Transphobic professor

(TW for transphobia) So I’m taking an anthropology class and this last assignment was about transgender people. She gave us an article to read and then told us to write a discussion question about it in a group forum for the class.

The article was pretty outdated and used words like “transsexual”, “transvestite” and said “trans therapeutics” instead of gender affirming care. It basically claimed that the doctors they interviewed who were providing genital reconstructive surgeries and facial feminization surgeries didn’t really know what caused patients to seek out transition. It also claimed that “trans therapeutics” were a way trans people are “seeking American healthcare, not because they’re sick or need treatment, but to feel more like their authentic selves”.

The discussion posts were absolutely atrocious. People were saying it was body dysmorphia and trans people need therapy, saying genital surgeries are mutilation, asking why anyone would have such risky surgeries, saying gender affirming care is pushing stereotypes, etc. Just a disaster overall.

I emailed the professor about this (a VERY nice and professional email). I even linked some of the specific posts as well as an article from Mayo Clinic talking about gender dysphoria and how gender affirming care is medically necessary. But when she replied instead of doing anything to fix it or even apologize she defended the article.

According to her “some people would argue there’s no reason to medicalize trans identities” and “gender affirming care for trans people is the same as gender affirming care for cis people”. Completely ignoring the blatant transphobia happening from the other students.

I’m talking to my RA about reporting it tomorrow (they’re also trans) but I’m just baffled how she could defend this. Any advice on the situation would be appreciated, I honestly have no idea to respond to her and I’m a little worried she’ll bring it up in class.