Govt could make puberty blockers ban permanent

The Government could make a temporary ban on puberty blockers permanent, the new Health Secretary has indicated.

The initial ban, set to expire on 3 September, was introduced by former Health Secretary Victoria Atkins in response to the Cass Review.

But her successor, Wes Streeting, has said he intends to make the ban on puberty blockers permanent.

‘Insufficient evidence’

Trans-activist groups have criticised the ban and launched a judicial review.

Susie Green, former chief executive of controversial trans-activist group Mermaids and director at the notorious clinic GenderGP, accused Streeting of putting “trans kids at risk by continuing this murderous ban”.

But the Health Secretary said: “Our approach will continue to be informed by Dr Cass’s review, which found there was insufficient evidence to show puberty blockers were safe for under-18s.”

Prioritise child safeguarding

Helen Joyce, Director of Advocacy for women’s group Sex Matters, described his remarks as “an excellent sign that Labour intends to take an evidence-based approach to child gender medicine, and to prioritise child safeguarding”.

“As the Cass Review showed, there is no research to support using these life-altering drugs for gender confusion. Mr Streeting now needs to go further, and rein in the private sale of oestrogen and testosterone”.

The Cass Review considered evidence from people who have detransitioned which found that “whilst some young people may feel an urgency to transition, young adults looking back at their younger selves would often advise slowing down”.

Thankful

Writing anonymously in The Times, one woman explained that her ‘gender-related distress’ as a child meant she would have jumped at the opportunity to transition, but is now thankful she did not have puberty blockers available to her.

Stories she has heard of children questioning their gender resonated with her: “I liked what boys liked: Action Men, grisly cartoons, comics, video games and football… If that’s the criteria, I’d be trans too”.

She added she is glad today that she still has the option of having children, which may not have been possible if she had had the opportunity to medically transition as a child.

Educating children

Draft sex education guidance restricting lessons on ‘gender identity’ has also been challenged by pro-LGBT groups wanting schools to teach about gender ideology.

The Christian Institute’s Acting Director Ciarán Kelly said: “The new Government needs to decide whether it is going to stand with parents and vulnerable children, or with the lobby groups making money by encouraging gender confusion.”