JENNI MURRAY: No parent should send their child to a gender clinic aged just five
When I was around six years old, I went through an extended period of thinking life would be easier if I were a boy. I’d get away with more mischief, I reasoned, and no one would think it odd that I liked climbing trees.
I only wanted to wear trousers and preferred cars and trains to dolls. What a relief my mum and dad raised no objection to it.
Of course I grew out of wanting to be a boy and became a proud woman – although I’m still fond of trousers and cars. But had I grown up in the current climate of parents who’ve bought into the ‘we can change her sex’ cult, what would have become of me?
This week is was revealed that a child under the age of five is on a waiting list for one of the new gender clinics set up in place of the disgraced and now closed Tavistock centre (file image)
When Jenni Murray was six she wanted to be a boy. She only wanted to wear trousers and preferred cars and trains to dolls, but she grew out of it and became a proud woman – although she's still fond of trousers and cars
I was reminded of this when I read this week’s news that a child under the age of five is on a waiting list for one of the new gender clinics set up in place of the disgraced and now closed Tavistock centre. What does a child of such youth and innocence know of sex and gender? Nothing. The parents of the child should have more sense.
The two new clinics, one at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, the other at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, have been designed to offer ‘holistic’ care to children struggling with their gender identity. They will include expertise in mental health, hormone and autism services.
The Tavistock was closed after a review by Dr Hilary Cass expressed concerns that the care it gave was unsafe. Children had been given untested and potentially dangerous treatments, including puberty blockers, which are now the subject of an emergency government ban that’s in place for the NHS until September 3. There was also evidence teenagers had been prescribed cross sex hormones and been rushed into medical transition.
The waiting list for the new clinics is huge. New figures show more than 5,700 under 18s are waiting for an appointment to get help with their decision that they want to change gender.
The number of children being referred has risen exponentially in recent years, from fewer than 50 per year in 2009 to about 5,000 in 2021-22.
I have nothing but sympathy for a teenager who genuinely believes he or she wants to change sex, but what kind of GP rushes to refer a child under the age of five for medical treatment to change gender? Are there really parents who would find themselves in a panic because their son likes to pretend to cook supper on his sister’s toy cooker and never misses an opportunity to put on her pretty frock?
Are there parents who can’t bear the thought their daughter prefers diggers to dollies and wants to get her plaits cut off?
Hopefully since the Cass report has presented thorough evidence that much of the trend-led thinking around sex-change needed to be carefully examined, things will change for the better.
Cass noted that it was common for autism to be a factor for kids who sought help. Practitioners must have no fear they’ll be accused of conversion therapy if they talk to a child and examine their motives.
There’s no doubt the huge rise in numbers on the waiting list needs close examination, too. Ashley Grossman, an endocrinologist with more than 40 years’ experience in the field, described the figures as ‘deeply depressing’ and pointed to the lack of resources for mental health care for children.
The Emeritus Professor of Endocrinology at Oxford University added: ‘There seems to have been a large rise in demand for these services, especially since the isolation and loss of schooling during the pandemic, so I suspect this is a much wider problem than for children with gender dysphoria alone.’ Where have kids learned about gender and the possibility of being born in the wrong body?
The pressure group Stonewall has been effective at pushing the trans agenda. And in schools teachers have been too afraid to challenge the inclusion of gender identity issues in lessons for fear of being branded transphobic.
It’s hard now for a parent to accept that a young girl can think they would rather be a boy and that you could just go along with it until they move on to something else.
Since I first wrote in 2018 about my concerns over the rising power of Stonewall’s transgender push, I’ve been called a Terf, had speaking invitations cancelled and had death threats.
But I refuse to be threatened into silence because I have two great concerns. The protection of women’s rights has been at the front of my mind, but even more important for me has been ensuring children don’t get caught up in something that could damage them.
Keira Bell (pictured) wanted to be a boy. She was 15 when she persuaded her father to take her to the Tavistock, where she was given puberty blockers and cross sex hormones, and had a double mastectomy. In her early 20s, she realised she'd made a terrible mistake
I will never forget the astonishing courage of Keira Bell, who aged 15 persuaded her father to take her to the Tavistock. She wanted to be a boy. She was given puberty blockers and cross sex hormones.
She had a double mastectomy. In her early 20s, she realised she’d made a terrible mistake and took her case to court. The damage done to her cannot be undone, but we can prevent it happening to others.
Dr Cass spent four years doing research and began the reinstatement of good sense in the gender debate. With the new clinics hopefully working within the Cass recommendations, the thousands of children on the waiting list should be safe.
And to the parents of the five-year-old I say: ‘Just let him or her get on with being whatever or whoever he or she wants to be. Pretending is what kids do and it does no harm.’
Kate shames the fat-shamers
Kate Winslet is proud of her body as it ages - she has no shame about her plump bits, nor about the increasing number of wrinkles on her face
The actress poses on the cover of Harper's Bazaar's September issue, ahead of the release of her new biopic film Lee next month
Bless you Kate Winslet. Filming the story of the photographer and war correspondent Lee Miller, she had to appear, seated, in a bikini. She was advised to sit up straight and hide any rolls of fat around her belly. She refused.
She has no shame about her plump bits, nor about the increasing number of wrinkles on her face.
She’s proud of her body as it ages, as we all should be, and she’s brave enough to tell those who would shame her to get lost. I couldn’t love her more!
What was the BBC thinking?
What was the BBC thinking when it kept paying Huw Edwards his vast salary for months, even giving him an extra £299,000, when they knew what he was being accused of?
Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards arriving in court last week. He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children
I’m appalled that even one penny of my licence fee money has gone into the pocket of a man who’s pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
Get the cash back Director General and use it to make some decent programmes.
A funny thing has happened at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. They’re having a recruitment drive to find more men to work there. Too many Victorias and not enough Alberts, they say. How can it be considered a problem to have more women than men working there? Sounds like the way things should be to me.
Jenni's chihuahua Minnie - who likes the natural smell of dog
Dolce & Gabbana has launched a pet perfume called Fefe, named after Domenico Dolce’s dog. I asked Frieda, Madge and Minnie if they’d like some. ‘No way,’ said they. ‘We’re dogs. We like to smell of dog.’ Thanks, girls, that saves me 85 quid.
