Thread by @FierceMum

For anyone who has shown love, support, care, for trans children in 2018 – Thank you! Here is a Christmas Eve treat. Curl up with a cup of tea and a mince pie, and enjoy a Christmas Eve story, read by UK trans children, aged 6-12. #NightBeforeChristmas

Trans kids who are supported are thriving – enjoying happy childhoods. Our kids are super excited for Christmas, surrounded by families who love them unconditionally. Love. Support. Happiness. #SupportTransKids @Mermaids_Gender

To those spreading hate and fear about trans people, who attack the few who stick up for trans kids – these are the children harmed by your fear mongering. Trans children in the UK were bullied by powerful adults week after week in 2018. Shame on you. In 2019 – be better. Be kind

For those who want trans children to be happy, but don’t know much, here’s ten basic facts:
1) Trans children exist
2) Trans children are living in families, schools, communities, across the UK and across the world
3) They are a vulnerable minority who need support

4) Healthcare services in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain endorse gender affirmative care for trans children
5) This entails listening to each child. Love & support. An individualised approach, guided by what each child needs. Prioritising their well-being & happiness

6) Affirmed, supported children have normal levels of well-being. They are happy.
7) ‘Watchful waiting’ is called ‘outdated’ and harmful by the world’s largest paediatric healthcare organisation (American Academy of Paediatrics – representing 67,000 paediatricians).

8) ‘Watchful waiting’ gives trans children the message that being trans is wrong, is shameful. It robs trans children of a happy childhood. Our kids only get one childhood. Kids not supported in childhood are more likely to have depression & suicidality, low self-esteem

9) Affirmative care is mainstream in many countries (see 4). It is best practice. It is evidence based. It has better outcomes. Leaves kids happier. Yet in the UK hardly any organisation apart from @Mermaids regularly speaks up about the harm caused by the UK’s approach.

10) Organisations that care about children need to speak up for trans kids. It is a child welfare issue - a health equality issue. With misinformation across the UK, we need exchanges with professionals from USA, Australia - to help professionals here learn. Who can help in 2019?

In 2019 – please stick up for trans children. Families like ours are keeping our privacy, because the UK is so mean to trans kids. But our kids are here, and they are listening. They need the UK to be kinder to trans children. To be kinder to all minorities. #SupportTransKids

References:
For US Gender affirmative approach, the AAP's 2018 journal article is here: pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/142/4/…
A summarised, accessible version is here: aap.org/en-us/about-th…

Australia’s health service has also endorsed Gender Affirmative care for trans children – see 2018 article in the prestigious Lancet journal: thelancet.com/journals/lance…
A summarised accessible version is available here: rch.org.au/uploadedFiles/…

For information on how the approach that is evidence based and mainstream elsewhere differs from the service offered UK trans kids see: growinguptransgender.com/2017/10/01/aus…

Merry Christmas!

I know what I am wishing for:

https://twitter.com/FierceMum/status/1075382166517878789