The Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, has been approved to offer courses through Washington State University’s continuing medical education (CME) program, allowing medical providers to use these courses to keep their licenses. Critics argue this lends legitimacy to SEGM, which is linked to far-right, anti-trans ideologies. They claim the courses mislead providers seeking to enhance their trans-competent care with misleading information disguised as science.
The CME series features content from SEGM’s October 2023 conference, including lectures that may appear innocuous but propagate conversion therapy tactics and debunked theories against gender-affirming care. Notably, Dr. Gordon Guyatt, a prominent figure in evidence-based medicine, spoke at the conference but condemned SEGM’s practices shortly after learning of its anti-trans stance. The CME course includes a panel with Jamie Reed, who has made unsubstantiated claims against trans healthcare.
SEGM defends its work, stating it pursues evidence-based decision-making without political motives, but its founders have a documented history of anti-trans advocacy. WSU representatives clarify that their accreditation does not imply endorsement of SEGM’s views. However, concerns have been raised about blending medical education with discredited ideas, which some faculty members deem potentially harmful to vulnerable populations.
