THE Scottish Greens have stressed the need for improved trans healthcare in Scotland after a motion passed at the party’s conference in Greenock.
The motion passed on Sunday – led by the LGBTQ+ wing of the party, the Rainbow Greens – called for a Scottish Government-led review of trans healthcare that “directly involves trans people who have received, are currently receiving, or awaiting to receive gender affirming care”.
The group also hit out at “rollbacks” in access to gender-affirming care, including pausing the prescription of puberty blocking medicines in Scotland for under-18s earlier this year.
In April, the Sandyford Sexual Health Clinic (below), the only site in Scotland which provides gender care for young people, said trans people looking to take puberty blockers will not be allowed to do so until they are 18.
However, those currently taking the drugs will be allowed to continue to do so.
The Rainbow Greens slammed the Cass Review – named after its head, Dr Hilary Cass – which was released in April and found the evidence base for gender care in young people had been thin and children had been let down by a “toxic” public discourse around gender.
The report has, however, been condemned by some academics including that it “obscures key findings, misrepresents its own data, and is rife with misapplications of the scientific method”, according to a review by Yale Law School and the Yale School of Medicine.
Rainbow Greens co-convenor Bex Glen said: “The Cass Report has been internationally condemned by medical experts, human rights groups, trans advocacy groups, investigative journalists and scholars, exposing its methodological flaws, exclusion of trans voices, and the historical anti-trans bias of those on its panel.
“Despite this, it continues to be weaponised by anti-trans voices in politics and the media to justify further marginalisation of trans people, and limit their access to gender affirming care.”
Scottish Greens health spokesperson Gillian Mackay said: “I am proud that our party conference has reaffirmed our unbending support for improving trans healthcare in Scotland.
“The last few years have been extremely challenging for a lot of LGBTQ+ people, and trans people in particular. They are seeing their rights come under question by too many cynical and reactionary politicians who seek to fuel a Trumpian toxic culture war.
“Our MSPs will continue to push for an improvement of Trans healthcare in Scotland and find a way through the current issues.”
Scottish Greens councillor Holly Bruce said: "Glasgow Green councillors stand firmly alongside the trans community in advocating for their healthcare rights. Young trans people deserve to live their lives with dignity and respect."
"The decision to pause puberty blockers without any consultation with this community, is a reactionary response influenced by the hostile environment that's been created by some politicians and the media. Trans kids deserve better."
