This blog is intended to share accurate, thoroughly researched, up-to-date information on trans news in the UK. Misinformation circulates very quickly and very easily, so I aim to cite and link all of my sources to everything I post about. Send in any asks or questions you might have and I will do my best to answer them. I do, however, recognise that some things I post about may change without me updating the post, so I encourage you to do your own research into these situations.
Trans news in the United Kingdom can be highly misleading and sometimes fully ignored, so this blog aims to inform and spread awareness.
British trans women did it again! I hope this courageous group starts crashing UK politicians' photo ops. If elected officials still refuse to call them women, then they have no grounds to arrest them.
The reform would mean citizens from the blacklisted counties will be forced to comply with complicated British rules if they move to the UK and gender-recognition certificates (GRC) obtained may not be recognised in this country.
If this goes into effect, this policy would target primarily immigrants.
I feel sick. I'm so scared. Things are going to get so much worse for trans adults in the UK when the Levy review for adult trans care comes out in November. My GP clinic already tried to not prescribe my T when the gender clinic endocrinologist first recommended it, I had to fight them so hard on it, and I'm terrified at any point they will stop.
Please share this. It is so disheartening that when I make posts about US trans issues they have thousands of notes within a couple hours, but UK trans issues barely get 100 notes. Our struggles are linked. The letter, in fact, uses the American spelling of certain words like 'realize' - Which has made some suspicious that this is a form letter provided by the American anti trans hate groups that have been pushing for more transphobic discrimination in the UK lately.
This WILL affect trans people in the US eventually. They will use the UK as an example to follow, when they are (at least partially) the ones who created the conditions for our growing medical discrimination. Our fight is your fight. Please, please care about it. Help people be aware of this at the very least.
Trans Actual are collecting data about this very issue right now. If you are trans and a GP has refused you HRT, please click on the Instagram post below and find out how to share your experience. This can't be allowed to slide.
This is very serious. If the NHS won't prescribe HRT then there is functionally nowhere else to go for trans people in the UK. Its a small island and getting off it takes effort. And unlike USA if the government passes a law it affects the entire country. At the last census there were 262,000 trans adults in the UK. There will be as many trans youth, and trans adults who were under 18 in 2021.
Above is TransActual's article on the Levy Review, which is the adults services equivalent to the Cass Review.
This doesn't get spoken about in the UK. With subjects like this, people often don't realise its happening until they get to the GP's office. Transphobia runs rampant across country and it is not getting better. The new government is still implementing the Cass Review, has allowed the Levy Review to go ahead, and has already totally banned puberty blockers for trans youth.
Now this is scary I KNOW - so here's the good bit. If you are in the UK you aren't helpless. you can write to your MP. There's currently no petitions on this but I will be watching out if not starting my own so pls follow to watch this space. And the most important one is community. Knowing someone who can help is how we get through things like this.
remember when keir starmer paraded round the mother of a murdered 16-year-old trans girl just so he could score a few cheap political points over sunak?
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Now is a really good time to be able to push back on that. Feel free to ask why a woman who has denied the Holocaust has a more important voice than several hundred thousand trans people and our loved ones, and also to ask if Labour has any plans for addressing the deficiencies in LGBTQ rights in the UK reported in the UN Special Rapporteur's dossier on this shithole nation :)
The Labour Party's Shadow Health Secretary has pledged to 'simplify' the Gender Recognition Certificate process for the 'very small number' of people who register.
The shadow health secretary said existing rules for people wishing to change gender included aspects that were "unnecessary". He also said
With just over one week until the UK General Election, The Labour Party's Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledges to 'simplify' the current 'degrading' and 'torturous' processes required for transgender people to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). Streeting says the policy will still require transgender applicants to recieve a diagnosis of 'gender dysphoria'.
Streeting: "At the moment, in order to obtain a gender recognition certificate, trans people have to go through a process that I think they feel is quite degrading and torturous in terms of the requirements that are placed on them in order to demonstrate their living their lives in their assumed gender, and what we want to do is to simplify the process by still requiring a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, in order to obtain legal recognition, so a doctor would still be involved, but trying to take out some of that unnecessary and degrading part of the process, so that trans people can, who want a gender recognition certificate, so we're talking about a very small number of people here, but to make sure that they have an experience that is much more respectful."
GRCs are the main route for UK transgender people to take in order to have their affirmed gender legally recognised. Certificates allow for UK-registered birth/adoption certificates to be updated, for transgender people to marry in their affirmed gender, and for their affirmed gender to be on their death certificate. The only certificates that can be obtained are male and female, as non binary genders are currently not legally recognised in the UK.
GRCs are, however, often difficult to obtain, as they require many criteria such as a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, two reports from either two medical doctors, or a medical doctor and a clinical psychologist. One report must detail any gender affirming care the trans person in question has had or plans to have. They must also provide evidence of living in their affirmed gender for a minimum of the last two years. The evidence must all be presented to a Gender Recognition Panel, made up of people with legal or medical qualifications, who will make a decision based on whether an application meets all the legal requirements. The process costs £5 and if the application is unsuccessful, the applicant will not be refunded.
Wes Streeting did not elaborate on how Labour will simplify the Gender Recognition process for transgender people.
Hey how's your day going the leader of the UK party that repealed the ban on LGBT content in media and education, who is somehow still our best candidate at the election in two weeks, just announced that he agrees with the party that banned it and would like to do that again.
Go support a trans person folks.
Meet Lying
Hi there! I'm Lying (yes that is a chosen name, based on a near-life-long nickname, … Lying Maughan needs your support for Lying
now that petitions have closed i have another thing to share with yall!! the uk government's current draft guidance for schools on handling trans kids (not legislation, just guidance, and a draft at that. it's not official yet), published in december last year, among other things states that parents have to be informed about social transition, and that "schools do not have to accept a child’s request to socially transition, and that teachers or pupils should not be pressured into using different pronouns." (link goes to gov.uk, where you can read the full press release. you can also read mermaids' explanation of the legislation and their response here!).
mermaids uk (a trans charity here, for those who don't know) is currently running an email campaign to contact your mp and encourage them to support reconsidering the current draft guidance: their goal is 10000, and they're at 8900 now. it requires your name, email address and uk postcode, but it takes less than a minute to do, and there's a pre-written template that you can edit as you choose and everything. if you can, please please consider doing so!
and if you still have your hogwarts house in your bio and are still a harry potter, especially if you're not from the uk, donate to mermaids :) i am not asking
there is no private pathway to receive trans healthcare under the age of 16. no amount of money can legally get a trans child access to puberty blockers. they are effectively completed banned, and banned immediately.
every single trans child here will have to go through the wrong puberty.
A priority!? The cost of living is through the fucking roof and banning trans women from hospital wards is your priority?!
Please can a labour supporter come and make the argument that it’ll lead to better trans healthcare because they’ll be budget made specifically for ‘trans only wards’.
Oh they’re absolutely not. There’s no space and there’s no way labour will provide enough funding for the creation of an additional ward for every single department in every single hospital. It’s an absolute joke that they’re saying stuff like this.
again, i know it's depressing and i'm sorry for putting negative stuff on everyone's dash but it's so fucking frustrating that nobody is talking about this because if nobody listens to us then nothing will happen and nothing will change, please please please start speaking up
That last reblog was from December, and things have since got even worse - off the top of my head, the NHS will no longer prescribe puberty blockers at all, and "gender critical" views have been legally affirmed to be a protected class of speech.
I realise I haven't talked much about trans stuff on here, but this is important.
WARNING: I will be talking about the murder of trans teen Brianna Ghey, so if that makes you uncomfortable then just don't read this
Brianna Ghey's killers- have finally been named as Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe. Jenkinson has been sentenced to 22 years in prison and Ratcliffe 20. The actual murder took place on the 12th February 2023. (I would write the short date but then Americans would think I meant the 2nd of November). At the time of the murder, Brianna's killers were both 15 (they're 16 now) and Brianna was 16. They had been close friends since they were 11. They had a kill list of 4 people. Unfortunately, Brianna made friends with Scarlett. This caused her to come to the top of their list. On the 11th February 2023, Brianna agreed to meet Scarlett in culcheth linear park. When she arrived, Eddie and Scarlett stabbed her at the same time. One of them stabbed her in the stomach and the other stabbed her in the back. They stabbed her more times afterwards before running away. At first, the media attempted to convince people that the motive for murder was Scarlett's serial killer obsession. Now, however, it has been understood that her murder was a transphobic hate crime. I remember hearing it mentioned on the radio once. We had a conversation that went something like this:
Me (having researched the case)- I've heard quite a lot about that case
My mum- yeah it's been on the news a lot
Sister- what happened?
Me- a girl called Brianna was killed for being trans
My mum- it turns out it's not actually to do with them being trans
I remember hearing wanting desperately to tell my mum that a) she should not be using they/them pronouns for a dead trans person who used she/her pronouns because it's kinda fucked up misgendering a dead girl and b) her death was because of transphobia. You can argue that it was because of a serial killer obsession as much as you like but there was a reason that she was at the top of their kill list and that reason is that she was trans. Trans people are dying. Don't you dare to try and feed me any of your transphobic bullshit. Things are not ok.
Thank you for reading to the end. To all of the non cis people reading this, I'm really proud of you and I love you. Keep going. It will get better <3
PM Rishi Sunak makes 'insensitive' comment on transgender women, whilst the mother of 16-year-old murdered trans teen Brianna Ghey attends Parliament
Recent responses to the PM's remarks have called for him to formally apologise.
The PM ridiculed Sir Keir Starmer's "definition of a woman" as Brianna Ghey's mother was visiting Parliament.
During the Prime Minister's Questions this evening, PM Rishi Sunak, whilst highlighting the 'broken promises' of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, made a crude jibe about transgender women, one that has been met with backlash from the Labour Party, Brianna's father, and the public.
On Wednesday afternoon, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer met with Esther Ghey, mother of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, a trans teenager who was killed by two other teens in February of last year. Earlier this month, the names of Brianna's killers were released, with the judge of their trial designating transphobia as a motive for Brianna's murder.
In the House of Commons, during a parliamentary session that Brianna's mother was in attendance to, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, made a comment in regards to Sir Keir Starmer's position as Labour leader. Amongst other jibes, listing Starmer's 'broken promises' Sunak said:
"It's a bit rich, (addressing the Speaker) to hear about promises from someone that's broken every single promise he was elected on! I think I counted thirty in the last year. Pensions, planning, periges*, public sector pay. Tuition fees, childcare, second referendums. Defining a woman– although, in fairness, that was only 99% of a U-turn".
Starmer replied by reminding Sunak that Brianna's mother was present, describing him as 'parading as a man of integrity', which was met with calls of 'Shame!' in the chamber. Ater being asked to apologise by another MP, the Prime Minister called Brianna's death an "unspeakable and shocking tragedy", yet did not give any apology for his remark.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has claimed that Sunak's comment was 'taken out of context'
tw // extreme transphobia, hate crime, violent death, death of a child
If you're unfamiliar with Brianna Ghey, you can read up on the story here or watch this overview. There's been multiple updates, and I wanted to let people know about the most important ones.
On February 4th 2024, the two originally unnamed teenagers— the 16-year-old boy now identified as Eddie Ratcliffe, and 16-year-old girl now identified as Scarlett Jenkinson —have been sentenced to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of Brianna (x).
On the day of her murder, February 11th 2023, Brianna took the No 28 bus at around 2pm to meet up with Jenkinson (who brought Ratcliffe along without Brianna's knowledge). The two led her to a path on Culcheth Linear Park, where she was stabbed to death with a hunting knife (x) that Ratcliffe provided. Although both parties would later blame the other in court, it's important to note that Ratcliffe was the only one with blood found on his clothes. Brianna was stabbed a total of 28 times in her head, neck, chest, and back (x). Not long after, Jenkinson posted this to her snapchat account.
Her murder was premeditated weeks in advance (x), with the pair plotting their attack against Brianna (x), who was anxious and rarely went out alone. They'd previously attempted to kill her before, although those plans ended up failing (x).
Prior to her murder, she'd sent a message to her mother saying "I'm on the bus by myself. I'm scared." To which her mother had replied that she was proud of her attempt at going out alone. Unfortunately, Brianna never got to read that text.
Thousands of text messages have leaked from the two killers, where Ratcliffe misgenders and demeans Brianna, and Jenkinson details her obsession with Brianna.
➡ When Jenkinson sent Ratcliffe some selfies of Brianna, he replied, "Is it a femboy or a tranny?"
➡ After Jenkinson expressed that she thought Brianna was prettier than her, Ratcliffe had said, "Prettier but it's a boy."
➡ Jenkinson had texted him on Whatsapp, "I'm obsessed over someone I know but don't have feelings for them... She's called Brianna... I don't know how to explain. She looks like a girl, she sounds like a girl, she's really pretty." To which Ratcliffe replied, "Tell me what you feel when you interact with it. I don't think you're necessarily in love but I think you're more curious and intrigued by its unnatural nature." (x)
➡ After their initial attempt to kill a different student failed, Jenkinson suggested that they stab Brianna instead. Ratcliffe agreed, saying "Yeah, it'll be easier and I want to see if it will scream like a man or girl."
➡ Jenkinson discussed wanting to take Brianna's "pretty" eyes as trophies, and Ratcliffe said "Really all I want to see is what size dick it had."
➡ During the trial, when asked by the prosecutor why he used the terms "it" instead of "she" for Brianna, he said that it was a "joke" and that he had picked it up from other people.
Despite all of this, Cheshire police are still adamant that Brianna's murder was not motivated by transphobia (x), because "...If it hadn't been Brianna, it would have been one of the other four children on that list." This is further corroborated by Detective Inspector Nigel Parr of Cheshire Constabulary, who led the investigation. Outside the court, he claimed that "this was a senseless murder committed by two teenagers who had an obsession with murder, whose only motivation in killing Brianna was to experience what this would be like." (x)
The headteacher of Birchwood Community High School has claimed that she spoke to Brianna's mom who "confirmed that Brianna was not bullied at Birchwood and always felt well supported by the school," and that Brianna's mother had given her permission to share that (x). This is despite multiple of Brianna's friends, and Brianna herself (x), saying the opposite (x).
The two killers are eligible for parole in 20 and 22 years. I can only hope they atone for the harm they've caused Brianna's family, the trans community, and everyone else affected.
I hope one day we can live in a world where being trans isn't a death sentence. Where major news outlets can report on trans victims with respect (x). Where anti-trans hatred spewed by TERFs and radfems, right wing politicians and conservative talk show hosts no longer hold such an influence in the world.
We will be able to live as ourselves one day. Without fear. I just wish Brianna could be here to see it.
A priority!? The cost of living is through the fucking roof and banning trans women from hospital wards is your priority?!
Please can a labour supporter come and make the argument that it’ll lead to better trans healthcare because they’ll be budget made specifically for ‘trans only wards’.
Oh they’re absolutely not. There’s no space and there’s no way labour will provide enough funding for the creation of an additional ward for every single department in every single hospital. It’s an absolute joke that they’re saying stuff like this.
