The government is hearing oral submissions from members of the public -

On this Thursday they are hearing from :

Organizations like Sex Matters, LGB Alliance, the Gay Men's Network, Stonewall, and faith-based groups have presented or scheduled oral and written submissions concerning the scope of criminalization, definitions of abuse, and impacts on families, speech, and counseling.

This includes Dennis Kavanagh the guy who preferred AIDs to trans people - and was banned from social media for hateful conduct

And Helen Joyce who famously called for Trans Erradication - referring to all trans people as a “Huge problem in a sane world”

Notably there are no pro trans voices (No I don’t consider Stonewall an advocacy group) giving evidence .

I would propose contacting the committee https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/851/draft-conversion-practices-bill-joint-committee

Or advocacy groups to question the standing of these organisations to provide expert witness

https://committees.parliament.uk/submission/4010/#/evidence/4010/call-for-evidence

I'll start this by saying I'm no longer on the list; I got on to the TransPlus pilot and I am extremely grateful for it.

However, the new stats released show that the Tavistock times are up to fifteen years. This would be unacceptable in any other healthcare sector; my department had emails because patients were waiting 6 days for a procedure. The only reason there's no public outrage about this is because it's gender care, and the vast majority of the public either has no idea the wait is that extensive, or thinks it's cosmetic care anyway. That perception is what allows the NHS to, effectively, take the piss.

Fifteen fucking years.

Utterly ridiculous. Appalling. Disgusting.

Every now and then, I see posts from folk asking about GenderGP ( GGP ), and every time I give the same response:

Don't do it

Now, I understand that, for many people, GenderGP may seem like the only financially viable option. However, I'd urge anyone considering the service to do their research first. There are a number of concerns worth being aware of, including the potential difficulty of finding a GP willing to enter into a shared-care agreement. This post lays it all bare.

My own experience was primarily with the sign-up process, so I can only speak directly to what I encountered. I've linked a post below that goes into considerably more detail about another person's experience and the concerns they've raised about the service.

It's genuinely disappointing to see how far GGP has fallen from the service so many people came to trust in the mid-to-late 2010s. In my view, it's squandered that trust and goodwill, and I can't help but feel it's lost sight of the very people it was supposed to help.

People seeking gender-affirming care deserve better than this. Whatever GGP once stood for, I can no longer recommend it. If you're considering using the service, please do your research and read about other people's experiences first.

I’ve known I’m non binary for few years now, but never bothered with the gp bcs it isn’t a recognised gender marker and I didn’t know if I wanted hrt.

Since then I’ve done a lot of thinking and realised I’m a lot more trans masc than I let on and wanna have some hrt. But with these year long wait times and rising transphobia, is there even a point? I’m dx autistic too and know this can cause some issues or delays in the journey. I do wish I had accepted myself some years prior and taken up the offer from the nurse at my gp, as I think with the wait times I’d be there by now. North West/Manchester way

I’m in my 20s so saving up is possible for me, is doing diy or the private clinics more worth the time?

It was one of the best feelings I've had in years!

I wasnt actually expecting it... I had an appointment to change my NHS records a month ago, but was never given any confirmation. Then, out of nowhere, the doctor called for Amy! Felt a rush of excitement I didn't expect to feel going for a jab!

Havent started hormones yet (soon), but one of the first hurdles has been cleared!

I live in a town in the northwest, I don't feel safe to transition, I know trans people have got harassed here, and I'm near my very transphobic family, whose home I escaped a few years ago, I worry they would see me and harass or hurt me if I started transitioning. So I want to leave.

I also have cerebral palsy, which makes walking and other physical things draining and painful, makes getting consistent work to help get out of here even harder.

Every group I've contacted about my problem hasn't been able to help me, and the local council hasn't either, I just want to be safe to transition, I can't keep going like this.

I don't care where I end up as long as I'm safer, any advice at all would be very appreciated, thank you.

Interesting video linking rise of Nazism directly with anti-trans ideology pre-WW2

I used to live in the East Midlands and I would constantly get bad stares, harassment and one time even assaulted on the street. I've been living in Nantes here in France for a year now and even with my broken French I've received nothing but kindness from all type of strangers I interact with, I don't even get misgendered which is something I never even cared for before... it takes me aback even to this day honestly.

Unfortunately, I need to move back to the UK in a month and will be moving to a city either in Cornwall or Devon due to personal circumstances. I've never been anywhere near this region before and now I'm anxious about experiencing constant harassment yet again, so I wanted to ask if anyone has any experience or reports regarding trans safety and acceptance in that region.

Hey all, just wanted to see whether anyone else has went through this before and where to even start next.

My boyfriend has been going through the Nottingham Centre (we are based West Midlands) to try and get HRT. He’s got to the point where Nottingham have sent a prescription for testosterone to his GP, but they’ve came back to him and declined the prescription because of “specialist clinical complexity and off-label use”, “absence of a commissioned/funded pathway”, and “patient safety and “gender identity clinic” oversight”.

It’s a bummer as I thought this was the final step for him to finally get started with HRT. Has anyone experienced this before? Where do we even go from here? Would it be a matter of looking into other local GPs to see whether they can do it?

Thanks for the help all 😁

I’m trying to find shoes/boots that are at a reasonable price, and are my size (12) but I cannot find anything that’s over £100 😫.

Hey, I got put on the waiting list for a bottom surgery assessment back in March by the Northampton GIC, and was given a 3-6 month figure by my doctor at the time for when to expect my first actual surgery assessment, and obviously I gotta take any number given to me with a pinch of salt, especially as that 6 months has now passed, so was just wondering if there’s any more accurate idea of how long it may take, from people who have the stats or who have been through the wait recently? Anxiety’s a bitch…

Hi all, I have a question and I hope this is the right place to ask it?

I'm a 29yr old trans woman from Australia and I've recently had a death in my family, my grandmother on my mum's side has passed away and we're having to fly over on the 8th for the funeral.

My whole extended family is from the north of England, specifically South Yorkshire (Doncaster and Rotherham) and I know that some of my family were/are Brexit/Reform voters.

I am 4+ years into my transition at this point and I have the luxury of passing quite well but despite that I still worry about being clocked in public and receiving harassment. The last time I was misgendered was about 4 months into my transition, 3.5 years ago and I even get gendered female in no makeup, hair worn up in a baggy hoodie and fitted jeans. I am 175cm (5'8.5") and I worry that my height alone might draw unwanted attention to me.

I also tend to dress quite alternative, my usual style is something like this or like this. My mother and younger brother (27) have both told me that this kind of outfit in South Yorkshire will invite a lot of unwanted attention. Apparently everyone is quite conformist and tried to keep up with current trends in mainstream fashion and also dress quite conservatively. Being from an Australian major city I'm used to dress and expression being quite varied, Australia is a very open country and in major cities you get people dressed in a variety of styles or in the fashion of various subcultures and its not remarked upon. I know cities like London would probably be like this too but I worry about the north and especially the further away from city centres I go. My family really made it sound like I will definitely attract negative attention if I dress the way I usually do. My brother even suggested I just wear oversized hoodies and jeans.

My extended family in the UK know about my transition and as far as I know I have some supporters, but as for the family members that aren't active in their support of me I know nothing of their perspective on my transition. It would break my heart to be treated as a political topic, have my transition scrutinised or god forbid have someone imply something worse. I just don't know what to expect and I'm genuinely terrified.

I know the fight for trans equality, legal protections, hormone access ect has been dealt some pretty serious blows over the past few years (the nickname terf island doesn't come from nowhere). Is there anything specific I should be aware of before coming to the UK? I would especially like to hear from trans people (women particularly) that live in the north.

Thank you guys in advance for any perspective or advice you can offer x

Hey all.

Please note this could be triggering. Please do not read if this could cause difficulties for you. It does mention refusal of care and end of life ideation so please take precautions where necessary.

Found out recently that my GP has gone on long term sick and she was managing my prescription.

I'm post op and been on HRT for 7 years. I've finished the treatment pathway with the Gender Clinic and been discharged last year.

However, the practice I'm with is now saying that shouldn't have happened and I need a shared care agreement in place for them to continue prescribing hrt. I've told them I have no hope of being able to get one but its falling on deaf ears.

Looking into it, it seems GP's are now being guided to only operate on shared care arrangements as per the RCGP guidance, which others defer to. So it looks like I have little chance of fighting it. There is one part in the guidance where it says ongoing treatment that is well established should not be removed abruptly but that seems the only part in my favour.

As I'm discharged the only option is referral to a gender clinic again, which will be years away. I dont have access to other GP's due to them previously refusing to prescribe so have no means to find a new GP. Im told by my Housing Service my case isnt important or urgent, so im not a priority to be rehoused somewhere that would have a GP willing to continue prescribing.Regardless, I have no idea where I could move to and get support. I am going to contact the gender clinic tomorrow and am looking up trans actuals guidance and similar.

Im disabled and cant afford to move privately. Obviously I can't afford private either. Im genuinely unsure of other methods and thats not a real possibility currently either.

So im in bits currently.... again.

I have attempted to take my life because of this already. The change in NHS guidance for hospital stays 10 days ago, contributed to that. I have survived but im still vulnerable to further trauma triggering another attempt. I am getting help so please understand im trying here.

This is so needless though and i just am not in a good way. These ghouls just do not know the harm they do.

Does anyone know what this even means?

I contacted the GP clinic and they have no info aside from the fact the referral was made following the GP appointment, they have no info on the 'different course of action' and advised calling the GIC (I don't know the phone number or the clinic name because this update replaced the previous info about the referral)

Does this mean my referral was turned down? I did see the referral letter in my appointment notes and the GP misunderstood a lot of the stuff I said, but it still seemed good enough that a GIC would be willing to see me.

I was referred to The Laurels in Exeter many moons ago, not had initial appointment yet. Have recently moved to Sheffield, and to GP here. I'm a bit confused, wondering if anyone knows:

Do I need to move GIC to keep the referral?

Is this something I contact the GIC directly for or go through my GP?

Does the referral timeline start from the beginning if I move to new GIC?

Thank you

Bit of background I’m in the NHS pathway and been seen by Indigo. looking at hormones being prescribed in February but it won’t happen unless I reach out to the GP to get my blood pressure sorted. I scored 168/113 at the doctors but even at home I can’t get it lower than 139/89. even though they said I won’t get HRT unless I reach out I can’t make myself make the appointment. But it’s more than that, I’m nearly 40 and like most people who were closeted I was pretty disassociated from my body. It’s coming back and every shoulder issue, pain, Issue with constipation I’m panicking what happens if I’m admitted. Even though you Don’t get admitted for these things. I think what I’m worried about as well is that I was so good at getting all my documents changed over. Including my NHS number. I allmost imagine that they will be angry at me for doing so as I havnt started hormones yet. But I waited since august 2024 and I wanted to get it all changed over until they stopped me from doing so. Any advice would be appreciated. my friend who is normally supportive but cis doesn’t get it cos she is like “but you Never been admitted to hospital “ and “being admitted unplanned is rare”. But all I can think his the 2nd part of my life is much more likely it would happen. I’m also angry cos this is what the mad wizard lady And her lot want. And it feels like I’m letting them win. How do you get your head to work with the NHS?

Its booked in for mid December. I can believe, the wait is almost over! This will be the best early Christmas present ever

Does anyone know if there’s anywhere around Cheshire that does electrolysis and is trans-friendly? I’m like 10 rounds of laser deep now and except on my upper lip the only hair left is stuff that the laser can’t target and I’m getting desperate atp, I just want to not have fucking facial hair anymore. I already have to commute to Manchester just to get that, I can’t really afford to be travelling too far afield for electrolysis too.

My previous GP refused to refer me where I used to live, is the closest GIC the one in London with a 15 year waiting time really the only option?

Do I have any other options? Having to wait 15 more years is just to be seen is so disheartening.

For reference I'm self-administering e already, but needing to go through the system for future srs and grc...

For some quick background, I have C-PTSD, OCD, and dissociative seizures (from the C-PTSD). I've started noticing a huge uptick in seizures, I had yesterday afternoon and another in my sleep. They coincide almost 1:1 with my obsessive thoughts about the unfairness of how this country is treating me/us, fuelled by an underlying sense of injustice. Especially since I was sexually abused throughout my childhood and also explicitly disbelieved by teachers and adults when I told them about it.

Now being branded and accused of these same things that happened to me without any cause. It has massively triggered my OCD and I spend most of my days thinking about this over and over and over again. The stress of thinking about all this so much is incredibly stressful, but I can't stop and there doesn't seem to be a way for me to escape this situation. The more I do think about it, the worse my dissociation gets. Even if I left the country, I'd still be dealing with these thoughts of injustice.

So I guess that's it. Whenever politicians or transphobes say they're just 'protecting women' or some bollocks like that. Apparently the damage this is doing to my brain is not worthy of attention or sympathy. Fuck them and fuck this country.