Children who are seeking to undergo Gender Reassignment Surgery will be banned from doing so in the future it has been confirmed by the equalities minister.
In a new landmark move, people under the age of 18 will not be allowed to get the surgery even with parental consent, currently, people under the age of 18 are allowed surgery but only when parental consent has been given.
The move has been criticised by trans rights charities that claim the government is introducing “a new form of inequality into British medical practice”, however, Liz Truss has said that the Government will set out details of the plans later this summer.
Extraordinarily little children currently undergo the surgery given the process is so long and drawn out that in reality, few teenagers are able to undergo irreversible surgery before they reach adulthood.
Under the existing Act, a trans person must undergo a two-year waiting period and a review from a specialist panel before being able to change their gender legally.
However, the equalities minister today signalled plans to ban under-18s with gender dysphoria from genital reconstructive surgery in a move, she said, which would “protect them from making those irreversible decisions”.
Giving evidence to the Women and Equalities Select Committee, the equalities minister said the Government’s full response to reforming the Gender Recognition Act will be published this summer.
Ms Truss outlined three “very important principles” she will be implementing. This included: the “extremely important, protection of single-sex spaces”, and ensuring that transgender adults are free to live their lives as they wish without fear of persecution “whilst maintaing the proper checks and balances in the system”.
The minister also addressed the issue of gender reassignment surgery for children which is not linked to the Act, but “is relevant”.
Ms Truss said it was about “making sure that the under 18s are protected from decisions that they could make, that are irreversible in the future”.
She said: “I believe strongly that adults should have the freedom to lead their lives as they see fit, but I think it’s very important that while people are still developing their decision-making capabilities that we protect them from making those irreversible decisions.
“Of course some of these policies have been delayed, Chair, by the specific issues around Covid but I can assure you that alongside the Covid work, our officials continue to do those things to make them happen.”
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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