I don’t think that 18 is a magic number, but it is the age when we become legally responsible for our own choices. I can understand starting transition around 16-17 in extreme cases though, with a doctor’s supervision.

I also agree that it should be between a patient and doctor, it’s not my decision. However, I have seen some of the effects of too-early transition. I have met people who have detransitioned and suffered. Many of my friends are adults who are still dealing with a lot of gender confusion, they regularly go back and forth between wanting and not wanting to transition. It’s concerning to me when I see people beginning medical transition at a very young age, because I don’t want them to go through the same things later on.

However, I do not believe that the risk of detransition means that trans people and kids shouldn’t be able to access their treatment. They still need their treatment. I just have a problem when minors try to decide by themselves that they want to transition, without having years of documented therapy first. It just seems like a recipe for disaster in some cases. However ultimately, I agree that it is not my decision. I just hope that the doctors are informed and do not rush decisions.