HHS Study Links Gender-Affirming Care Support to Left-Wing Authoritarianism

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a study on August 27, 2026, concluding that support for gender-affirming care is associated with higher levels of left-wing authoritarianism and a greater willingness to justify political violence. The report, titled "Where the Clinic Meets the Movement: Does Gender Ideology Arm Left-Wing Authoritarian Psychology?", surveyed 1,208 U.S. adults and found that stronger endorsement of gender-affirming positions was substantially linked to authoritarian attitudes and the justification of violence across six scenarios.

The scenarios included the assassinations of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, former President Donald Trump, and UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as well as arson at ICE buildings, property destruction, and violence against police. Researchers from Rutgers University, the Manhattan Institute, and the Network Contagion Research Institute conducted the study. They developed a Clinical Gender Affirmation Scale (CGAS) based on consensus positions from major medical organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The study found that higher CGAS scores...