cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/13847307

Taken from a Press Release by the group:

LONDON, 1 July 2024—Two young trans activists scaled the NHS England’s London headquarters at 133–135 Waterloo Road in London on Friday to stage a protest and have remained there ever since. The group, now made up of seven young protesters, all 18 or under, has one simple message: Trans Kids Deserve Better: we are not pawns for your politics.

The powerful direct action has been organised by the “​​Trans Kids Deserve Better” network, which is calling for: access to gender affirming healthcare for trans children and young people, protection from discrimination and disrespect in their daily lives and the right to be heard in all decisions that affect them.

Their protest comes in the wake of the government using emergency powers to ban all access to puberty blockers in the UK, a move that was supported by Labour’s Wes Streeting, likely to be the next Secretary of State for Health. It also comes in the context of a General Election campaign where trans people and trans youth have been used as ‘culture war’ talking points, but not allowed to speak for themselves.

“We are staging this protest to remind politicians and voters that we’re real kids, not just political talking points. We may not have a vote, but it is our lives that are at stake,” said one of the activists staging the protest. “Gender-affirming healthcare is a matter of life and death for us, and we hope that our actions will bring awareness to this fact and encourage others to fight for the healthcare and dignity that we are so shamefully denied.”

  • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.ukEnglish
    13·
    5 months ago

    The group, now made up of seven young protesters, all 18 or under, has one simple message: Trans Kids Deserve Better: we are not pawns for your politics.

    …

    It also comes in the context of a General Election campaign where trans people and trans youth have been used as ‘culture war’ talking points, but not allowed to speak for themselves.

    That’s what really breaks my heart - this issue is cynically exploited by politicians but it’s people’s lives on the line.

    Their protest comes in the wake of the government using emergency powers to ban all access to puberty blockers in the UK, a move that was supported by Labour’s Wes Streeting, likely to be the next Secretary of State for Health.

    While Labour will improve the situation on transgender rights, as best I can tell, both they and the Tories are committed to implementing the suggestions in the Cass Review but quite what that means in practice is unclear as some are spinning it to suit their agendas. As Stonewall says:

    Puberty blockers and gender affirming hormones: The Cass Review Final Report argues that the evidence on puberty blockers is insufficient, but also acknowledges their efficacy for some trans young people. It recommends that more evidence be gathered through compulsory medical trials, which raises ethical concerns which will need to be addressed. Importantly, the Cass Review did not call for blanket bans on puberty blockers and this needs to be fully reflected in policy and service development with clear guidance issued at the earliest opportunity to prevent any blanket bans being implemented.

    That also discusses how the review is being misrepresented in some quarters. So we don’t really know what the difference in policy will be under Labour. Which is worrying.

  • Churbleyimyam@lemm.ee
    4·
    5 months ago

    Trans people have been getting massively exploited by politicians, media and corporations, using them either as ragebait, political wedges, straw mans (persons ofc), or as value-alignment commodities. Apart from this being ugly and inhuman, it must really pollute and complicate life for trans people, who are basically collateral damage in all of this.

    I feel like all I can do responsibly is to ignore everything on the topic unless it comes from a trans person speaking from the heart and firsthand experience. The whole thing has become farcical mess for everyone.

    • DessertStorms@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOP
      3·
      5 months ago

      I agree, and also think that trans voices should be the only relevant ones to the conversation, but at this point I wouldn’t feel safe completely ignoring the voices of the oppressors, especially not those in power, because that won’t stop them and the very real life impact they have, only fighting back will (I do get burn out though, and when you’re personally impacted taking a step back to try and get a break from all the shit is perfectly valid).

  • Jackthelad@lemmy.worldEnglish
    516·
    5 months ago

    You should not be able to make a huge life changing decision like changing gender until you’re an adult.

    How many different “phases” do kids go through? Obviously not in all cases will this be a phase, but what if it is and an irreversible decision is made when they’re too young to fully understand it?

    • sapient [they/them]@infosec.pub
      22·
      5 months ago

      You should not be able to make a huge life changing decision like deciding to be cisgender until you’re an adult.

      How many different “phases” do kids go through? Obviously not in all cases will this be a phase, but what if it is and an irreversible decision to proceed with cisgender puberty is made when they’re too young to fully understand it?

      Clearly, the solution is for all people to be forcefully injected with puberty blockers (or for a more accurate comparison, “opposite sex” hormones) until they’re 18, because they’re too young to know if they’re cis.

      This fake analogy quote was snark, hopefully clearly so, but the point remains >.<. Fuck transphobia - forcing trans kids to be treated as cis is dehumanising and kills people. People aren’t DeCIdInG To ChANgE ThEir GeNDeR because being trans isn’t “”“deciding to change your gender”“”. The level of ignorance and fucked up nonsense in your comment is fractal.

      • Jackthelad@lemmy.worldEnglish
        36·
        5 months ago

        What the fuck? “Forcefully injected with opposite sex hormones”? You mean, just going through puberty naturally?

        Obviously you automatically think I’m transphobic purely because I don’t subscribe to everything the hardcore trans activists come out with, and because I think there should be a balanced outcome that helps kids but also protects them. As opposed to any kid saying “I’m trans” and suddenly we have to throw medication at them without questioning if it’s something they actually want or are just being contrarian. Let’s be honest, there are always kids who want to be different and will latch on to things like this, even if it’s not genuine.

        But you’ll probably tell me that’s transphobic too, because obviously kids fully understand all this stuff. 🙄