Healthcare
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Helen Joyce on sex, gender identity and human rights
Helen Joyce is Director of Advocacy at Sex Matters.
These are edited versions of Helen’s talks at the conferences held in 2023 in Killarney and 2024 in Lisbon by Genspect, an international organisation advocating for non-medical approaches to gender distress. -
Support, advice and guidance for parents
Starting points for parents looking for support, advice and information (mainly focused on the UK) on how to help gender-questioning, gender-distressed and trans-identifying children.
21st November 2024
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NHS England training calls staff “transphobic” if they won’t share toilets with the opposite sex
Sex Matters has written to Amanda Pritchard, the chief executive of NHS England, to raise concerns about NHSE’s “mandatory and statutory” training on “Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights Skills”. The training is required for all its 6,500 staff. It presents disagreement with extreme gender ideology as “transphobia”. The...
28th October 2024
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WPATH evidence on trial
In the past three years, the US federal government has been strongly in favour of so-called “gender-affirmative” treatment, while over 20 US states have taken the opposite view, enacting laws banning puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery for gender-distressed children. In July 2023, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected...
21st October 2024
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Another myth of persistence?
A letter from Alex Byrne to the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior argues that although many experts claim that childhood-onset gender dysphoria that persists into early puberty will persist into adolescence and adulthood if untreated, the published evidence does not bear this out.
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Dr Cass puts a spotlight on the scandal of a “magical” medical service
A damning letter from Dr Hilary Cass about adult gender clinics was sent to NHS England in May and published on 7th August (together with a reply from NHSE). The letter draws into question the basis of “gender medicine”. Although Dr Cass’s mandate was to review services for children,...
9th August 2024
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Puberty blockers – a briefing for MPs
We explain the background to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s decision to end the use of puberty blockers for gender distress, based on the recommendations of the Cass Review. Large-print version of this briefing. See also our two-page Puberty blockers FAQs for MPs.
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Updating the NHS Constitution
The NHS Constitution is a crucial document that sets out commitments to patients and staff. All NHS bodies, and private and third-sector providers supplying services in England, are required by law to take account of the constitution in their decisions and actions. As part of the 10-year review, new...
26th June 2024
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NHS Constitution 10-year review: response to the consultation
As part of the 2024 10-year review of the NHS Constitution, new provisions have been proposed on sex and gender. We explain these and give our responses to the consultation.
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Calls to ban conversion therapy put children at risk
Proposals to ban conversion therapy or conversion practices are likely to feature among the pledges of political parties as part of their general-election campaigns. On the face of it, banning conversion therapy sounds like an uncontroversial and positive step. But voters and the politicians who seek to represent them...
11th June 2024
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Despite the election, you should still respond to consultations
You can still make a difference by responding: here’s how.
7th June 2024
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The Charity Commission must step up to protect single-sex charities
Single-sex charities play an important role in meeting the needs of one sex or the other in many areas, including healthcare, mental health, social issues, sport and education. Although charities are a form of voluntary action, the state requires that charity trustees pursue the charity’s objects, including when those...
20th May 2024
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Dispelling the suicide myth
For almost ten years, lobby groups have been promoting the idea that for gender-confused children there are only two options: transition or die. The claim that childhood transition prevents suicide has been used as an argument for social transition in schools, for giving puberty blockers and hormones, and for...
10th May 2024
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Gender-distressed youth and suicide risk – factsheet
The possibility of suicide can be a concern for parents with a child experiencing distress about their sex, and for the professionals working with that family, as well as for officials and politicians setting policy. This factsheet summarises research and addresses myths, misunderstandings and scaremongering.
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Sex and the NHS constitution
Sex Matters welcomes the announcement by the Department for Health and Social Care that it is updating the NHS Constitution for England to reflect the Equality Act 2010 and protect single-sex care. Secretary of State Victoria Atkins said: “We have always been clear that sex matters and our services...
1st May 2024
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Welsh parliament to debate the Cass Review
Almost two weeks after the publication of the Cass Review’s final report, the Welsh government has yet to make an official statement. But at least we will hear from government ministers during a debate in the Welsh Parliament today. Welsh Conservative Darren Millar MS, the Senedd Constituency Member for...
1st May 2024
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The Cass review of gender identity services marks a return to reason and evidence – it must be defended
Its author has had to fend off criticism and misinformation, but the report offers hope for a realistic conversation, writes David Bell for
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Getting “sex” right in digital verification services
The UK government is developing a system for digital verification services (DVSs). The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill which is now at committee stage in the House of Lords is establishing the legal framework for this. The legislation will lead to the development of a “digital identity and...
17th April 2024
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The Cass Review – initial analysis
The Cass Review of gender-identity services for children and young people has published its final report and recommendations. Sex Matters says: This is a breakthrough. It’s a huge step forward, with multiple implications that will be hugely consequential.
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The Cass Review – final report
Dr Hilary Cass's final report and recommendations to NHS England in her role as chair of the Independent Review of gender identity services for children and young people.
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The Cass Review is a damning indictment of what the NHS has been doing to children
Dr Hilary Cass has submitted her final report and recommendations to NHS England in her role as Chair of the Independent Review of gender identity services for children and young people. Hilary Cass’s report demolishes the entire basis for the current model of treating gender-distressed children. Its publication is...
10th April 2024
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Imported gender ideology is damaging the NHS
The NHS is losing essential data that keeps people safe Everyone’s medical records should show essential information about them, including age, sex and medical history. But lobbying by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), a transgender ideology activist group, has led to confusion and obfuscation in the...
12th March 2024
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WPATH: The truth about “gender-affirming healthcare”
What are the “WPATH files” and why are they in the news? The “WPATH files” are documents leaked from the internal chatboard of an organisation called the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). They shine a light on how so-called “gender-affirming care” or “transgender medicine” is leading to...
5th March 2024
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WPATH in the UK
A list of organisations in the UK influenced by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and lobby groups that have pushed its approach to gender medicine.
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Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender (CAN-SG)
Group of clinicians concerned at established medical bodies’ and regulators’ uncritical support for experimental treatments for gender-confused and gender-distressed people. (For names of members, visit the website.) Advocates for clearer dialogue, better data collection, rigorous science and improved treatment options for gender dysphoria. Calls upon healthcare organisations to develop...
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Evidence-Based Social Work Alliance (EBSWA)
Coalition of practitioners, academics and students in the field of social work. Formed as a response to concerns about the impact of gender-identity theory in their field. Argues that social workers’ legal responsibilities to safeguard children are being put at risk by the lack of an evidence base for...
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What is the indelible mark left by the NHS Rainbow Badge scheme?
The organisers of the NHS Rainbow Badge scheme have announced that it has come to an end due to lack of funding. But project lead Alex Matheson says that “the project has left an indelible mark” on NHS trusts. The scheme was created in a London hospital in 2018...
22nd February 2024
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Lords debate conversion therapy
On Friday 9th February 2024 Baroness Burt’s Private Member’s Bill proposing a ban on “conversion therapy” was debated in the House of Lords. Twenty-nine peers spoke against it and fifteen in favour. This was the first time some important arguments had been heard in Parliament. While those in favour...
21st February 2024
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The House of Lords debate on conversion therapy
On Friday 9th February 2024 Baroness Burt’s Private Member's Bill proposing a ban on "conversion therapy" was debated in the House of Lords. Twenty-nine peers spoke against it and fifteen in favour. Some important arguments were heard in Parliament for the first time.
21st February 2024
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SEEN in Health
Formed in May 2024, SEEN in Health is a staff network for all NHS employees and staff delivering NHS services from NHS locations. To join, you must have an email addresses from an eligible official organisation. The network is committed to promoting and supporting sex equality and equity in NHS workplaces,...
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Conversion therapy… again
The proposal to legislate to criminalise “conversion therapy” is back again, this time as a private members’ bill introduced by the Liberal Democrat Baroness Burt. It is being debated in the House of Lords today. Private members’ bills don’t usually become law, but they do give a chance to...
9th February 2024
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Conversion therapy and the Cooper report – parliamentary briefing
See also our more detailed parliamentary briefing on conversion therapy.