In a personal account that has drawn attention to the growing debate over gender-affirming care for minors, Soren Aldaco, a 23-year-old detransitioner, described how her childhood experiences led to medical interventions she now views as traumatic. Aldaco, who serves as an ambassador for Independent Women, shared her story in an opinion piece published on Fox News, recounting how at age 11 she was exposed to online influences that shaped her understanding of gender identity.
Aldaco explained that she discovered 'the darkest corners of the internet' at a young age, where she was 'sexually groomed by adult strangers who used my love for art against me.' She connected with other girls on art forums, one of whom began identifying as transgender, describing herself as 'a boy trapped in a girl’s body.' Aldaco noted that activities like cosplay, where she and her friends dressed as characters, blurred into explorations of gender identity, turning personal hardships—such as her own loss of innocence—into a form of escapism.
As medical professionals became involved, Aldaco said, the affirmation of these identities accelerated. 'When medical professionals got involved and affirmed our pretend with medicine, "neat" became "streamlined,"' she wrote. She recalled being told that her discomfort was not due to instability at home, adolescence, or trauma, but proof she was transgender, with warnings that failure to transition could be fatal. At 13, Aldaco underwent hormone treatments and later a mastectomy, procedures she believed were 'carefully considered, evidence-based, and even lifesaving.'
Complications arose soon after her 'drain-free "top surgery,"' leading Aldaco to seek emergency care. 'My drain-free "top surgery" resulted in massive complications, forcing me to seek help in the emergency room while my original surgeons completely dismissed me,' she recounted. It was during this hospital visit, under fluorescent lights, that she began to question the interventions. Aldaco highlighted risks associated with such procedures, including internal bleeding, chronic pain, tissue death, infertility, loss of sexual function, and challenges with pregnancy, noting that 'most people who traverse this path experience myriad side effects.'
Aldaco's experiences have fueled her legal action against the providers involved in her transition. On February 11, the Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments in part of her case. Her attorney, John Ramer, argued that 'accountability for doctors does not vanish because a patient "wanted it."' During the proceedings, Aldaco observed that 'even the defense doesn’t believe their own words,' according to her account.
The hearing comes amid a shifting landscape for gender-affirming care. In New York, NYU Langone Health recently ended its Transgender Youth Health Program, citing the departure of its medical director and a challenging regulatory environment, as reported in related coverage. Detransitioner Chloe Cole and attorney Mark Trammell have commented on the closure, with Cole sharing similar regrets about her own transition experiences.
Aldaco's story echoes concerns raised by other detransitioners and critics of youth gender treatments. She criticized the medical approach for treating gender dysphoria with 'unrelenting urgency,' likening it to a 'manufactured emergency' rather than addressing underlying issues like home life, medications, or depression. 'What was this child’s home life like? Are they on too many medications? What could we do to treat their depression that isn’t as drastic as surgery?' she questioned, arguing these explorations were often bypassed.
Broader medical organizations have begun to express reservations. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Medical Association have issued statements signaling concern over gender surgeries on minors, according to Aldaco's piece. International reviews and evolving guidelines are also contributing to a fracturing consensus on the practice, she noted, despite some media portrayals suggesting widespread institutional support.
On the legislative front, 201 House Democrats voted against a measure to block Medicaid funding for children's transgender surgeries, as reported in related Fox News articles. Meanwhile, top Democratic officials have reintroduced the 'Transgender Bill of Rights,' which Aldaco described as proposing 'sweeping new federal guarantees' at a time of increasing legal scrutiny over medical malpractice cases in this area.
Aldaco emphasized that her pursuit of litigation is not about personal gain. 'Like most people, I don’t take joy in the process of litigation. I didn’t set out to become a plaintiff, or to get rich quick,' she wrote. Instead, she sees it as necessary when 'an industry moves at emergency speed absent an emergency—when irreversible interventions are offered to adolescents facing temporary pain.' She contrasted this with true emergency medicine, where swift action responds to 'objective danger,' citing the conscientious care she received for her post-surgery complications.
Reflecting on her journey, Aldaco distinguished between creative gender exploration, like that of musician Prince, and the medicalization of identity. 'What unsettles me now, at age 23, isn’t how I "bent gender" through costume like the rock star Prince. It’s how quickly adults with credentials validated bunk narratives and led me to medicalize my biological sex as a teen,' she stated.
The case before the Texas Supreme Court represents one of several legal challenges facing providers of gender-affirming care. Related reporting has highlighted instances where plastic surgeons, such as one at a major New York City hospital, have apologized for not speaking out against youth surgeries earlier. Another article noted that the medical system is now 'facing legal justice' for allegedly pushing transgender surgeries on children.
As public opinion evolves, Aldaco called for compassion through restraint. 'I was taught that compassion meant affirming every belief I held about my body. What I’ve learned now is that compassion sometimes means restraint. It means asking hard questions. It means protecting children from decisions they cannot yet comprehend,' she wrote. She urged the law to examine what medicine may have rushed past, arguing that speed without evidence is not true care.
Aldaco first shared her story of gender confusion and detransition in Independent Women’s 'Identity Crisis' series. Her account contributes to a chorus of voices questioning the long-term effects of early interventions, even as advocates for gender-affirming care maintain that such treatments are essential for alleviating dysphoria in youth. The Texas Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on Aldaco's case in the coming months, potentially setting precedents for accountability in pediatric gender medicine.
The ongoing debates highlight tensions between medical innovation, patient autonomy, and ethical considerations in treating vulnerable populations. While Aldaco's perspective underscores the personal toll of detransition, supporters of current practices point to studies affirming benefits for many transgender youth. As litigation and policy discussions continue, the balance between affirmation and caution remains a central issue in healthcare policy.