In one of their final acts before the general election of July 2024, the Conservative government temporarily banned new prescriptions of puberty blockers for under 18s, based on findings and recommendations from the Cass Review.
Many organisations have provided well-evidenced challenges to the Cass review, citing lack of input from the affected communities, lack of transparency, and hidden ideological bias [LINK].
Despite these challenges from specialists working in trans healthcare worldwide [LINK], and a further statement from the British Medical Association [LINK] calling for “a pause to the implementation of the Cass report’s recommendations”, the current Labour government have announced that they will uphold this ban “indefinitely”, with plans to review the ban in 2027.
The IWW Equalities Committee believes that this decision is a clear case of prejudice triumphing over reason, evidence, and compassion, and another instance of culture war scapegoating of the trans community. The move flagrantly discriminates against transgender youth, citing “safety concerns” as the reason for the cessation of treatment – treatment that is still available to their cisgender peers [LINK].
All children and young people deserve the same recognition, support and protections. Transgender youth deserve dignity, respect, and adequate healthcare provisions equal to the dignity, respect, and care their cisgender peers receive.
We recognise the grief and distress that the trans community are having inflicted upon them, as this move sets back the struggle for liberty and autonomy of an already-marginalised community, and directly worsens the lives of many children. We further recognise the additional impact this may have on racialised families of transgender youth, amidst the climate of rising racist violence and targeted hatred, and the legacy of colonial violence that has long denied racialised communities the right to self-definition and agency.
The I.W.W. has a long and proud history of resisting injustice through its organising: unionising across racial lines at a time when other unions refused to do the same, training volunteers for the International Brigades to the Second Spanish Republic, and support given to Icelandic sex workers are just examples from a long and proud history. It is this history on which the Committee draws when it proclaims that the WISE-RA and its membership must welcome all members of the trans community who are not of the employing class and understand their struggle as a legitimate and pressing one.
Appeals to authority and good faith discussion have proven futile and have been wilfully ignored by one ideologically-driven government after another. We commend the actions of such organisations as Trans Kids Deserve Better [LINK], and encourage our members to show solidarity and where applicable provide material support at local/national actions.
We encourage members to learn more, to read and consider the linked articles throughout this statement, as the scale of cultural and state transphobia in the UK is often underestimated, even by those who would consider themselves allies.
In conclusion, we the I.W.W. W.I.S.E.-R.A. Equalities Committee stand in solidarity with our trans comrades and family resisting these injustices with direct action, and support our fellow workers in taking a stand against the tide of transphobia, in their workplaces and in their wider communities and lives.
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