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Trans+ Groups Slam High Court After Ruling

04/12/2020

Pink News, The Guardian, BBC News and Sky News all gave prominence on Tuesday to an important High Court ruling which will have implications for young people with gender dysphoria and wishing to transition to a different gender identity. The court ruled that those under sixteen years of age must fully understand the physical and emotional effects of taking puberty blockers and hormone medication. The judges delivering their verdict in a case brought by a little known “detransitioner” activist said that they found it doubtful that under sixteen year olds could give meaningful consent to the treatment. In such cases, court authorisation is now recommended before treatment can begin. Pink News notes that the reverberations from this ruling may be felt globally where other courts weigh up how trans young people access services. A spokesperson for the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust which is the foremost NHS trust dealing with trans young people said: “The trust is disappointed by today’s judgment and we understand that the outcome is likely to cause anxiety for patients and their families”. The spokesperson confirmed that the Trust is seeking leave to appeal the ruling. Mermaids, which is a charity dealing with young trans and gender questioning people said that the ruling was a betrayal of the state's duty towards young trans people and added that they will make a full statement in due course. The case against the NHS Foundation Trust was partially brought by a woman called Keira Bell. Bell is a part of a “detransitioner” movement that has been compared by some gay people to the “ex gay” movement in the United States, which claims to be able to turn gay people straight. Pink News published pictures of Bell, who said that she had been prescribed puberty blockers whilst considering traditioning, with supporters, one of whom was wearing garments with anti-trans slogans, identifying them as part of the organised anti-trans movement in the UK. This movement has been denounced by many feminists as being bankrolled by religious extremists with links to the United States. Their stated aim is to sever the traditional ties of solidarity between lesbian women and transgender people so that they can undermine both groups.

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