As parent of a young trans child I hugely welcome this statement from the Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health @RCPCHtweets. Short thread. 1/6
They state clearly the need to:
"Understand that gender questioning and gender diversity are common, not pathological and frequently begin in early childhood". 2/6
"Understand that gender questioning and gender diversity are common, not pathological and frequently begin in early childhood". 2/6
Health professionals need to:
"Help parents, schools & other agencies to adopt a supportive, flexible and responsive attitude to affirm a child’s expressed sexuality and gender, whilst being sensitive to change over time. This will involve making appropriate adjustments." 3/6
"Help parents, schools & other agencies to adopt a supportive, flexible and responsive attitude to affirm a child’s expressed sexuality and gender, whilst being sensitive to change over time. This will involve making appropriate adjustments." 3/6
They note that "LGBTQ+ children & young people are likely to have higher rates of low mood, anxiety and thoughts of wanting to die". They should be clear this is not integral to being LGBTQ+ but due to minority stress, hate, discrimination and rejection. 4/6
In the years that I have been paying attention, RCPCH has badly failed in its duty of care to trans children.
I hope the statement released today marks a step-change, making amends for past failings & ensuring paediatricians are proactive in protecting trans kids in the UK. 5/6
I hope the statement released today marks a step-change, making amends for past failings & ensuring paediatricians are proactive in protecting trans kids in the UK. 5/6
As a mum of a young trans child, as a researcher doing a PhD focused on listening to trans children, I hope RCPCH starts to reach out to trans children, families & advocates, to listen, to learn, to do better. I would love there to be a nominated RCPCH lead who we can talk to 6/6
I'll tag on to this thread one associated topic. Now that RCPCH has acknowledged that gender diversity is not pathological and the importance of affirming and listening to trans children - I'd like to see RCPCH sign up to a commitment against conversion therapy 7/12
A new UN Report has been released today "Practices of so-called “conversion therapy” Report of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity" 8/12 ap.ohchr.org/Documents/dpag…
It states that conversion therapy includes attempts to change a person's gender identity from gender diverse or transgender to cisgender is conversion therapy. It states "Practices aimed at changing gender identity include preventing trans young people from transitioning" 9/12
It states that trans children under 10 are particularly vulnerable, particularly badly harmed by efforts to deny their gender identity. It states that psychotherapy is a common method of conversion therapy. 10/12
Reminder - in England and Wales trans children are 'treated' by psychoanalysts not supported by paediatricians. And our psychoanalyst led service recommends parents reject their trans children, deny social transition, until they are about ten. 11/12
This practice is known to be harmful, & has been called out by the UN as conversion therapy. Our UK government is trying to pass through legislation to protect LGB people from conversion therapy, whilst leaving trans people & trans children vulnerable. RCPCH could speak up. 12/12
More on the UN report here:
