Rep. Gary Click describes gender identity in his submitted documentation to the legislature as

In its original context, gender was simply a linguistic term to describe parts of speech as masculine, feminine, or neuter. … what is commonly described as gender is not scientifically measurable and merely describes an individual’s state of mind, wishes, and feelings rather than a measurable and quantifiable biological status.

“SAFE ACT” FAQs Page 7-8

Rep. Click then uses 5 paragraphs to discuss a horrific story that a family had to endure at the hands of a single doctor. Finally returning to the subject he was supposed to be referencing, what is “gender identity”. It’s very clear that Rep. Click is trying to use painful stories to make a point that gender identity and the entire catalog of research done on it is bad because of one doctor. Individual narratives is not a factual basis for medical research or for determining broad medical policy.

Rep. Click does this all the time. In writings and in oral testimony. He rarely makes a factual point. He normally tells useless stories. He quotes a Rolling Stone article that states we “cannot be flipped from male to female and back again as if we were so many light switches.” But again, Rep. Click does not understand or forgets to share parts of the story. The fact that a patient was transitioned to a different gender without indicating to anyone that they are suffering from gender dysphoria is not a story that has any measurable assistance when discussing medical care for individuals who are experiencing mental health concerns from gender dysphoria. Again, a useless story with no factual point.

When asked to define what transgender is at a press conference in 2022, Rep. Click pushed back on the reporter and refused to answer the question. He introduces a bill banning care for transgender people under 18, but will not define who the people he is impacting are. He keeps saying everyone should be respected and treated with kindness. His actions do not support this. Hearing a public official refuse to acknowledge a question that is so personal to those that are transgender is heartbreaking and outrageous.

The idea that identifying as transgender is a choice or someones “wishes” as Rep. Click states is dangerous. He is implying that people are making a choice. A very similar argument can be made for people who identify with their sex at birth. Does every person who was born a male and identifies as a male wish to do so? Or is it who you are? This argument is very similar to the arguments that LGB people had to endure, and still do. Politicians have said that LGB people were not natural, a sin and that they were choosing to be LGB. This is the exact same arguments people are making against transgender individuals now. Because a measurable reason for someone to exist cannot be found. They cannot exist. They cannot receive equal rights and care.

ROGD (Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria)

The next topic Rep. Click introduces is Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria(ROGD). This term was invented by a doctor who performed a study to try and prove her idea. The study was not blind nor had any randomized set of data. This line is from the study.

This study recruited participants based on whether participants thought their child exhibited a sudden or rapid onset of gender dysphoria beginning during or after puberty

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0214157

This line states everything you need to know about this study. The goal was to see if ROGD was real, so the study recruited people who thought they had experienced it. This does not create a valid study. The study also interviewed the parents only and not any adolescent or young adults directly. Just the parents. The goal of the study:

The purpose of this study was to collect data about parents’ observations, experiences, and perspectives about their adolescent and young adult (AYA) children showing signs of an apparent sudden or rapid onset of gender dysphoria that began during or after puberty, and develop hypotheses about factors that may contribute to the onset and/or expression of gender dysphoria among this demographic group.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0202330

The study was posted online in several places. The majority of those places were public forums where people had a negative view of gender dysphoria. The study used the snowball effect and encouraged those that took the survey to send it to others. The other people would most likely also have the same negative viewpoint of gender dysphoria. Snowball effect to gather data for a study only works when the size of the study is so large you could not possibly gather the data in a methodical process.

Rep. Click, Joseph Backholm from the Family Research Council in Arkansas, SEGM, and other sources Gary Click use all try to paint ROGD as a wave overtaking America. This is not the case and has no evidence to support these statements. It is fear mongering and very similar to the tactics used when LGB people were starting to make traction with gaining civil rights.

Rep. Click continues to keep discussing transgender people as if they do not exist. He has since the first time the SAFE Act bill was introduced when he admitted he had not even spoken to anyone who is transgender. Rep. Click has shared false narratives, cherry picked statistics form studies, and refused to acknowledge any opposing study.