>Medical experts have called for a gay rights charity which supports puberty blockers for children to be kept out of schools.
>Paediatricians and psychologists have questioned the expertise of LGBT Youth Scotland staff who work in about 250 primary and secondary schools across the country.
>The charity has revealed that nearly two out of every three young people it supports have mental health problems and its critics have claimed they are not qualified.
>The group itself insists it does not offer professional medical advice but that it instead supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans children in what it described as difficult times.
>Last month LGBT Youth Scotland called on the country’s only gender identity clinic for under-18s, the Sandyford in Glasgow, to reverse a decision to stop prescribing puberty blockers.
The clinic made the move in response to the review of gender care for youngsters carried out by Hilary Cass, a respected paediatrician, in England and Wales.
>Jennifer Cunningham, a retired doctor who specialised in autism, said she thought the charity’s work in schools should be suspended.
>“I have concern that this group are anywhere near schools in the first place as their pro-trans ideology is harmful,” she told The Sunday Post.
>“Dr Cass was very clear that socially transitioning children is dangerous as it has psychological implications. Concerns deepen over the question of their qualifications when they are dealing with such vulnerable children with learning disabilities and mental health issues.
>The paper also cited Carolyn Brown, a former depute principal psychologist, saying Scottish schools were putting “ideology ahead of facts and safeguarding children and, to date, has ignored the best evidence including systematic reviews”.
She added of the charity: “It has repeatedly shut down and dismissed concerned voices.”
>LGBT Youth Scotland, which gets about £1 million in public funding, says it has trained thousands of teachers on diversity and inclusion.
>The group said: “We are not a medical organisation or a care provider but a charity committed to supporting young people during challenging times for the LGBTQ+ community. Our team is both qualified and experienced, with a dedicated focus on helping every young person in Scotland lead the normal life they deserve.
>“We are fully in line with the objectives of the UN and the Scottish government to foster diversity and inclusion. Our focused efforts in schools are dedicated to educating about gender and sexual identities, aiming to create tolerance and understanding across all communities.”
>Last week Meghan Gallacher, the Scottish Conservatives’ deputy leader in Scotland, called for a review of the charity’s work.
>This remark led to claims that the Tories were trying to revisit the ban on gay “propaganda” in schools which was repealed in Scotland in the early years of devolution.
>Malcolm Harvey, a politics expert from Aberdeen University, said on Twitter/X: “We’re *this close* to the Scottish Tories trying to reintroduce Section 28, whip up a moral panic, and turn the clock back 50 years on LGBTQ+ rights. Regressive and reactionary, the Nasty Party are back.”
>Gallacher responded, saying: “My daughter has two gay godparents — the best uncles a little girl could ask for. Not sure how that fits with your narrative?”
UK
Scotland
Are we calling it Section 29 this time?
They’ll just never stop trying to introduce section 28
If a charity is not willing to accept the current professional opinion on the best ways of supporting trans youth then, imo, it has no business receiving £1million from public funds to support trans youth.
There is a reason Stonewall was much more cautious in its response.
LGBT Youth Scotland are a fantastic charity and one I have a long standing monthly donation set up for. They helped a very dear friend of mine through rough times when they were struggling with their self-worth. I have no doubt that they saved his life and helped him to be happy, then form a loving relationship.
Not a doctor etc. so can’t speak to the validity of the Cass report, though I can see why NHS boards and the like would adopt its recommendations pending further study.
However it is clearly fucked that it is being adopted as a foundational document for a revival of the wider anti-LGBTQ movement. The report was investigating one small (but important) area of medical provision and thus should not be used to make shape social policy. Incredibly bad faith and frankly dark.
Kate Forbes currently delighted at the prospect
I’m sure they’ll just adopt the findings of the cass review regarding puberty blockers and they’ll rightly be allowed to continue.
This seems really bad. Of course, any external group visiting schools needs be carefully screened and monitored. But kids experiencing gender dysphoria badly need support. It’s an incredibly lonely experience with a high chance of bullying and mental health crisis. Some may grow up to be trans, for others it’s a temporary feeling, but they need space and support to figure that out. Lack of support can lead to self harm and suicide.
I think maybe we should have better safeguards around any groups (including religions) visiting schools and speaking to pupils or training teachers, especially primary schools.
Remember everyone, puberty blockers are ok and regularly prescribed, but only for kids who aren’t trans. If they are trans they become toxic and harmful. Kind of amazing really. (they’re also the only drug that I’ve heard of that’s ok for 6 year old kids, but dangerous for 12 year olds)
I’m old skool LGBT that’s all i’m going to say about this if you know then you know what i mean
Kids don’t need educated on LBGTQ+ at that age, they should be safeguarded against gender and sexuality issues by teachers and parents not have it thrust in their faces, LBGTQ+ is a very aggressive group who should be kept away from anyone under 16
Puberty blockers aren’t being banned, they’re just being paused while we figure this stuff out. Oh, by the way, ban this sick filth from our schools.
The fact that the article quotes one of these doctors as criticising a “Pro-trans” position as dangerous shows it’s not about the Cass review. The Cass review is not pro- or anti-trans. It is a clinical review of treatment for individuals with gender dysphoria. This is just throwback transphobia hiding behind a clinical document and hoping noone digs too deep to notice.
Kate Forbes will be on board
Call me cynical, but the fact 3/7 of your posts to r/Scotland are about this particular topic makes me think you might be trying to push an agenda here.
Might just be me though 🤷
Why is there so much gay and trans talk. I agree that marginalised groups need support, but 3-5% of people identify as LGBT in Scotland, but 50% of paper inches are taken up by it.
I sometimes feel like gay kids/teens are being left behind with all the focus on trans rights. It’s still hard to be gay in this society, and it’s being eclipsed. Yes trans people also deserve support, but they are a minority within a minority.
Support services/community groups aimed at adults have also shifted from sexual orientation to being mostly about gender.
Fully support that. The group should have been focused on their own issues instead of dragging into other far left agendas.
If you want you can educate your kids at home on your views. Not everyone wants their kid to be exposed to that.
21 comments
Archive link:
https://archive.ph/tOVGT
Aricle text:
>Medical experts have called for a gay rights charity which supports puberty blockers for children to be kept out of schools.
>Paediatricians and psychologists have questioned the expertise of LGBT Youth Scotland staff who work in about 250 primary and secondary schools across the country.
>The charity has revealed that nearly two out of every three young people it supports have mental health problems and its critics have claimed they are not qualified.
>The group itself insists it does not offer professional medical advice but that it instead supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans children in what it described as difficult times.
>Last month LGBT Youth Scotland called on the country’s only gender identity clinic for under-18s, the Sandyford in Glasgow, to reverse a decision to stop prescribing puberty blockers.
The clinic made the move in response to the review of gender care for youngsters carried out by Hilary Cass, a respected paediatrician, in England and Wales.
>Jennifer Cunningham, a retired doctor who specialised in autism, said she thought the charity’s work in schools should be suspended.
>“I have concern that this group are anywhere near schools in the first place as their pro-trans ideology is harmful,” she told The Sunday Post.
>“Dr Cass was very clear that socially transitioning children is dangerous as it has psychological implications. Concerns deepen over the question of their qualifications when they are dealing with such vulnerable children with learning disabilities and mental health issues.
>The paper also cited Carolyn Brown, a former depute principal psychologist, saying Scottish schools were putting “ideology ahead of facts and safeguarding children and, to date, has ignored the best evidence including systematic reviews”.
She added of the charity: “It has repeatedly shut down and dismissed concerned voices.”
>LGBT Youth Scotland, which gets about £1 million in public funding, says it has trained thousands of teachers on diversity and inclusion.
>The group said: “We are not a medical organisation or a care provider but a charity committed to supporting young people during challenging times for the LGBTQ+ community. Our team is both qualified and experienced, with a dedicated focus on helping every young person in Scotland lead the normal life they deserve.
>“We are fully in line with the objectives of the UN and the Scottish government to foster diversity and inclusion. Our focused efforts in schools are dedicated to educating about gender and sexual identities, aiming to create tolerance and understanding across all communities.”
>Last week Meghan Gallacher, the Scottish Conservatives’ deputy leader in Scotland, called for a review of the charity’s work.
>This remark led to claims that the Tories were trying to revisit the ban on gay “propaganda” in schools which was repealed in Scotland in the early years of devolution.
>Malcolm Harvey, a politics expert from Aberdeen University, said on Twitter/X: “We’re *this close* to the Scottish Tories trying to reintroduce Section 28, whip up a moral panic, and turn the clock back 50 years on LGBTQ+ rights. Regressive and reactionary, the Nasty Party are back.”
>Gallacher responded, saying: “My daughter has two gay godparents — the best uncles a little girl could ask for. Not sure how that fits with your narrative?”
UK
Scotland
Are we calling it Section 29 this time?
They’ll just never stop trying to introduce section 28
If a charity is not willing to accept the current professional opinion on the best ways of supporting trans youth then, imo, it has no business receiving £1million from public funds to support trans youth.
There is a reason Stonewall was much more cautious in its response.
LGBT Youth Scotland are a fantastic charity and one I have a long standing monthly donation set up for. They helped a very dear friend of mine through rough times when they were struggling with their self-worth. I have no doubt that they saved his life and helped him to be happy, then form a loving relationship.
Not a doctor etc. so can’t speak to the validity of the Cass report, though I can see why NHS boards and the like would adopt its recommendations pending further study.
However it is clearly fucked that it is being adopted as a foundational document for a revival of the wider anti-LGBTQ movement. The report was investigating one small (but important) area of medical provision and thus should not be used to make shape social policy. Incredibly bad faith and frankly dark.
Kate Forbes currently delighted at the prospect
I’m sure they’ll just adopt the findings of the cass review regarding puberty blockers and they’ll rightly be allowed to continue.
This seems really bad. Of course, any external group visiting schools needs be carefully screened and monitored. But kids experiencing gender dysphoria badly need support. It’s an incredibly lonely experience with a high chance of bullying and mental health crisis. Some may grow up to be trans, for others it’s a temporary feeling, but they need space and support to figure that out. Lack of support can lead to self harm and suicide.
I think maybe we should have better safeguards around any groups (including religions) visiting schools and speaking to pupils or training teachers, especially primary schools.
Remember everyone, puberty blockers are ok and regularly prescribed, but only for kids who aren’t trans. If they are trans they become toxic and harmful. Kind of amazing really. (they’re also the only drug that I’ve heard of that’s ok for 6 year old kids, but dangerous for 12 year olds)
I’m old skool LGBT that’s all i’m going to say about this if you know then you know what i mean
Kids don’t need educated on LBGTQ+ at that age, they should be safeguarded against gender and sexuality issues by teachers and parents not have it thrust in their faces, LBGTQ+ is a very aggressive group who should be kept away from anyone under 16
Puberty blockers aren’t being banned, they’re just being paused while we figure this stuff out. Oh, by the way, ban this sick filth from our schools.
The fact that the article quotes one of these doctors as criticising a “Pro-trans” position as dangerous shows it’s not about the Cass review. The Cass review is not pro- or anti-trans. It is a clinical review of treatment for individuals with gender dysphoria. This is just throwback transphobia hiding behind a clinical document and hoping noone digs too deep to notice.
Kate Forbes will be on board
Call me cynical, but the fact 3/7 of your posts to r/Scotland are about this particular topic makes me think you might be trying to push an agenda here.
Might just be me though 🤷
Why is there so much gay and trans talk. I agree that marginalised groups need support, but 3-5% of people identify as LGBT in Scotland, but 50% of paper inches are taken up by it.
I sometimes feel like gay kids/teens are being left behind with all the focus on trans rights. It’s still hard to be gay in this society, and it’s being eclipsed. Yes trans people also deserve support, but they are a minority within a minority.
Support services/community groups aimed at adults have also shifted from sexual orientation to being mostly about gender.
Fully support that. The group should have been focused on their own issues instead of dragging into other far left agendas.
If you want you can educate your kids at home on your views. Not everyone wants their kid to be exposed to that.