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In a sample of 237 participants, the large majority was female; 217 female (92%) for 20 male respondents (8%). Close to two thirds (65%) transitioned both socially and medically; 31% only socially. Out of the respondents who medically transitioned, 46% underwent gender affirming surgeries. Around half (51%) of the respondents started socially transitioning before the age of 18, and a quarter (25%) started medically transitioning before that age as well.
The most common reported reason for detransitioning was realized that the gender dysphoria was related to other issues (70%). The second one was health concerns (62%), followed by transition did not help the dysphoria (50%), found alternatives to deal with dysphoria (45%), unhappy with the social changes (44%), and change in political views (43%). At the very bottom of the list are: lack of support from social surroundings (13%), financial concerns (12%) and discrimination (10%).

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UK – New Study shows transgender youth risk massive bone density loss on treatment

According to a new study done in 2020, puberty blockers (PB) administered to 12-15-year-old gender-dysphoric youth showed massive decline in bone mineral density (BMD) when compared to peers. The study authors, which included 44 patients, are from the Gender clinic called Tavistock and Portman NHS trust in the UK. Endocrinologist Dr Michael Laidlaw criticizes the study authors for trying to downplay the seriousness of the finding and says PB will lead adolescents to a much higher risk of early osteoporosis and fractures. Another endocrinologist, Dr Will Malone, said in 2019 that the most critical time for long term bone/skeletal health is achieved in our teen years but to continuing with PB will stop the rapid increase in bone density needed during this critical time. More

UK – Medical Journal choose the praise and applaud of people over science

It widely accepted medical knowledge that there exists significant differences between males and females biologically. Both respond differently to medical therapies, and a variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions demonstrate robust differences between the sexes in their incidence, symptoms, progression and response to treatment. There are also differences in the way the two sexes metabolize nutrients, and if properly studied, sex differences are the gateway to precision medicine. It is then with shock and horror that most will have to unpack the New England Journal of Medicine for it’s bizarre statement: “sex designations on birth certificates offer no clinical utility, and they can be harmful for intersex and transgender people.” The world’s most prestigious medical journal has left many professionals in disbelief. More

UK – Soaring numbers in divorce among homosexual women

Women in the UK who consider themselves married to other women are separating in soaring numbers – at rates higher than divorces of heterosexual couples. One lesbian activist, Natalie Drew, runs a clinic to help women in lesbian couples conceive children, and, as she told the Daily Mail, “a third of the 586 lesbian couples she helped to have babies between 2011 and 2015 have split up.” Drew’s argument is that the ceremony and terminology of marriage, as opposed to “civil partnership,” encourages lesbian couples to adopt a traditional specialization of roles. Which means that marriage is not a good model for lesbian couples, because they lack the natural complementarity of the sexes. Same-sex couples that buy into the traditional model, are going to a struggle to adapt to a quite different psychological and biological reality. More

UK – Shocking Evidence Shows Transgender ‘Treatment’ Harms Adolescence

Shocking evidence on the medical harms done to under 16’s treated by a Gender Identity clinic in London known also as Tavistock, led a High Court judge to ban the clinic from prescribing puberty-blockers, saying that is was “very doubtful” that youngsters could give informed consent. Swedish psychiatrist Christopher Gillberg testified that the use of puberty blockers is basically “a live experiment” on vulnerable children. His evidence shows blockers can harm a child’s brain and bone development; clinics are urging gender-changing teen girls to choose sperm donors to fertilise eggs before freezing them; Children who regret treatment find themselves “locked” into new bodies; Internet sites persuade autistic children that they are transgender when they simply have identity issues. Dr Gilberts’ concern is that “we have left established evidence-based clinical practice and are using powerful life-altering medication for a vulnerable group of adolescents and children based upon a belief.”

Other doctors also testified that there was a “disproportionate number” of children across the world claiming trans identities who were in care, adopted, autistic, anorexic or had psychiatric or mental illnesses. The evidence included testimony from dozens of young women who claimed that their lives had been ruined by sex change treatments. Professor Stephen Levine, an American expert in the field of gender treatment, testified that “there was no other field of medicine where such radical interventions are offered to children with such a poor evidence base”. He also claimed that treatment was taking place in such a toxic climate where critical and cautious voices are shouted down as transphobic, hateful and engaging in conversion therapy. “Scientific requirements for establishing an intervention’s utility are well known in medicine,” he said. “Advances are undertaken through carefully controlled clinical trials. Why should gender problems be considered an exception?”. All these expert witnesses and former young people whose lives were ruined by sex change “therapies” contributed to the UK High Court’s decision to ban such treatment to be administered to minors sunder 16. More

Texas – Proposed bill would amount sex transitions for minors to child abuse

Texas has filed a bill HB 68 defines child abuse to include the removal of healthy tissue, the prescription of puberty-blocking hormones, and sterilization surgeries if the procedures aim to “change or affirm a child’s perception of the child’s sex, if that perception is inconsistent with the child’s biological sex as determined by the child’s sex organs, chromosomes, and endogenous hormone profiles.” This bill is inspired after the infamous case of James Younger, a 7-year-old whose mother wanted to medically transition him against the father’s wishes, and in the end won full custody of the boy. Many studies show that 80% of gender confused children desist from wanting to transition by the time they’re 20. The UK has also banned medical & chemical transgender treatments for minors recently. Other U.S. states considering similar bills are Alabama, Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and New Hampshire.

Proposed Bill Would Classify Sex Transitions for Minors as Child Abuse, Bill tracker.

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UK – High Court protects transgender children from harmful and experimental drugs

In a landmark case which will impact laws around the world, the UK High Court has ruled that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones are experimental treatments which cannot be given to children in most cases without application to the court. The court also ruled that it is highly unlikely that a child aged 15 and under could be competent to understand the long-term risks and consequences of treatment sufficiently in order to give consent to such interventions. Clinicians would also involve the court in any case where they doubt whether the long-term interests of a 16 or 17 year-old would be served by transgender treatments.

This case comes as vindication for Sue Evans (a former employee) who first raised concerns at the transgender clinic over 15 years ago. Keira Bell who was a victim of this treatment also made history as she joined the case and through her public testimony. In her statement, Keira Bell said: “I made a brash decision as a teenager, (as a lot of teenagers do) trying to find confidence and happiness, except now the rest of my life will be negatively affected.” The court found that the transgender clinic did not keep any record on the ages of children treated with puberty blockers or the number of young people referred by the clinic for blockers who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or any other mental health diagnosis. The clinic did not investigate these possibilities before putting children on blockers. The clinic failed also to track children on blockers into adult services and to track the outcomes. More

Canada – Concerned mother fights for her daughter’s medical safety and sanity

A judge prohibited a doctor from performing surgery to remove the breasts of a 17-year-old girl who wants to look like a male, and that against the objections of the mother. In disbelief that clinical standards and medical protocols could permit doctors to treat traumatized teenage girls caught up in a trend this way, and shocked that the government supports such unscientific and dangerous experimentation, the mother demands to review all the protocols that led the physicians, neither of whom are specialists, to arrive at the conclusions they have. An endocrinologist warned that the teen is presently being “severely overdosed” on testosterone because it raises her female levels to 100 times above normal. This is dangerous because it increases the risk for heart attacks, Severe liver dysfunction, permanent deepening of the voice, erythrocytosis, hypertension and other serious conditions.

According to a study by Kaiser in 2019, a review of medical records of thousands of transgender identified youth found when compared to non-transgender peers, transgender youth were 7 times more likely to have had psychological disorders and also 25-54 times more likely to have expressed suicidal thoughts prior to identifying as transgender. Many teens who have gone down this road have expressed regret and are warning others against taking their feelings at face value or concluding that their feelings, which are subject to change all the time, to be the sole determining factor to doubt their biological reality. All this suggests that the mother is right to resist this type of treatment for her daughter who is none the wiser.

Article, Teens who speak out, More teens share transgender regret, Teen calls transgender surgery a Frankenstein hack job, Women regrets transgender surgery.

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South Africa – Transgender affirmation | what it means for the children of SA

In a democratic process initiated by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), stakeholders were invited to comment on the Draft Guidelines on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (Guidelines). The Guidelines take the affirming approach which means gender confused youth will be encouraged to dress according to the gender they feel they are and use corresponding toilet & changing room facilities. Transgender activists were also present at this meeting and seem to be promoting this as the solution to beat bullying and discrimination. At the same event Dr Sybrand de Vaal, presented a medical viewpoint with evidence based on various international academic and medical research studies on the medical response to gender dysphoria specifically in children. Dr de Vaal’s facts are supported by published, peer-reviewed scientific studies which, as a result, questions the efficacy of gender affirming approach. Transgender activists, feeling threatened by the presented evidence, responded by spreading the false hype about Dr de Vaal that promoted dangerous and ineffective therapy for transgender children. It didn’t end there, transgender activists are now pressuring the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the University of Cape Town to bar Dr de Vaal from Psychiatric Practice. An online petition is also circulating titled “Protect Trans Kids” against the doctor. Media bodies like Cape Times didn’t help the situation much by uncritically publishing the same false narrative spread by transgender activists, the impoverished piece by Nicola Daniels said the Doctor was allegedly “promoting harmful psychiatric practices with respect to transgender children” without mentioning or describing to the readers why the views of the doctor were so-called dangerous. Dr de Vaal and his legal team are currently preparing to respond to the HPCSA.

Liesl Pretorius, a Legal Advisor & Parliamentary Liaison at Cause For Justice (CFJ), said in a radio interview in June this year that the guidelines put forth by the WCED were lacking and that the strategy of preventing discrimination & bullying would actually worsen the situation. CFJ’s main concern is that the guidelines seemed to sidestep the parents, and that public participation on community level, especially with the community it will effect, was not widespread enough and even doubtful to have been attempted. CFJ emphasized the importance of involving the community because involving the community is a protective mechanism that guards against ideological & other discriminatory interventions in schools as has happened in the past. It was also noted that the curriculum, in terms of the South African School Act, was unlawfully drafted since it falls within the purview of the National Department of Social Development and the Provincial department cannot interfere with curriculum. CFJ said that important stakeholders should also be included from backgrounds such as medical, psychology, education, social work etc.

Medical institutions abroad and now trending in South Africa, are accepting without question for fear of losing their position at work and reputation, the radical idea that gender and sexual orientation confused children must receive the affirming approach. The controversial talk therapy which aims to help an individual feel comfortable and accept their biological reality, is highly criticised by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) activists, to the point where they sensationalise the so-called dangers of the same therapy method used to treat people with problems like depression, and anorexia etc. There have been LGBT individuals with unwanted attractions and unwanted gender dysphoria who have achieved change due to talk therapy – one can understand why LGBT activists who vehemently resist talk therapy would find this offensive.

If we encourage and promote the idea that the youth are “born that way” and that being confused about their gender identity is normal, how would we help those who feel confused but don’t want to transition? Will these guidelines follow the same trend seen in the USA and UK where teens are surgically and chemically transitioning?  Is the answer to gender dysphoria really found in surgical mutilation of healthy and functional body parts? Is the best solution for a transgender child to put them on a lifelong path of dependency on puberty blocking and hormones drugs?  

Dr Michelle Cretella from the American College of Paediatricians, a national organization of paediatricians and other healthcare professionals dedicated to the health and well-being of children, opposes the idea of affirming children into Transgenderism. For example, Lupron (the puberty blocking drug which transgender activists in the US are promoting) has neuropsychological effects that can worsen the condition of the transgender child. The drug label warns users about side-effects such as emotional lability, mood changes, nervousness, anxiety, agitation, confusion, delusion, insomnia, and depression. And says to “Monitor for development or worsening of psychiatric symptoms.” Tavistock Gender clinic for children in the UK documented that children who were on Lupron reported greater self-harm and that Girls exhibited more behavioral & emotional problems, & greater dissatisfaction with their body while on blockers. A study last year by Kaiser 2019 conducted a review of medical records of thousands of transgender identified youth and it found, that compared to their peers who are not trans-identified, transgender youth were seven times more likely to have had psychological disorders before identifying as transgender. Shouldn’t these findings cause us to pause, test and examine the best possible solutions for children? Would it not be better to suggest underlying causes be examined first, if it means that it could help the child accept and feel comfortable with their biological body, before encouraging them to transition? more at: CFJ Radio interview, Cape Times, FOR SA, Dr Cretella presentation

USA – Transgender kids often reject parents, and not the other way around

LGBT activists and the media have accepted the narrative that kids are living with parents who reject them based on morality or intolerance. A piece in Psychology Today revealed that often it is LGBT kids who reject their parents for not cheering or agreeing with their cross-dressing, name-changing, hormone-treatment and life-altering surgeries. Children often parrot what they’ve learned from activists by calling their parents transphobes and treating them like the enemy for being concerned. Yes, some trans children have suffered abuses at the hands of their families, but trans kids have also use the “I was abused” phrase to describe a home life where their gender choice was simply not embraced. more

USA – Federal Court of Appeals strike down ban on reparative therapy

The Federal Court of Appeals have struck down laws that ban counsellors from providing minor clients with help to reduce or eliminate unwanted same-sex attractions, behaviours, or gender confusion. The case of Otto, et al v. City of Boca Raton, FL et al, found that the laws were both content and viewpoint based and violate the First Amendment right to free speech. Under the laws that were struck down, a counselor could encourage a client to take life-altering hormone drugs or even undergo invasive surgery to remove healthy body parts, but could not help a client who seeks to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions, behavior, or confusion. 

Judge Grant wrote: “The First Amendment does not protect the right to speak about banned speech; it protects speech itself, no matter how disagreeable that speech might be to the government. And what good would it do for a therapist whose client sought SOCE [sexual orientation change efforts] therapy to tell the client that she thought the therapy could be helpful, but could not offer it? It only matters that some words about sexuality and gender are allowed, and others are not… But speech does not need to be popular in order to be allowed. The First Amendment exists precisely so that speakers with unpopular ideas do not have to lobby the government for permission before they speak,”

The court also said, “The local governments are not entirely wrong when they characterize speech-based SOCE as a course of conduct. SOCE, after all, is a therapy, and plaintiffs say they want to ‘engage’ in it. But plaintiffs have the better of the argument. What the governments call a ‘medical procedure’ consists—entirely—of words. As the district court itself recognized, plaintiffs’ therapy ‘is not just carried out in part through speech: the treatment provided by Drs. Otto and Hamilton is entirely speech.’ If SOCE is conduct, the same could be said of teaching or protesting—both are activities, after all. Debating? Also an activity. Book clubs? Same answer. But the law does not require us to flip back and forth between perspectives until our eyes hurt.” more

UK – Government admits that allowing men into women’s toilets places them at a disadvantage

The UK government has admitted that it places “women at a significant disadvantage” when permitting gender neutral toilets – as if there actually were a thing as being gender neutral – you’ll always have either men or women using the same toilet, and this reality will never change. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick is investigating the recent and harmful trend of swapping female-only facilities for ‘gender neutral’ toilets. The review will also challenge the myth that equality legislation requires the removal of sex-specific toilets. Jenrick’s focus is to maintain the safety and security of women. LGBT lobby group Stonewall has been campaigning for gender neutral toilets and signage for a number of years. However, opposition is growing. In a debate in the House of Lords earlier this year, Lord Lucas questioned whether ending sex-specific facilities was “desirable”. He asked: “Has there been research into why this is a good idea? Have needs been identified? Have women been consulted?” The Peer called upon the Government to “get a grip” and for Stonewall to “settle down to the idea that maybe it needs to modify its rather extreme views.” Read more

USA – New poll shows vast majority of Americans oppose gender transition for kids

Spry Strategies in a new poll found that a majority of likely voters in the 2020 election, regardless of their political affiliation, object to “gender identity” policies, and support the preservation of single-sex spaces and women’s sports as female-only. Sampled nationally from all 50 states, the 3,500 likely voters were comprised of different races, ethnicities, and political affiliations. Regarding transgender-identifying males being allowed to compete in girls’ and women’s sports, nearly 67% of respondents indicated that they either disagreed or strongly disagreed with it. Just under 60% of likely voters opposed allowing males to enter women’s restrooms and changing facilities. The poll showed that the wealthiest American are the most likely to support these policies which are largely unpopular with middle-class voters. Read more

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Scotland – Judicial review against Scottish Ministers granted for redefining woman

The Court of Sessions granted permission on 16 October 2020 for a Judicial Review to proceed against Scottish Ministers for redefining “woman” and a substantive hearing has been set for 7th January 2021. For Women Scotland (FWS) is a network of women across Scotland campaigning against the Scottish Ministers. FWS believes the bill is fundamentally flawed and the Scottish Ministers acted unlawfully and in contravention of their duties under equality legislation which led to the Scottish Parliament exceeding its legislative competency in redefining “woman”. The bill does not require people to dress, look or behave in any particular way, but just using female pronouns and a female name on legal documents would be enough evidence of being female. Read more

USA – Physical interventions on minors to “affirm” a mistaken “gender identity” violate sound medical ethics

Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Fellow in American Principles and Public Policy. He writes on how a growing number of children in America and across the world are experiencing deep discomfort with their biological sex, known as gender dysphoria. Activists are trying to ban a psychological approach to help these children accept their bodies rather than irreversibly changing it with hormones and amputation of healthy body parts, by accusing practitioners of using abusive and harmful techniques. But they never provide credible evidence, and the therapy bans they support don’t target harmful practices. Sexual progressive activists really oppose being comfortable with one’s body.

“As a result, one-on-one counselling to help a teen struggling with body image due to anorexia would be permitted, but the very same counselling would be prohibited if the goal is to help a teen struggling with body image due to gender dysphoria. Activists use emotionally charged language, labelling all such techniques “conversion therapy.” They do not apply this label only to certain discredited techniques (such as electro-shock therapies), but to any therapeutic service—including basic talk therapy—to help a gender dysphoric youth feel comfortable without “transitioning.””

“The best outcome is always for people to feel comfortable in their own skin and with their sexuality. So why ban that intended goal? Indeed, even if one thought that sometimes “transitioning” was the best outcome for a particular patient, is it really credible to say that it is always the best—indeed the only legally permissible—outcome to work towards? It is absurd to pass laws banning therapy aimed at wholeness when we lack laws protecting children from actual unethical and harmful procedures in this area. As a preliminary point, the best available empirical studies show no benefit of either hormonal or surgical transition. But whatever one may think about the ethics of medical professionals’ “transitioning” adults, everyone should be able to agree that adults should not interfere with the natural, healthy development of the bodies and minds of children” Read more

South Africa – Same-sex couple discriminates against Beloftebos wedding venue owners

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has allegedly instituted an unfair discrimination case against Beloftebos wedding venue. Beloftebos indicated that it does not host same-sex weddings at the venue and, in doing so, they would violate their deeply held religious beliefs. Beloftebos owners also prohibits hosting events which celebrate Halloween, and events which request fortune telling booths etc. The same-sex couple is asking the court for a broad order, declaring that “the expression of religious beliefs as a basis on which to refuse to associate with or conduct business with a same-sex couple, constitutes hate speech and/or discrimination” in terms of the Equality Act.

If the Court were to make such an order, it would have broad implications – not only for Beloftebos, but for any business, organisation or even a private individual! Currently, Beloftebos is still waiting on the SAHRC, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) and the Minister of Justice, to deliver their response to Beloftebos. According to the SAHRC, the reason for their delay is the Commission’s “need to meet with the Minister’s legal team to strategize on our approach”. Beloftebos’ attorneys have written to the SAHRC to express their “astonishment” at the SAHRC’s express admission in this regard – not only because the SAHRC and the Minister are (supposed to be) independent parties to the dispute, but also because the SAHRC is an independent Chapter 9 institution mandated to protect all citizens against abuse, including abuse by other organs / persons of State.  However, it is clear from the SAHRC’s response that it is in fact “strategizing” with the Minister against the very citizens the Commission is supposed to protect! This caucusing only serves as confirmation of the unfairness with which the SAHRC has been treating Beloftebos to date. Read more

South Africa – President Ramaphosa forces conscientious objectors to violate their beliefs

In a sad turn of events, president Ramaphosa has signed the 2020 Civil Union Amendment Act which forces marriage officers who object because of their deeply held beliefs, to solemnise a civil union between persons of the same sex. The laws follow a number of high-profile cases where a marriage officer refused to solemnise a same-sex couple. Constitutional law expert Pierre De Vos said that the change will finally bring an end to a “particularly egregious form of unfair discrimination” but now the law discriminates against individuals who seek to be faithful to their beliefs. It follows to expect more such forceful laws on conscientious objectors in other areas of society. Read more

Canada – Former homosexual man pleads with government not to criminalize therapy

Canada’s Members of Parliament (MP’s) are being urged not to pass Bill 8 – reintroduced by the by the liberals in October as Bill C-6 – which would criminalize conversion therapy for minors who struggle with same-sex attraction or transgender inclinations. A Canadian man in a series of videos pleads with MP’s not to criminalise therapy that helps minors deal with the same struggles he did. Campaign Life’s director of political operations Jack Fonseca said the videos are essential to counteract the media’s misleading portrayal of “conversion” therapy. “It won’t report on people like Hudson and the others in our video series who can testify to the personal experience of finding healing for therapy and/or spiritual counselling to walk away from an LGBT lifestyle.” Read more

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UK – Government drops gender self-ID plans

Originally, the UK government planned in 2018 to remove the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria enabling people to ‘change sex’ by self-identification. The Government has officially dropped its plans to make it much easier for people in England and Wales to change legal sex. Equalities Minister Liz Truss also confirmed the rights for service providers to protect single-sex spaces would remain in place. In April Liz announced that under 18s would be protected from making “irreversible decisions” while “still developing their decision-making capabilities”. At this point it is unclear what is meant by the restrictions and if it means to limit surgery and whether it includes puberty blocking drugs and cross-sex hormones. Read more, Article 1, Article 2

UK – New survey shows people are concerned about teaching LGBT curriculum to kids

Kantar, the world’s leading data, insights and consulting company, shows almost four in ten people agree that it is inappropriate for schools to teach six-year-old boys that “being gay is acceptable”. The survey comes as a law will require all schools in England to teach two new compulsory subjects: Relationships Education in primary schools and Sex and Relationships Education in secondary schools. The survey also shows that 56% of those who practice a religious faith disagreed and 30% of people described as ‘not religious’ also disagreed. Not only does opposition cut across all sections of the public but the percentages are significant and show that the government is out of step with the public. Read more

UK – Organizations face Legal action for misrepresenting the law to give males access to female spaces

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Government Equalities Office (GEO) are facing legal action for issuing unlawful guidance which contradicts the Equality Act 2010. Women’s rights organisation the Authentic Equity Alliance (AEA) says that the organisations incorrectly stated that “trans people” or anyone with a gender recognition certificate have an automatic right to enter and use women-only spaces. AEA founder Ann Sinnott, a former Cambridge City Councillor says the “misguidance” has led to disputes as men who say they are women believe they have an absolute right to access female-only spaces. AEA has now told the EHRC and GEO to “provide guidance that is compliant with the law” or face the possibility of a judicial review.

Elsewhere, a judicial review has been launched against the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over its partnership with Stonewall. Earlier this year the CPS withdrew controversial guidance on LGBT hate crimes in schools following legal action by a 14-year old girl who accused it of “misrepresenting the law”. The CPS said it would review the guidance, but the girl told the prosecuting body that its association with Stonewall breaches the law, because while it remains partnered to the LGBT group it cannot be impartial on transgenderism. Her lawyers instructed the CPS to withdraw from Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme in May, but as it has failed to do so, they have now pressed ahead with applying for a judicial review. Read more

UK – Gender clinic trial date set and transgender activists are denied participation

A judicial review date has been set regarding a lawsuit against a London-based gender clinic’s medicalized gender-transitioning of children and teenagers. Susan Evans, a psychiatric nurse and former member of Tavistock, that has filed the lawsuit in part, has voiced repeated concerns that the safety of children being treated at the facility was disregarded in favour of experimental transitioning, and that minors are not cognitively capable of giving informed consent. Keira Bell, a young woman now regrets transitioning as a teen, joined the suit as a claimant in January. Bell says she wasn’t adequately informed of the dangers when she was hormonally transitioned which included both hormones and a mastectomy, and is among the growing number of men and women known as “detransitioners” who say they were physically, mentally and emotionally harmed.

On the other hand, transgender activist groups Mermaids and Stonewall UK have been denied permission to get involved and will not present evidence in the case. The Tavistock clinic has come under increased scrutiny in recent years following a 4,000-fold increase of girls being referred to the gender clinic in the past decade. A BBC Newsnight investigative report in June revealed leaked documents that showed Tavistock staff saying that concerns about patient welfare were shut down. Clinicians there also reportedly expressed concerns that some youth were being fast-tracked into gender-transitioning. Read more

Scotland – Policy wants to allow male nurses in female nurse showers

According to new transgender guidelines published by NHS Lanarkshire in Scotland, women’s toilets, showers and changing rooms can now be used by a male employee living as a woman, even if female members of staff object. Sarah Phillimore, a London barrister who specialises in public law and child protection, described this section of the policy as “Unlawful and coercive.” Campaign group For Women Scotland has written to Scotland’s Health Minister demanding the policy be immediately withdrawn and an investigated. They pointed out how the policy misrepresents the Equality Act, and the Gender Recognition Act, and even frames the mere act of thinking of a male as male as “discriminatory practice”. NHS Lanarkshire has removed the policy from its website. Read more, Letter to Health Minister of Scotland.