the chapel this week. Moreover, he says LGBTQ students at the school told him the university protects them from “conversion therapy”. According to Whitaker, the LGBTQ students who were “worshipping” at the chapel also say they’re especially hopeful the “revival” will create (progressive) change at the school.

That lines up with what one student said to me: “Unfortunately, I have first-account experience and conversations with people who are attending and speaking on the ‘greatness’ of revival who are actively living in sin (to be blunt).”

Furthermore, some of the preachers at the chapel are women. And there are also several people “prophesying”, speaking in tongues, “casting out demons”, and “faith healing” at the chapel.

So with that said, is the Asbury “revival” a real revival? 

Because of the seemingly little or no gospel preaching, the female pastors, the disorderly and charismatic chaos, I’m inclined to say, “no”. 

But in a sense, whether I think it’s a revival or not that doesn’t really matter, anyway. The word “revival” isn’t a biblical term. Source

How Can I Be Saved?

Shalom b’Yeshua

MARANATHA!