Minister for Women Faces Backlash Over Comments on Trans Youth
The UK Minister for Women has faced backlash over comments she made in The Telegraph about young trans people.
In an interview with the newspaper, Victoria Atkinsexpressed worry about the growing number of young people beginning gender affirming treatments.
“I read in the paper recently that there has been a large increase in the number of teenagers who are identifying as [trans], and I think we need to get down to the reasons why this is happening,” she said.
“It may simply be a case of greater awareness, it may be that for some they see it as an answer to questions they are perhaps not asking themselves. We need to be particularly alert to this with regard to young people.
“The treatments are so serious and life-changing. I’m a little cautious of the use of those treatments because of the potential for the rest of their lives.
“Lots of questions are rightly being asked about how we treat young people. People whose bodies perhaps haven’t developed yet.”
Fox Fisher, from the LGBT+ Helpline, has said Atkins remarks are made without research and are harmful. Speaking to The Guardian she said, “It is damaging to imply that trans teens are being given treatment lightly, as behind it are decades of research and best practice. Trans people’s lives are at stake here, and we know what we need.”
While Scottish Trans Alliance manager, James Mortonpointed out that “transgender young people remain very rare, despite the current media obsession with their existence. The NHS requires people to be adults before they can get any irreversible gender reassignment treatment.”
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