Rubio Concerned by Rays' Donation to Clinic Giving Puberty Blockers to Minors

Marco Rubio

As Americans continue to struggle with inflation and tax increases, the woke agenda marches on. In June, it was reported that the Tampa Bay Rays had donated $20,000 to the city's Metro Inclusive Health (MIH). The facility provides "gender-affirming" care for transgender individuals, including puberty blockers for minors. Thursday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) wrote to Principal Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg warning him of the harm puberty blockers inflict on minors.

"There has been a lot of misinformation and disinformation surrounding HRT for minors, some of it pushed from the very highest levels of our government. Given your leadership role in our community, and the important role the Rays play, it is important that you know the facts," stated Rubio.

Rubio points out that the usage of puberty blockers for "gender-affirming" care of minors is not approved by the FDA, and that as a result there is little data regarding the safety of their usage. He says that federal researchers "are only “observing the longer-term psychological impact of these protocols” and they have only “a small number of observational studies to gather the data on the effects.”"

Despite this, Rubio says, other countries have taken stronger action in treating the effects of puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on minors. Last year, Sweden "sharply curtailed" the allowance of minors under the age of 18 to receive these treatments, due to lack of evidence regarding the benefits, but clearer evidence of harm.

After all, as Rubio's third point elaborates, these treatments cannot be reversed. He cites Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care's 2019 article that stresses the importance of young people being properly warned of puberty blockers and HRT's side effects.

Finally, Rubio concludes his letter by reassuring Sternberg that he does not believe the Rays' donation was made with nothing but the best of intentions. Nonetheless, he says that "I understand this can be a confusing issue given the vocal nature of local activists, a legacy media totally uninterested in the facts, and a public health establishment that willfully ignores science in the name of some unseen “progress.”

No wonder Rubio says woke culture is "insanity."

Grayson Bakich

Florida born and raised, Grayson Bakich is a recent recipient of a Master’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His thesis examined recent trends in political polarization and how this leads into justification of violence.