Speak to a trained member of the Mermaids team. 08088010400

Blog — Make a Change

Annabel Mulliner

How my favourite teacher helped me to accept myself as a teenager

Johanna (she/her) reflects on how a quiet act of allyship from her favourite teacher made a world of difference to her while she was closeted at school. Quiet support at school made a world of difference to me as a closeted trans teenager. I was 17, aware that I was not cisgender, and absolutely terrified. Although I felt unable to truly come out, I still experimented with my gender expression, namely by maintaining long hair and painted nails. In my sixth and final year of high school I took Advanced Higher Drama and began to show a keen interest in…

Read news

Mermaids Press

NHS England is trying to further limit trans youth’s healthcare: Here’s how you can take action

NHS England is proposing that puberty blockers only be available to trans youth through a mandatory, long-term research study – and only to a small group of people. They have put this idea out for consultation, meaning that the public (you!) can provide feedback. This is a window in which change is possible, but only with public pressure. Access to healthcare is a basic right. Healthcare for trans children and young people in England is already extremely limited, with a 5+ year wait list and appointments virtually at a standstill this year. This is why we need to act now….

Read news

Annabel Mulliner

A day with the UN’s Independent Expert on SOGI

Elijah, a member of Mermaids’ Youth Advisory Panel, had the opportunity to give evidence to Mr Victor Madrigal Borloz, the United Nations’ Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), during his visit to the UK.  Victor Madrigal-Borloz visited the UK to listen to a range of stakeholders, including Mermaids, as part of his report into the human rights of LGBT+ people in the UK.  Now that the Independent Expert’s end of mission statement (TW: references to suicide) is released, Elijah recounts his experience and what the day signified for him personally. As…

Read news

Mermaids Press

Exploring your trans future

Mermaids’ Youth Advocacy Manager Lee and members of our Youth Advisory Panel look back on TRANS(CEND), a day of positivity, inspiration and joy In March this year, 34 young trans people arrived in Sheffield to take part in our event TRANS(CEND), an interactive day aimed at trans young people aged 16-19.  The theme of the day was “exploring your trans future” with the main objective being to advise and inspire trans youth regarding their futures, whether that be employment, education or other life choices.  The day started bright and early with registration at 9.30am. Young people had travelled from as…

Read news

Mermaids Press

Trans youth call for UK Government to step up on LGBTQIA+ rights at the United Nations

A member of Mermaids’ Youth Advisory Panel recently spoke at the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on the UK Government’s LGBTQIA+ rights record. What’s happened and why does it matter? Every four to five years, each UN Member State undergoes a review of their human rights record with other countries presenting their recommendations to the UK this year. The recommendations to the UK Government on LGBTQIA+ issues grew fivefold – especially on trans healthcare, legal recognition and banning conversion therapy.  What did Mermaids do? Mermaids and Stonewall submitted evidence on the UK Government’s LGBTQIA+ rights record and presented our…

Read news

Mermaids Press

Mermaids 2022: Year in review

2022 was a particularly difficult year for the trans community, but amongst the challenges, there has been cause for celebration too.  From the courage of Members of the Scottish Parliament who stood strong in the face of intense opposition and voted for gender recognition reform, to Mermaids being selected as a charity partner for the world’s largest streaming event and the formation of our first-ever Youth Advisory Panel, here are just a few of the more positive things we’ll remember 2022 for.  Support services To the end of November 2022, we answered 3,593 helpline calls and 4,186 web chats, made…

Read news

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…

Read news

Mermaids Press

NHS England youth gender services consultation: Tips for responding

NHS England has launched a consultation running from 20 October to 4 December on how the future youth gender services should run in the new clinics opening in Spring 2023.   We have significant concerns about these proposals, which you can read about in our explainer blog, and in collaboration with Stonewall, Gendered Intelligence and Trans Learning Partnership, have now published guidance to help with your response. The guidance takes you through the questions as they are on the response form, with key issues you may wish to raise in bullet points. We’ve also highlighted relevant research, as well as differences between this…

Read news

Mermaids Press

TDOV: Visibility is the beginning, liberation is the goal – and we can only achieve it together

Today (31 March) is Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) a day where around the world we celebrate the accomplishments of trans, gender non-conforming and non-binary people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve trans liberation. Over recent years, we’ve seen a rise in anti-trans rhetoric from legislation to the media. At Mermaids, we wanted to look towards the future and ask the trans community and our allies what their hopes are and what they commit to doing to make the world a better place for trans people. Our Helpline Service Officers play a…

Read news

mermaids_writer

The Human Rights Act has played a key role in trans equality – let’s protect it

As the consultation period on proposed reforms to the Human Rights Act (HRA) draws to a close, Mermaids’ policy team reflects on the history of the Act and how it has advanced LGBTQIA+ rights in the UK, and looks at how the Government’s plans will restrict protections currently afforded to us all.      What is the Human Rights Act (1998)? The HRA, passed in 1998, incorporated into domestic UK law the fundamental rights and freedoms set out in the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), which everyone in the UK is entitled to. More specifically, the HRA lets you defend those…

Read news