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Makes me so bloody cross, this is how Wren, GIDS second in charge, chooses to educate, enlighten, advocate for our trans kids. Shameful #GIDSFailingTransKids
Societal judgement, hostility, ignorance, transphobia, is biggest threat to trans kids and biggest barrier to parents supporting them. GIDS have responsibility to normalise trans kids, to encourage support
Instead we get this shite. On need for psychological assessment, psychologist checking in case there is external pressure to be trans (!), vague references to culture, sexuality. Emphasising kids in turmoil over gender, suggesting they have no idea what is best for these kids
They talk about medical treatment and children without even clarifying younger children are not having any medical treatment FFS.
Yet again GIDS media engagements focus on defending their approach, defending their monopoly, emphasising how complex and confused and risky these kids are, that their psychologist assessment approach is the only thing for this complexity, how we need more caution & conservatism.
They never do their actual job, they never normalise trans kids, they never educate the public to love and support our kids. Support and acceptance is what our kids need. Depathologisation.
In a UK where councils are now withdrawing guidelines on how to support trans kids in school, under pressure from right wing forces (posing as concerned parents), GIDS could be on the side of trans kids. Should be on their side.
They should be giving a clear supportive message to the media, to the UK public, that many trans kids are not in turmoil over gender, they are in turmoil over living in a country where transphobia is endemic.
They should give the clear message that medical decisions are an individual decision centred on the child, not fro public discussion, and that the only thing wider society needs to do is support trans kids at school and at home, to make their life easier and safer.
They should give the message that some kids are trans. That trans kids are no different to any other kid. They are not confused or mentally ill. That they are not being externally pressured to be trans.
Instead of this damaging tone of concern, complexity, caution the public need to hear a simple message. Some kids are trans. Love them as they are. Support them. And these kids will thrive, they will shine and soar like any other kid.
If GIDS centred the well-being of trans kids this kind of public education would be a core part of their remit. But GIDS do not care about trans kids. They care far more about any potential cis kid in their service than they do about trans kids. Institutional transphobia at GIDS
