Thread by @FierceMum

Another day of rage & despair, with a 12 yr old trans child lost. What is to blame? A short thread:

Firstly, a UK media culture that paints trans people as a threat & a problem. Looking at #BBCTransphobia & today @TimHarford. Trans kids hear how BBC speaks about them.
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@TimHarford Secondly, UK schools that are completely failing a large number of trans kids. I know so many bleak stories.

Too many kids face discrimination, segregation, chronic stress, in unsafe environments.

Of course schools are under a lot of pressure. But so are trans kids. 2/

@TimHarford Thirdly, an NHS that continues to utterly fail trans kids.

Failure to provide essential healthcare. Waiting lists of 3 years+. Hurdle after hurdle. Stupid question after stupid question. Appointments that harm & upset. Trans kids do not have equal access to healthcare. 3/

@TimHarford Also important are the failings in NHS communication. The NHS fails to communicate the important message that teachers & families need to hear:

Trans kids are awesome. There's nothing wrong with being trans. Listen to them. Love & support them. 4/

@TimHarford There's a massive body of evidence that trans kids suffer disproportionately from mental health issues because the world treats them so badly.

We know family support is vital.
We know school support is vital.
We know healthcare is vital.

But we never hear that evidence 5/

@TimHarford We never hear the vast body of evidence on support for trans kids being vital to safeguard their mental health because the media & some politicians would rather have a stupid culture war 6/

@TimHarford We don't hear about how to keep trans kids safe, cos instead we cycle through:

One trans woman athlete in the history of the Olympics is wow a huge problem
A trans girl going to the toilet is some huge problem.
A trans boy existing is a huge problem.

Trans kids hear this 7/

@TimHarford Family support is hugely important to trans kids' wellbeing.

But misinformation is everywhere. Parents get pulled towards mindsets & behaviours that are toxic & cause major harm.

hate-groups with glossy publications encourage parents to harm trans kids 8/

@TimHarford Parents hear continual negativity from wider family, from communities, from media, that trans people are a problem. That trans lives are so unwelcome in the UK, that (abusive) conversion practices are a better idea than loving and supporting a trans kid. 9/

@TimHarford & when parents do stand up against the tide and stand by their trans kid

There is no support.

Parents who stand by their trans kids are attacked, vilified, isolated & afraid. 10/

@TimHarford Parents who have the least privilege, those dealing with domestic abuse, issues of mental health, engagement with social services, disability and poverty, have the most barriers to supporting their trans child.

It shouldn't be so hard to do the basics of protecting your kids 11/

@TimHarford The UK is a toxic & stressful place as a parent, to try to keep your trans child safe.

Imagine what it's like for trans kids. Especially those with transphobic families & schools. 12/

@TimHarford When I read today's story about a 12 year old trans kid, failed in life and in death, I go numb.

I know so many who are barely holding on. Every day gets harder, and the UK establishment, not only does not care, it actively makes life worse for trans kids. 13/

@TimHarford For anyone cis (not trans) who is reading this.

What are you doing to change the way we talk about trans people in this country?

No more framing trans people as *The Problem*. No more debates about trans people.

Maybe start by listening to trans people? 14/end

@TimHarford For trans people & supportive parents of trans kids - who will be the majority of people reading this.

We will get there. Things will get better. Our trans kids need us to believe that. Don't lose hope, look after yourselves & together we'll build a better world

https://twitter.com/DadTrans/status/1491397873082441728