Gender dysphoria support group 'inundated' with support messages after landmark ruling

A support group for parents of children suffering with gender dysphoria claims it has been “inundated” with messages expressing relief that “children are now protected” following a landmark ruling.

Earlier this week, the NHS confirmed that children under 16 years of age suffering with gender dysphoria will now need a court order before they are prescribed puberty blockers by NHS clinics. 

The new NHS guidelines were announced following a landmark High Court ruling in which judges said trans children should not receive the controversial drugs unless they understand the "long-term risks and consequences" of the process.

Stephanie Davies-Arai, the founder of Transgender Trend, a support group catering to parents of trans children, said that the organisation has been “inundated” and “swamped” with more than 100 messages from “anxious” parents following the ruling. 

“Now parents feel like their children are protected as we have proper safeguards in place,” she said. 

She added: “One parent told me, ‘you have saved my daughter’. Another told me: ‘my child fits the profile of a child that would have got puberty blockers’.”

“Parents before saw no protection, if their child said ‘I'm trans’, then that would be it, that would be enough. Parents have really felt terrified of this. It’s hard for them to speak out for fear of being accused of being transphobic.”

Ms Davies-Arai said she didn’t believe the puberty blockers should be banned outright, but that the recent judgement is “perfect” in terms of safeguarding children. 

The landmark case was brought against Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust by Keira Bell (below), a 23-year-old woman who began taking puberty blockers before "de-transitioning".

She said the clinic should have challenged her more over her decision to transition to a male when she was 16.

It was also brought by a woman who can only legally be identified as "Mrs A", the mother of a 15-year-old autistic girl who is currently on the waiting list for treatment.

A spokesperson for Mermaids, a UK’s charity supporting “gender variant and transgender children”, said: "Amidst so much victorious boasting by lobby groups and individuals who campaign against trans rights, we are witnessing the true cost of the High Court's judgment. 

"Behind thousands of doors, in thousands of family homes, a quiet but painful period of grief and panic has ensued, where trans children who hoped to avoid a torturous puberty are afraid again of their own bodies and teenagers already on puberty blockers are terrified of having their vital treatments torn away. 

"This group may have received a few congratulatory messages, but we are receiving hundreds of contacts from parents reporting young people in a state of utter misery.

"Regardless of personal ideologies, those celebrating today ought to feel ashamed of themselves. "