Hormone 'blockers' could be offered to under-16s seeking sex change
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sex-change experts are considering reviews to current UK guidelines that could see treatment with "hormone blockers" extended to under-16s and transgender surgery to under-18s.
The moves, if approved, would be taken as a positive response to campaigning led by Kim Petras, currently the world's youngest transsexual, who at 16 succeeded in lobbying the German government to allow her to undergo a sex change.
The British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes has said it is looking at its rules, after it was revealed that a 12-year-old British boy hopes to become the world's youngest gender reassignment patient.
Born "Tim", the German teen said her birth as a boy in Cologne in 1992 was an "accident of nature". She won the right to become a woman last November.
But she is aware of how hard the fight for gender reassignment is. "I was bullied, especially by people who I didn't know or from other schools. I had to fight to be myself for my entire life."
However successful, her story is likely to be scant consolation for the two British children who were "outed" last week by their schools as suffering from "gender dysphoria" – feeling trapped in the wrong body.
One, aged 12, from West Sussex, attempted to make the transition from primary to secondary school while going from schoolboy to schoolgirl, before being recognised by former classmates.
Another,only nine years old, was presented to peers as a "new girl", having returned to school after the holidays in girl's uniform and with a long ponytail.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments