Clown nose off? The Onion asks politicians why they oppose 'life-saving' gender-affirming treatments

“Clown nose on, clown nose off” was inspired by Jon Stewart back when he was the host of “The Daily Show.” Every once in a while, Stewart would take off his clown nose and make some outrageous liberal statement, but if there was pushback, he’d just put the clown nose back on and say, “I’m just a comedian.” He always had that defense in his back pocket and he used it a lot.

Well, the bans on “life-saving” gender-affirming care for trans youth are such an important issue that satire site The Onion has dropped the clown nose and done a straight-up news piece asking politicians who defend these bans to explain themselves. It’s like the piece we just did on Noah Smith questioning why conservatives are “suddenly” opposed to drag shows; Smith doesn’t feel a need to ask why drag performers “suddenly” had to start performing for children. Trans youth are minors, and we have all sorts of restrictions on what minors can do.

And spare us this “live-saving” medical care crap; we’re no longer being held hostage by bogus studies saying kids will kill themselves if they can’t have their healthy breasts lopped off.

At least 13 states have passed laws banning gender-affirming care for trans youth, including life-saving treatments like hormone therapy and puberty blockers. The Onion asked politicians why they oppose gender-affirming care, and this is what they said. https://t.co/sdOvAROWYf

— The Onion (@TheOnion) April 10, 2023

Surprise! Clown nose back on! Of course, The Onion didn’t reach out to any of these politicians for comment … they just made s**t up. God forbid they engage in honest debate.

“Life-saving”

As if

— Suburbane (@Chad_Kosciusko) April 10, 2023

The last study of life confirming treatment for minors had two kill themselves while on puberty blockers. Out of about 300 kids.

— marilyn maupin (@marilynmaupin) April 10, 2023

It's not "gender affirming care." It's irreversible sexual mutilation.
It's not "life-saving" anything. Show a controlled, peer-reviewed study that also controls for prior mental health conditions as proof.
In reality is a life-long dependence on drugs and possible sterility.

— 🐾 Suzy 🐾 (@scout_nj) April 10, 2023

Why do you, a parody site, support the mutilation and chemical alteration of children who cannot consent?

— Josh (@bills4ever833) April 10, 2023

Even as satire calling sterilization drugs "life saving" is a bit much.

— drew (@dbesteck89) April 10, 2023

Gender affirming care is, in fact, surgical mutilation of the mentally ill. Change my mind.

— Sir 'FTX' Mycroft (@sir_mycroft) April 10, 2023

Parody statement and parody responses.

— Robert T. Ives (@Justalurke) April 10, 2023

Anyone can make up a load a fake quotes. Is a bit lazy IMO

— David Rogerson (@DavidRogerson) April 10, 2023

I love how serious this post is, but then you click the link and its like "I dont think genitals should exist, at all"

— Sebastian (@Sebastian_240z) April 10, 2023

Didn't you used to be a satire site?

— alboalt (@albo_alt) April 10, 2023

You should delete this shit

— Dan Nelson (@dnelsonmn) April 10, 2023

Is it "jumping the shark" when the satirists on the left have gone all in to support the sexual exploitation of children??

— Ryan Stevens (@Fishnstix219) April 10, 2023