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Fact check: Is the US government spending millions on transgender monkeys?
1. Summary of the results
The claim about "transgender monkey" spending requires significant context. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) did fund research involving hormone therapy in monkeys, but the actual amount was $477,121, not millions [1] [1]. While there are multiple hormone-related studies totaling approximately $10 million across various animal research projects [2], the specific "transgender monkey" study was focused on understanding HIV susceptibility in relation to hormone therapy.
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The research has legitimate scientific purposes that are often omitted from discussions:
- The study specifically aims to understand HIV transmission risks in transgender women, who are at higher risk of HIV infection [1] [1]
- It's part of a broader research portfolio that includes studies on:
- PTSD and alcohol use disorder
- Spinal cord injury treatments
- Effects of hormone therapy [3]
The often-cited $33.2 million figure is misleading as it refers to the entire monkey research facility's budget, not specifically to hormone therapy research [1] [1].
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The term "transgender monkeys" itself is a sensationalized mischaracterization of legitimate medical research [4]. This framing appears to be part of a larger narrative attacking government spending, as evidenced by Elon Musk's criticism of various research projects [3].
Several parties benefit from different interpretations:
- Critics of government spending benefit from portraying the research as frivolous or wasteful
- Scientific institutions benefit from highlighting the legitimate medical applications
- Healthcare advocates benefit from emphasizing the research's potential impact on transgender health outcomes
The research, while potentially sounding unusual to the general public, has specific scientific purposes and potential medical value that are often overlooked in public discourse [4].