by Joanna Williams, spiked
The NHS keeps putting the delusions of trans activists above the welfare of children.
What will it take to end the lie of the ‘transgender child’? Children’s charity Mermaids, the disseminator of so many trans myths, has long since fallen from grace. Malpractice at the NHS’s Tavistock gender-identity clinic was exposed and the centre closed. The Cass Review’s finding that puberty blockers pose ‘very substantial risks’ to children led to an indefinite ban. And then there has been the recent UK Supreme Court ruling that men are not women. Yet, incredibly, despite all of these developments, it has emerged this week that toddlers and very young children who think they are transgender are still receiving gender treatment on the NHS.
TopicsIdentity PoliticsUK
What will it take to end the lie of the ‘transgender child’? Children’s charity Mermaids, the disseminator of so many trans myths, has long since fallen from grace. Malpractice at the NHS’s Tavistock gender-identity clinic was exposed and the centre closed. The Cass Review’s finding that puberty blockers pose ‘very substantial risks’ to children led to an indefinite ban. And then there has been the recent UK Supreme Court ruling that men are not women. Yet, incredibly, despite all of these developments, it has emerged this week that toddlers and very young children who think they are transgender are still receiving gender treatment on the NHS.
After the publication of the Cass Review in April last year, NHS England issued draft guidance preventing children under the age of seven from being referred to specialist gender clinics. But it seems this sensible measure was overturned after trans activists responded to a consultation on the guidance. In fact, the NHS now says that abolishing age limits is in line with the Cass Review’s recommendation to offer support and advice to the families of transgender children. According to data seen by the Telegraph, up to 10 children of nursery age are currently being treated, and as many as 157 children aged nine or younger have been referred to gender services.
These are small numbers, and the NHS’s defenders will argue it is good that families are receiving help and counselling. But no child is born in the wrong body. Not one single baby boy is actually a little girl. Because there is no such thing as a transgender child, there should be no need for medical referrals. Some parents might need reassurance that it’s perfectly normal for girls to play with trucks and for boys to dance around in princess costumes. But, as the NHS’s draft guidance acknowledged, this ‘is usually not indicative of gender incongruence’. A five-minute conversation might be appropriate, perhaps, but not a protracted counselling session.