WI Resolution on treatment for Gender Dysphoric Children

[WIMember]

The WI are currently inviting suggestions for the 2019 resolution from their members. My institute have never submitted a resolution before, but I intend to present something like the following to the members to see if they'll submit it:

800 children in the UK are currently being treated with puberty blockers for gender dysphoria. In the light of the fact that no controlled clinical trials of puberty suppression have been carried out, and of the serious side effects of these drugs, this meeting calls on the NHS to reinstate the lower age limit of 16 for the prescription of puberty blockers to children suffering from gender dysphoria. Allow children to explore their gender without being medicated

I don't think I've got this quite right and would be grateful if anyone has any feedback on the wording.

Also, is it correct to call on the NHS to reinstate the age limit (which was scrapped in 2014), or should it be NICE?

If any other WI members are on here and also feel like submitting a similar resolution, it may be that there'e strength in numbers?

Here are examples of other resolutions

Hello WI member

First of all, I think a resolution from the WI will be a significant step forward in the safeguarding of children. With a membership of over a quarter of a million women and about 30,000 joining each year, the WI reaches the parts of government that others dream about.

I've only just joined myself. Although I contemplated raising awareness in my own branch, I've only attended two meetings and feel that it's a bit cheeky to start politicking when I don't know anyone. That's why I'm grateful for your idea.

I wonder if there is room to broaden the resolution along the lines of ...?

The WI calls on HM Government to review the use of puberty blockers in children presenting with suspected gender dysphoria. 800 children have been been treated with blockers by the Gender Identity Development Service: 230 were under 14; the youngest is 10 years old. In the light of the fact that there have been no controlled clinical trials of the drugs, and no long-term studies of the health and mental health outcomes, we call upon the government to safeguard children suffering cruel side-effects and uncertain futures, in an experiment.

Sorry. That's not very good, but can you see what I mean about broadening the resolution and aiming it directly at the government?

The Times ran a story about a doctor who spoke out about this which you could link to/quote from.

Anyone got a link!

Transgender trend website would be an excellent source of info/research

thank you very much for the replies

I'm a regular on here but have name changed as while I've been very happy to out myself, I don't particularly want to draw trouble for my lovely WI if I can help it!

theOtherPamAyres, I think you're right that broadening it out to call on the government is better. I'll mull it over.

Maybe chat to your president to see how she feels about submitting a resolution? I haven't been at my WI all that long, but I really felt that I couldn't let this opportunity pass by, even if nothing comes of it.

Thanks for the tip about Transgender Trend Wanderabout, I'd forgotten about that site - will check it out after work tonight and have another go at wording.

I was a WI member for over 10 years (before moving to an area without an active presence) and believe strongly in the ability of WI resolutions to bring about change. I'd like to thank you for raising this issue and really hope that it gains traction with the WI.

Alter the bit about no clinical trials. There have been trials just not for this indication. I’d put something like ‘these drugs have not been investigated or licenced for use in gender dysphoria’.

I support you in trying to do this but the W.I already seem to have gone done the route of saying anyone who self-identifies as a woman can join (my old one did anyway and had a tw as a member). So I wouldn't get your hopes up too high that they will acknowledge there is any issue with children being medicated.

Thank you for the further replies and the clarification on the clinical trial babelfish

To be honest gendercritter I've not got a big issue with TW being members as long as they don't expect to be the most special people ever and are prepared to take their turn at the tea rota and jumble sales.

However I think medicating children who are questioning gender stereotypes is a different issue entirely and absolutely something the WI should be taking a stand on.

I worry that people will see the relatively low number and shrug. However the number of live births of children affected by Thalidomide was c2,000 in the UK (no-one knows how many miscarriages were caused), so I think the numbers may be comparable.

There are a number of resources and articles which may be of interest on this current thread about ROGD (Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria):

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3315676-ROGDWEEK2018

twitter.com/Transgendertrd/status/1021858520898121728

"Around 90% of parents who contact us have teenage daughters who have previously come out as lesbian, been immersed in trans YouTube & Tumblr, are ASD or have mild to severe MH issues. Of the teenage boys we hear about, almost 100% are ASD/OCD/ADHD. #ROGDWEEK2018"