NHS England has announced that trans youth will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics, except as part of clinical research trials, which has been met with disappointment from trans youth charity Mermaids. The decision is seen as a blow to access to gender-affirming healthcare in England, with concerns raised about the impact on trans youth waiting for treatment. The move comes amid broader changes in trans healthcare in the UK, including the planned closure of the Tavistock clinic and its replacement with regional service centers.
The North Carolina Legislature has overridden Governor Roy Cooper's vetoes on three bills that target transgender rights. The bills ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors, prevent transgender women and girls from participating in female sports teams, and limit classroom instruction on gender identity and sexuality. The new laws take effect immediately, making North Carolina the 22nd state to ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth and the 19th state to do so this year. Critics argue that these bills are discriminatory and harmful to transgender individuals, while supporters claim they protect the integrity of women's sports.
The Kansas City Council has approved a resolution designating the City of Kansas City a safe haven for gender-affirming healthcare, sending a message to members of the Transgender community that the City is committed to furthering Transgender equity and supporting the growing Trans community. The resolution directs City personnel to not criminally prosecute or impose administrative penalties on an individual or organization for providing, seeking, receiving, or assisting another individual who is seeking gender-affirming healthcare. The City of Kansas City has a robust history in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
A sports columnist has urged Missouri Governor Mike Parson to meet with a family whose child is transgender before signing two bills into law that would prevent transgender athletes from playing sports and block gender-affirming healthcare from Missourians. The columnist argues that playing youth sports is all about making memories and that denying transgender youth the opportunity to play is cruel. The father of the transgender child has been speaking at open hearings about the harm these bills could do to Missourians.
Paul Stanley, co-founder of Kiss, has been criticised for calling gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth a "sad and dangerous fad" in a statement on Twitter. Stanley claimed that teaching acceptance was different from normalising "participation in a lifestyle that confuses young children into questioning their sexual identification as though some sort of game". His comments were slammed by followers and fellow musicians, who pointed out the hypocrisy of his statement given Kiss's own use of makeup and costumes.
A Missouri judge has temporarily blocked a rule that restricts access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender children and adults, hours before it was set to take effect. The rule would place requirements on minors and adults before they are allowed to receive gender-affirming treatments such as puberty blockers or hormones. Transgender Missourians and healthcare providers sued to stop it, claiming that the attorney general acted beyond his authority in attempting to regulate gender-affirming healthcare under consumer-protection laws. The rule will require people to have experienced a documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over at least 18 months before receiving puberty blockers, hormones, surgery or other treatment.
Montana's GOP Freedom Caucus has called for the censure of the state's only openly transgender legislator, Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr, after she warned lawmakers that there would be "blood on your hands" if a bill banning minors from accessing gender-affirming healthcare was approved. The caucus accused Zephyr of using "inappropriate and uncalled-for language" and repeatedly misgendered her in their statement. The bill, known as the "Youth Health Protection Act," passed both chambers of the GOP-controlled state legislature in March and was sent back to the legislature this week by Republican Governor Greg Gianforte, who requested additional amendments be taken up.
Non-binary SNL cast member Molly Kearney gave a passionate speech about trans rights and slammed efforts to restrict gender-affirming healthcare for trans kids amid a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ bills being debated in the US. Kearney directed part of their speech towards scared trans kids, telling them they should focus on being a kid and that their job is to protect them. The Human Rights Campaign has tracked and opposed more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures across the US, with over 210 of those measures specifically attacking trans rights.
Chris Tyson, a regular collaborator with YouTube star MrBeast, has received an outpouring of support after opening up about their gender identity and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on social media. Tyson spoke out against the hurdles gender non-conforming people face in accessing gender-affirming healthcare, which includes HRT and surgery. While the response has been largely positive, trolls have attacked Tyson, who has clapped back at them. Tyson has said they are glad to see how talking about their journey has increased awareness of HRT and gender-affirming healthcare.
Chris Tyson, a YouTuber and collaborator of MrBeast, has opened up about their gender journey on Twitter, revealing that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) "saved their life". Tyson's disclosure comes at a time when the US is experiencing a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, particularly targeting trans and gender non-conforming individuals. Tyson's child was also targeted by those objecting to Tyson receiving gender-affirming care, but Tyson responded by saying their child is "loved and happy".
