The College Fix

Princeton University is the latest campus to throw its hat into the sex-change operation ring. Its officials recently announced it may change its health insurance plan to pay for sex reassignment surgeries for student and employees.

Yale University is also considering such a measure for students (it already ponies up for faculty and staff). Cornell, Harvard, Stanford and Penn offer such surgeries on their health plans already.

Today, the Daily Princetonian campus newspaper weighed in on the controversy, and its students are divided on the issue.

The argument in support said the cost would be negligible, it would promote diversity and tolerance, and it might even be a “life-saving” opportunity for some.

Thankfully, at least one Princeton student put his foot down, arguing against paying for sex-change operations in his dissenting opinion. Says student Zach Horton:

According to a study published in General Psychiatry, “Sex reassignment surgery confers no objective advantage in terms of social rehabilitation” (Meyer MD, et al.). Paul McHugh, chief psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University, has even observed “a great deal of damage from sex-reassignment” and urges an end to the procedure. The (Princeton Editorial) Board, however, has boldly deemed it “life-saving.”

Promoting sex change operations furthers the problematic thesis that one’s actual body must be in accord with one’s notion of the “right” body for him or her in order to be healthy and to have dignity. It supports the thesis that a person with gender dysphoria is diseased because of his or her sex. This would suggest that other cosmetic procedures are also necessary. Breast implants, for instance, would alleviate the disconnect in self-perception of some self-conscious women. Should the University health plan also cover these surgeries? Certainly not. Healthcare is about restoring health, not engendering transformation.

Though sexual dysphoria is indeed an unfortunate source of significant suffering, it is not clear that sex reassignment surgery is the right medical response. While other universities have done as the Board has prescribed, Princeton should make this decision independent of the fickle public opinion.

Bravo to Zach, for having the courage to stand up to this politically correct Ivy League trend.

CLICK HERE to like The College Fix on Facebook.