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Blog — Analysis

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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Mermaids Press

“Social transition: It’s a lifesaver” – a young trans person’s view

Two young trans people share their views on proposed changes to NHS healthcare services for trans and gender-diverse young people in England We continue our series of blogs from our communities on the impact of the proposed guidelines with two young trans people, Jamie and Elijah, who have shared their views on the specification.  The consultation on the proposed guidelines runs until 4 December 2022, and we have produced guidance on the consultation to help you respond.  Jamie: “Social transition – it’s a lifesaver” Social transition saved me as a teenager. To some, it may seem unbelievable how such simple…

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Mermaids Press

Trans healthcare guideline proposals: A response from our community

“It sounds like they are trying to stop trans youth existing” This month, we published a blog summarising some of the proposed changes to the NHS healthcare services for young trans and gender-diverse people in England.  The new guidelines were met with anger and frustration by the young people and families we support, with those on our helplines and forums expressing deep concern about the implications to their future wellbeing.  In response, we held two online engagement sessions, one for trans and gender-diverse young people, and one for parents to listen to their views.  What struck us most was the…

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Keep Trans In The Ban: What happened at the Westminster Hall debate

Mermaids’ Head of Policy & Research Kai O’Doherty attended a debate on trans-inclusion in a ban on conversion practices this week. Missed it? Here’s what happened – and what might happen next.  What happened? Yesterday (13 June 2022), MPs filled Westminster Hall to debate a public-backed petition calling for the UK Government to reverse its decision to exclude trans and non-binary people from a ban on conversion practices.  It’s been a long road to get to where we are now, with many twists and turns, which you can read about here. After witnessing previous Parliament debates which have descended into…

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Our Analysis on the EHRC’s Single-Sex Spaces Guidance

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published its guidance on single sex spaces on 4 April 2022. This is non-statutory ‘guidance’, it is not the law itself.  The key page regarding the inclusion of trans people in single-sex spaces can be found here.  The guidance explains broadly that trans people can only be discriminated against if that is a proportionate way of meeting a legitimate aim, but fails to offer a clear representation as to how high that threshold is. It is unfortunate (considering that this may be used by the general public) that the EHRC doesn’t stress…

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Mermaids Press

Mermaids welcomes Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill

The reforms are a significant step forward for trans rights as fundamentally, they acknowledge that trans people are who they say they are. The current system is unnecessarily bureaucratic, stigmatising and invasive, and consultations in both Scotland and the UK have shown overwhelming public support for change.

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No Excuse for Abuse: Ban Conversion Therapy Now!

We welcome the proposal set forward in the Queen’s Speech to ban the horrendous practice that is so-called “conversion therapy”.  We, as LGBTIQ* people, are victim to “conversion therapy” if someone seeks to convert, cancel, cure, or change a person’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity.  We call for the Government to publish a full and comprehensive Bill, that bans conversion practices: 1. In all forms, 2. For all LGBTIQ+ people,  3. Of all ages,   4. In all settings. It is vital that all forms of so-called conversion therapy are banned, in all settings including psychological, medical, privately in families…

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