Mermaids: LGBT group rapped by Charity Commission over multiple failings

Controversial pro-trans group Mermaids has been castigated and ordered to make changes by the Charity Commission, following significant failings over its governance, guidance on puberty blockers, and breast-binding policy.

The Commission launched an investigation in light of revelations the charity was promoting inaccurate guidance on puberty-blocking drugs, calling them “an internationally recognised safe, reversible healthcare option”, and supplying girls as young as 13 with ‘chest binders’ to flatten their breasts and make them appear more masculine, without parental consent.

The investigation also examined the way Mermaids made appointments, after it was revealed that one of its trustees had previously delivered a paper normalising sexual activity with children.

Puberty blockers

In relation to puberty blockers, the Charity Commission noted that Mermaids had “a clear positive position” on the use of the drugs on its website.

The charity claimed that the drugs are ‘safe’ and ‘reversible’, and that they have been “recommended by medical authorities in the UK and internationally for decades”.

The Commission pointed out that this position is unsupported by research, and that a number of side-effects were known to the charity. It ordered the charity to remove the statement about the reversibility of the drugs.

Breast binders

The Commission found that between 2017 and 2022, Mermaids had offered to supply individuals with breast binders. The charity was aware that the binders can cause “shortness of breath, back and/or chest pain, itching, postural issues, shoulder pain, overheating and rib damage”, although the supply of one to a minor is not a criminal offence.

It argued that, because binders were readily available on the internet without an age limit, it would be better for them to supply the products and provide advice than to leave young people without guidance. However, the Charity Commission said this “does not take into account the possible persuasive effect on young people being supplied with such products by a registered charity”.

The Commission said there are “some physical health implications that can arise from wearing a binder and which could be exacerbated by prolongued, improper or incorrect use as well as unknown psychological effects caused by social transitioning, as identified by The Cass Review’s Final Report”, which said parents should be “actively involved in decision making unless there are strong grounds to believe that this may put the child or young person at risk”.

The watchdog recognised Mermaids had not broken the law, as there is no legal requirement to obtain parental consent, but said that if Mermaids resumes its breast-binding service, which was ended last year, the charity must abide by the Cass Review’s findings.

‘Mismanagement’

Concerns had also been raised about the charity’s governance, and the lack of due diligence being taken in the recruitment process.

While the disgraced trustee resigned immediately after the link was made public, the Charity Commission noted: “It was clear that when certain key word internet searches were undertaken, details about the former trustee were found which would have meant that this individual would not have been appointed.”

It added: “The failure by the trustees to ensure that the trustee recruitment policy was fully adhered to was mismanagement in the administration of the charity by the trustees in post at the relevant time.”

‘Certainly unethical’

The Christian Institute’s Director Ciarán Kelly said: “Mermaids has been rightly chastised by the Charity Commission over its poor governance and mismanagement.

“While its activities have not been deemed illegal, they are certainly unethical. This organisation has been deceiving children for years by telling them they can be born in the wrong body, and, despite being aware of the dangerous side-effects of puberty blockers and breast binders, continued to promote and provide them respectively.

“While Mermaids’ leadership may claim they have not acted inappropriately, it is clear to see that their ideology has blinded them to the widespread harm they have been causing.

“Parents of gender-confused children would do well to give Mermaids a very wide berth.”