Friday, August 23, 2024

LGBTQ+ organisations respond after UK puberty blocker ban extended to Northern Ireland

Alice Linehan
Fri, 23 August 2024 

This article is about a ban on puberty blockers extended to Northern Ireland. In the photo, the hand of a person holding a blue, white and pink sign that reads 'Protect trans lives' while marching at a protest. Via Shutterstock - Michael Tubi


LGBTQ+ organisations have responded after the puberty blocker ban currently in place in England, Scotland and Wales was extended to Northern Ireland. The news was announced by the UK government’s Department of Health and Social Care on Thursday, August 22.

The government’s statement reads: “The continuation of the ban applies to the sale or supply of these drugs, prescribed by private UK-registered prescribers for gender incongruence or dysphoria to under 18s not already taking them. It also prevents the sale and supply of the medicines from prescribers registered in the European Economic Area or Switzerland for any purposes to those under 18.”

The puberty blocker ban will come into effect in Northern Ireland from August 27, and BBC News NI reports that the order was signed off by the first and deputy first ministers without wider executive approval.


LGBTQ+ organisations Cara-Friend, The Rainbow Project, HERe, Belfast Trans Resource Centre and Mermaids collectively responded to the announcement, calling it “extremely disappointing” and adding that it “will undoubtedly cause harm to trans young people and their families who require this care”.

“Decisions around puberty blockers, and any other care for trans youth, must be made by young people, their clinicians and their family, not by politicians.

“We are seeking urgent clarification on why this decision was made, and are requesting meetings with Executive parties to chart a path forward where all trans people in Northern Ireland have access to timely, competent and accessible care that meets their needs.” the statement concluded.



Similarly, Trans and Intersex Pride Dublin wrote: “We must look at the ‘evidence’ that’s being used to justify the removal of healthcare for young trans people. The move to ban puberty blockers in the UK came after the Cass Review was published. We must be honest about what the review says and how it is being used.”

In a lengthy post on X, the organisation states that the Cass Review is “deeply flawed” and “disregards over 100 studies that show the safety and effectiveness of puberty blockers for trans youth”.

“The reality is puberty blockers and gender affirming care are life saving for trans youth,” the group continues.

“For the guaranteed protection and liberation of trans people and all exploited people, we need to fight oppression at its root. We need to build a grassroots movement that tackles the capitalist system head-on and fight for a better world for all.”



Up to this point, puberty blockers were only available for minors in Northern Ireland under NHS prescription. To qualify, patients must have been accepted to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Gender Identity Service endocrine pathway prior to March 2020, and it is understood that the young people who remain in that category will continue to receive treatment.

For more information regarding the puberty blocker ban or for support, LGBTQ+ organisations like Cara-Friend, The Rainbow Project, HERe, Belfast Trans Resource Centre, Mermaids and Transgender Equality Network Ireland are here to help.




Gender surgeon says JK Rowling should ‘not comment on stuff that she doesn’t know much about’

Dale Fox
Thu, 22 August 2024 


Mr James Beringer has commented on JK Rowling's views on transgender issues (Image: YouTube/LadBible TV; WikiMedia/Dan Ogren)

A prominent UK gender surgeon has expressed concern over JK Rowling‘s public statements about transgender individuals, saying the author’s comments on trans issues are “somewhat ill-informed”.

In a video interview on LadBible’s YouTube channel, Mr James Bellringer, a consultant urologist specialising in gender affirming surgery in trans women, said he wished Rowling would “stick out of what I do and not comment on stuff that she doesn’t know much about.”

“It seems slightly unfair to use her privileged position to make, I think, somewhat ill-informed comment about this patient group,” he added, also saying, “I’m not going to try and write a children’s book tomorrow.”



Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, has faced criticism for her stance on transgender issues. She has been critical of some aspects of trans activism, often expressing concerns about the erosion of women’s rights and single-sex spaces. Her comments have sparked accusations of transphobia, which she has denied.
“If you don’t offer them appropriate support, counselling and in the end, surgery, we think about one in five of them commit suicide” – Mr Bellringer on the importance of gender surgery

Mr Bellringer, who LadBible says in one of only four surgeons qualified to perform vaginoplasties in the UK, also noted that many trans individuals are at risk of suicide without appropriate support and surgery.

“If you don’t offer them appropriate support, counselling and in the end, surgery, we think about one in five of them commit suicide,” he explained.

The surgeon also highlighted the significant improvement in quality of life for many patients post-surgery. “Patients literally change overnight,” he remarked. “They report back immensely increased levels of satisfaction and happiness with their lives. It’s a huge, amazing change.”

JK Rowling was recently named in a cyberbullying lawsuit by Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, along with Elon Musk. It alleges “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” around Khelif’s appearance at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 this summer.

Khelif won women’s boxing gold a year after being disqualified from the World Championships, with her Olympic journey giving rise to misinformation and speculation around her gender.

JK Rowling’s team was approached by Attitude, but declined to comment.

The post Gender surgeon says JK Rowling should ‘not comment on stuff that she doesn’t know much about’ appeared first on Attitude.

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