No, $8 Million Wasn’t Spent to ‘Make Mice Transgender’
The “Scandal” Explained
A recent claim has circulated suggesting that the government spent $8 million on “transgender animal experiments,” implying that there are efforts to, as dramatically put, “make mice transgender.” This assertion, which sounds like it was pulled straight from a bad sci-fi movie, has predictably sparked outrage and confusion. Some sources have even doubled down on the narrative, citing a list of studies under sensationalized headlines. But before jumping to conclusions, let’s take a step back and unpack this claim with the seriousness it deserves (which is to say, not much at all).
The claim hinges on the idea that federal research funding has supported experiments to make animals transgender. Cue the outrage, the memes, and the inevitable media segments. But here’s the thing: the truth is far less exciting - and far more scientific - than these dramatic portrayals suggest.
The so-called “transgender animal experiments” are actually research studies focused on understanding the effects of hormone therapies. These studies examine how hormone treatments impact health conditions like HIV, cancer, and asthma. Instead of, say, giving mice tiny gender-affirming surgeries (which would be both ridiculous and logistically impossible), these studies explore how medical treatments influence biological processes. Shocking, right?
Breaking Down the “Controversial” Research
Let’s take a closer look at some of these “scandalous” studies, shall we? Spoiler alert: none of them involve mice attending pride parades or coming out as non-binary.
- HIV Vaccine Responses ($455,000)
This study aimed to understand how gender-affirming hormone therapy affects immune responses to HIV vaccines [1]. The goal? To improve healthcare for transgender individuals, who are disproportionately affected by HIV.
- Reproductive Health ($2,500,000)
This project investigated the long-term effects of testosterone therapy on reproductive health in transgender men [2]. Understanding potential impacts of medical treatments is essential for healthcare.
- Breast Cancer Risk ($299,940)
This study explored how testosterone therapy impacts breast cancer risk and treatment outcomes [3]. Cancer research benefits everyone, and knowing how different treatments affect different populations is vital.
- Microbiome and Bone Health ($735,113)
This research examined how hormone therapy affects the gut microbiome and bone health [4]. Studying osteoporosis prevention is far from a waste of taxpayer money.
- Reproductive Neuroendocrine Axis ($1,200,000)
This study focused on how androgens affect the reproductive neuroendocrine system [5]. Complex science, but certainly not about turning mice into drag queens.
- Asthma Outcomes ($3,100,000)
This project investigated how gonadal hormones influence asthma outcomes [6]. Understanding respiratory health is critical, especially for those with hormone-related health concerns.
The Misinformation Machine
The term “transgender animal experiments” is a masterclass in sensationalism. It’s the kind of phrase designed to provoke reactions and shares, often without a full understanding of the studies in question. These studies aren’t about altering the identities of animal - they’re about understanding the biological effects of hormone therapies, which are used by real, live humans.
The idea that scientists are sitting in a lab, twirling their mustaches and cackling as they force mice to transition is, frankly, ridiculous. But why let facts get in the way of a good story?
Why This Matters
The manufactured controversy over hormone therapy research reveals a dangerous pattern of scientific misinformation with real-world consequences. By deliberately misrepresenting legitimate research as political overreach, critics undermine medical progress that benefits all populations. This approach carries troubling parallels to historical resistance against studying women’s health - a bias that persisted until federal mandates required their inclusion in clinical trials [7].
The transphobic subtext - that transgender lives are unworthy of scientific study - threatens to recreate the same exclusionary practices that have long distorted medical knowledge. When research excludes any population, the resulting gaps in understanding ultimately harm everyone who might benefit from that science.
The Universal Value of Hormone Research
These studies provide critical insights extending far beyond transgender healthcare, including:
- Menopause management (38 million American women)
- Cancer treatments (prostate and breast cancers)
- Bone health (10 million osteoporosis cases)
- Endocrine disorders (affecting 1 in 4 Americans)
The research continues medicine’s essential work of understanding biological systems in their full complexity. Just as insulin development required studying pancreatic function across populations [8], modern hormone research must be inclusive to produce effective treatments. The alternative - narrow demographic studies - has historically led to dangerous oversights, like unrecognized cardiovascular risks in women [7].
When we impede this research, we potentially delay advances for countless patients, from cancer survivors to children with growth disorders. Quality medicine requires complete biological understanding - not just studies of politically convenient populations.
Conclusion: Don’t Believe Everything You See in the Media (Goes without Saying, Really!)
So, the next time you hear claims that the government is funding “transgender animal experiments,” take a deep breath and ask yourself: does this sound like something that could actually be happening? Or does it sound like the plot of a bad B-movie?
The truth is, these studies are about improving healthcare and understanding the effects of hormone therapies. They’re not about turning mice into activists or whatever other nonsense the internet is peddling. But hey, if you’d rather believe in a world where scientists are secretly running a mouse pride parade, who am I to stop you?
Citation
@misc{elmokadem2025,
author = {{Ahmed Elmokadem}},
title = {No, \$8 {Million} {Wasn’t} {Spent} to “{Make} {Mice}
{Transgender}”},
date = {2025-03-27},
url = {https://aelmokadem.github.io/aelmokadem/posts/trans-mice/},
langid = {en-GB}
}