Excellent explainer like all your other ones. It's a shame it's up to independent writers to carry the burden of fighting disinformation when it should be in every newspaper and TV news broadcast.
"Bishop" Brian Tamaki tells people puberty blockers are available at the Warehouse. I can't imagine what department they think they'd be in.
There’s so much misinformation. I find gender affirming healthcare a really interesting topic but ultimately as a parent who has had a child in the healthcare system for eleven years I really think it’s up to parents and kids alongside their doctors to decide on any healthcare decisions. My son had a lot of surgeries to correct a tracheal issue and I don’t need random people putting their two cents in about it - we relied on advice from surgeons and paediatricians not the daily mail lol
Thanks for your help with this, Emily! It's so important that accurate information is out there - I'm really grateful for the coverage you're doing around this. Happy as to answer any other questions anyone might have!
Another excellent explainer Emily, I learnt a lot - thanks so much! The Cass report is so damaging, all well and good for Dr Cass to walk some of it back now but it’s far too late, surely they knew how the report would be used?!
Thanks for this excellent explainer. There's a recent episode of my favourite podcast, Science Vs, about the same topic. They pick apart the Cass review as well. I'm amazed it was published!
Thank you so much for this post. I think you explain it really well, and thank you so much for sharing the Storm Clouds and Rainbows resource - I will be sharing that with other parents of trans kids that I know. It is so beautifully written and the quotes from parents absolutely nailed it and made me feel a lot less alone. My two trans girls only came out after puberty so we haven’t gone through the blockers debate, and because they are old enough to make their own decisions about their bodies I get everything secondhand so it is a slightly different situation. I’ve been talking with a couple of other parents I know about setting up a little support group for parents where we get together and chat, as it can feel really lonely. If anyone out there knows of any such groups please reply here and let me know how it’s going.
Heya Fran, there is a private group for parents that’s nz wide of you would like info to join send me a private message and I can send you the info you need
Interesting to hear your thoughts on the book/poscast - underlying situation. It raised for me some legitimate sounding concerns about the evidence basis of puberty blockers and lack of study into long term side effects. But I also haven’t done any follow up research to understand authors own motivations, contrasting views etc.
If this question is for me? I'm keen for more research into all medical interventions and treatments of all kinds. I'd like more evidence on puberty blockers for the same reason I want more evidence into vaccines - because it helps with misinformation. But also they've been used for 30 years and so far have been reversible and well studied and informed so I personally would be comfortable with my child having them in the same way I'm comfortable with my child having other treatments due to his health condition. I trust my son's specialist to use what's available to keep him alive, healthy, safe - and I trust the system as much as any system can be trusted. Having read a lot about the Tavi and listened to a lot of podcasts about it - it strikes me as being as dysfunctional as most birth centres, hospitals etc in Aotearoa tbh. Well meaning people making mistakes because the NHS much like the NZ system has too many people involved who are too focused on either money saving or government directives.
That’s a really good way of thinking about it. I suppose if it was any other issue of which there are many where treatment options need more study it probably wouldn’t be worth writing a book about because no one would be interested - they would prob just say it’s a fact of life - not enough money to do studies and we just have to rely on evidence there is.
A negative use of puberty blockers is when they are used by parents of disabled children to keep their children small and carriable, and the drugs are often used from a young age. These children are sometimes called 'pillow angels'. There is of course no consent sought from the child. Sometimes surgery to remove the child's breasts and reproductive organs is also undertaken. This is an illegal practice in some countries but not apparently in NZ. Some parents are active advocates of it and some families come to NZ for the surgery they cannot get in other countries.
Hmmm I haven’t heard of this? Anti trans legislation is particularly harmful for disabled tamariki and adults. For example, autistic people, people with depression, learning disabilities, or those who are otherwise neurodivergent are particularly likely to be denied care based on a perception that they cannot make major decisions for themselves. Do you mean sterilisation? If it’s not used to provide a child with time to consider their gender then it’s not gender affirming care - I know disabled kids on puberty blockers due to the medication they’re on and the need to delay puberty due to early onset but I’ve not heard of any other cases.
These are disabled children with complex impairments who do not use words to communicate and there is often ableist language about them having the cognitive ability of a young child (eg a 2 year old) that will never improve and that they will always be dependent, and therefore it is helpful for carers to keep them physically small. The practice has links back to the eugenic forced sterilisations of the past (which is still legal in many countries, and still happens under many guises) but is justified by parents and medical proponents that it will avoid the 'problems' of menstruation etc. Most parents of non-verbal disabled girls will have experience of such interventions being suggested to them. But the puberty blockers and other hormone treatments are used on disabled boys as well as girls to keep them small and childlike. These practices are of course against all of our UN obligations for example, the CRPD and Convention on Children. The child is assumed to not have the capacity to provide consent and I doubt it is even considered. So this issue is not about puberty blockers and anti-trans ideology. But is a disabling practice for disabled people we need to be alert to.
This does not make sense. Puberty blockers do not keep children small - it is quite the opposite. To inhibit growth you would accelerate puberty (e.g. in girls using a surge of oestrogen), which is a very controversial decision. Puberty blockers are sometimes used on children with precocious/early puberty because maturing too early can jeopardise growth and mental health, and lead to other possible long-term health issues.
I guess just the confusing bit is that puberty blockers don't make you smaller. In fact they're used for the opposite reason in cases of precocious puberty they stop early puberty in part so children can achieve a full adult height (also for other reasons but you know what I mean).
Not me, but I know mothers of disabled girls who have had sterilisation, by surgery, hormones or technology, strongly suggested to them. It is tricky because it goes with the ableist narrative of parents, particularly mothers, of disabled children as saintly and super human so a bit of growth attenuation or puberty blocking for their child is entirely appropriate and necessary.
Excellent explainer like all your other ones. It's a shame it's up to independent writers to carry the burden of fighting disinformation when it should be in every newspaper and TV news broadcast.
"Bishop" Brian Tamaki tells people puberty blockers are available at the Warehouse. I can't imagine what department they think they'd be in.
There’s so much misinformation. I find gender affirming healthcare a really interesting topic but ultimately as a parent who has had a child in the healthcare system for eleven years I really think it’s up to parents and kids alongside their doctors to decide on any healthcare decisions. My son had a lot of surgeries to correct a tracheal issue and I don’t need random people putting their two cents in about it - we relied on advice from surgeons and paediatricians not the daily mail lol
Thanks for your help with this, Emily! It's so important that accurate information is out there - I'm really grateful for the coverage you're doing around this. Happy as to answer any other questions anyone might have!
Another excellent explainer Emily, I learnt a lot - thanks so much! The Cass report is so damaging, all well and good for Dr Cass to walk some of it back now but it’s far too late, surely they knew how the report would be used?!
Thanks for this excellent explainer. There's a recent episode of my favourite podcast, Science Vs, about the same topic. They pick apart the Cass review as well. I'm amazed it was published!
Hi Emily,
Thank you so much for this post. I think you explain it really well, and thank you so much for sharing the Storm Clouds and Rainbows resource - I will be sharing that with other parents of trans kids that I know. It is so beautifully written and the quotes from parents absolutely nailed it and made me feel a lot less alone. My two trans girls only came out after puberty so we haven’t gone through the blockers debate, and because they are old enough to make their own decisions about their bodies I get everything secondhand so it is a slightly different situation. I’ve been talking with a couple of other parents I know about setting up a little support group for parents where we get together and chat, as it can feel really lonely. If anyone out there knows of any such groups please reply here and let me know how it’s going.
Arohanui Fran x I hope you hear about some support groups! I'll have an ask around too x
Heya Fran, there is a private group for parents that’s nz wide of you would like info to join send me a private message and I can send you the info you need
Thanks Emily. I was interested but didn’t know where to look.
This book is a first class read and very balanced. I can highly recommend it as an entry to the whole subject - Time to Think
Book by Hannah Barnes
Thanks Tony. The podcast The Tavistock is based in part on this book too. There’s also The Clinic which is about an hour long so doesn’t cover much!
Interesting to hear your thoughts on the book/poscast - underlying situation. It raised for me some legitimate sounding concerns about the evidence basis of puberty blockers and lack of study into long term side effects. But I also haven’t done any follow up research to understand authors own motivations, contrasting views etc.
If this question is for me? I'm keen for more research into all medical interventions and treatments of all kinds. I'd like more evidence on puberty blockers for the same reason I want more evidence into vaccines - because it helps with misinformation. But also they've been used for 30 years and so far have been reversible and well studied and informed so I personally would be comfortable with my child having them in the same way I'm comfortable with my child having other treatments due to his health condition. I trust my son's specialist to use what's available to keep him alive, healthy, safe - and I trust the system as much as any system can be trusted. Having read a lot about the Tavi and listened to a lot of podcasts about it - it strikes me as being as dysfunctional as most birth centres, hospitals etc in Aotearoa tbh. Well meaning people making mistakes because the NHS much like the NZ system has too many people involved who are too focused on either money saving or government directives.
That’s a really good way of thinking about it. I suppose if it was any other issue of which there are many where treatment options need more study it probably wouldn’t be worth writing a book about because no one would be interested - they would prob just say it’s a fact of life - not enough money to do studies and we just have to rely on evidence there is.
A negative use of puberty blockers is when they are used by parents of disabled children to keep their children small and carriable, and the drugs are often used from a young age. These children are sometimes called 'pillow angels'. There is of course no consent sought from the child. Sometimes surgery to remove the child's breasts and reproductive organs is also undertaken. This is an illegal practice in some countries but not apparently in NZ. Some parents are active advocates of it and some families come to NZ for the surgery they cannot get in other countries.
Hmmm I haven’t heard of this? Anti trans legislation is particularly harmful for disabled tamariki and adults. For example, autistic people, people with depression, learning disabilities, or those who are otherwise neurodivergent are particularly likely to be denied care based on a perception that they cannot make major decisions for themselves. Do you mean sterilisation? If it’s not used to provide a child with time to consider their gender then it’s not gender affirming care - I know disabled kids on puberty blockers due to the medication they’re on and the need to delay puberty due to early onset but I’ve not heard of any other cases.
These are disabled children with complex impairments who do not use words to communicate and there is often ableist language about them having the cognitive ability of a young child (eg a 2 year old) that will never improve and that they will always be dependent, and therefore it is helpful for carers to keep them physically small. The practice has links back to the eugenic forced sterilisations of the past (which is still legal in many countries, and still happens under many guises) but is justified by parents and medical proponents that it will avoid the 'problems' of menstruation etc. Most parents of non-verbal disabled girls will have experience of such interventions being suggested to them. But the puberty blockers and other hormone treatments are used on disabled boys as well as girls to keep them small and childlike. These practices are of course against all of our UN obligations for example, the CRPD and Convention on Children. The child is assumed to not have the capacity to provide consent and I doubt it is even considered. So this issue is not about puberty blockers and anti-trans ideology. But is a disabling practice for disabled people we need to be alert to.
Have you had this suggested for your child? Do you know someone I could speak to about it? I’d like to follow it up. I know IHC would want to know.
This does not make sense. Puberty blockers do not keep children small - it is quite the opposite. To inhibit growth you would accelerate puberty (e.g. in girls using a surge of oestrogen), which is a very controversial decision. Puberty blockers are sometimes used on children with precocious/early puberty because maturing too early can jeopardise growth and mental health, and lead to other possible long-term health issues.
I totally agree with Melanie on this. I know trans girl who has been on puberty blockers for a while now and she has got really tall
The aim is growth attenuation and to prevent puberty so various hormones and surgical interventions are used on disabled children to do that.
I guess just the confusing bit is that puberty blockers don't make you smaller. In fact they're used for the opposite reason in cases of precocious puberty they stop early puberty in part so children can achieve a full adult height (also for other reasons but you know what I mean).
Not me, but I know mothers of disabled girls who have had sterilisation, by surgery, hormones or technology, strongly suggested to them. It is tricky because it goes with the ableist narrative of parents, particularly mothers, of disabled children as saintly and super human so a bit of growth attenuation or puberty blocking for their child is entirely appropriate and necessary.