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Blog — Analysis

Mermaids Press

The new restrictions on puberty blockers in the UK: A Mermaids Explainer

On 29 May 2024, the Government introduced two pieces of regulation which restrict how trans children and young people under 18 years old can access some medications (GnRH analogues) which delay the effects of puberty as a result of a diagnosis of gender incongruence or gender dysphoria. These medicines consist of or contain buserelin, gonadorelin, goserelin, leuprorelin acetate, nafarelin or triptorelin. We will call these GnRH analogues throughout this information to prevent confusion with other medications.  This legislation applies in England, Wales and Scotland.  Following the Government’s announcement, NHS England wrote to the parents and guardians of all young people…

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Mermaids Press

Mermaids’ response to The Cass Review – In Depth

Trans children, young people and their families have been faced with hateful narrative and misformation since the publication of The Cass Review on 10 April 2024.  Media organisations and elected representatives hostile to trans youth have sought to misrepresent the report’s findings and call into question the validity of their experiences, and we are deeply disappointed, although not surprised, that Dr Cass’ own calls for compassion and respect have been completely disregarded.  As a charity supporting trans youth and their families, our focus these past few weeks has been on reassuring those worried by the content of the report as…

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Mermaids Press

The Cass Review: What Was It and What Does It Mean?

What is the Cass Review? In 2020, NHS England launched an independent review of children and young people’s gender services in England, led by Dr Hilary Cass. The review had a massive scope, including: They also commissioned a set of research from the University of York. Mermaids has regularly engaged with Dr Cass, most importantly through platforming trans children and young people’s views directly to the team through a series of focus groups. We have, however, been disappointed with the review’s consistent engagement with groups who deny the existence and legitimacy of trans youth. What did the Interim Report say?…

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Mermaids Press

What does the proposed trans schools guidance really say? A Mermaids Explainer

Content Note: these proposals are upsetting and scary for our community, particularly those with lived experience of transphobia in school. Please take care when reading.  The Government is consulting on its proposed trans guidance for schools and colleges in England, closing on Tuesday 12 March.  All young people deserve an accepting and supportive school environment to learn and be their authentic selves. Not only would this guidance make schools unsafe for trans children and young people, it actively seeks to deny their existence. At no point does the guidance offer any advice on how to include and support trans young…

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Mermaids Press

Trans youth need supportive schools

All young people deserve an accepting and supportive school environment to learn and be their authentic selves. The UK Government’s draft trans guidance for schools in England seeks to prevent that. Its approach is unworkable, out of touch and absurd.  Rather than listening to trans young people and reflecting best practice of inclusive educators across the UK, the Government has created more confusion for schools and is putting young people at risk. It is difficult to understand how aspects of this draft guidance, including automatically excluding trans pupils from facilities, sport bans or allowing students to be misgendered are compatible…

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Mermaids Press

Changes to the UK equalities’ watchdog technical guidance for schools: What it means for trans young people

Mermaids’ Policy team looks at recent changes to the EHRC’s technical guidance for how schools should implement the Equality Act, and what it might mean for trans youth. What have the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said? The EHRC have recently made changes to their technical guidance for how schools in England should implement the Equality Act 2010.  Robin Moira White, a barrister specialising in discrimination, has disputed its interpretation of existing equalities law.  It is important to note that the law has not changed, nor is this the long-awaited trans schools guidance promised by the UK Government. In…

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Mermaids Press

Census 2021: What does it mean for young people?

For the first time, we have census data on gender identity, with over 250,000 people in Wales and England declaring their gender identity as different from sex registered as birth in the 2021 census, published this month.  This means that at least 0.5% of people in England and Wales are likely to be trans (which we are using as an umbrella term), with over 1% of those aged between 16 and 24 identifying as trans.  This new data on gender identity is an important step in recognising the long neglected and overlooked reality of the trans community. From three to…

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Mermaids Press

What’s going on with Gender Recognition? A Mermaids Explainer

There’s been a lot going on with legal gender recognition reform over the past weeks. We know this has left many trans young people and their families feeling worried about the implications of the recent statement made by Kemi Badenoch, Minister for Women and Equalities, as well as reports that the UK Government may block Scottish gender recognition reform.  Here we answer some of the most pressing questions raised by our community:  What changes have been announced to the UK’s Gender Recognition Act (2004)? The UK Government has announced its intention to update the list of countries whose Gender Recognition…

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Mermaids Press

Shaping the future of healthcare: why reflecting on Bell v Tavistock still matters

Two years on from the Bell v Tavistock judgement, Mermaids has produced a report reflecting on its impact for trans young people and their families In October 2019, a judicial review (or complaint) was made in the UK on whether people under 18 years of age could consent to puberty blockers (‘Bell v Tavistock’) and on 1 December 2020, the court ruled in Bell’s favour. Immediately NHS England froze access to new puberty blocker prescriptions, leaving young people in limbo.  Two years on from that judgement, the impact continues to be felt, highlighted in a new report, published today (1…

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Mermaids Press

“I’m worried about the future of healthcare for trans youth” – a parent’s view

A paediatric doctor and parent of a trans child shares her view on the future of healthcare for gender diverse young people in England. I have been a paediatric doctor for 10 years. I also have a primary-school age transgender child. When my child first raised questions about their gender identity (“Mum, how do people know if they are a girl or a boy? Because I think I’m a boy”) I went looking for evidence to help me decide how to respond.  After about six months of being supportive and non-judgemental while they continued to express their questions, my child…

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