Dear Wes,

We, the undersigned, are calling on you to immediately withdraw your support for the ban on puberty blockers for trans young people.

International evidence shows that puberty suppressing hormones are a safe and effective way to temporarily pause a young person’s puberty, giving them time to consider their options for transition.

Much of the concern around their use stems from the idea that those who take puberty blockers go on to use cross sex hormones as part of their transition. We do not think that trans young people growing up to be happy and healthy trans adults is a bad outcome while rates of de/retransition are exceptionally low.

Rather than honouring Labour’s manifesto commitment to “remove indignities for trans people who deserve recognition & acceptance,” you have decided to strip trans young people of their bodily autonomy, undermining important medical principles, such as Gillick Competence, in favour of upholding the Conservative approach of politicising the lives of trans people.

Even the widely discredited Cass Review does not go so far as to recommend the criminalisation of puberty blockers for trans young people. Court documents show the former Health Secretary’s decision was motivated by her personal view, rather than on the basis of best available evidence.

Your decision is a gut-punch for Labour members who campaigned up and down the country tirelessly for change, only to now see a continuation of the vindictive and unevidenced approach of your predecessor.

Trade unions, human rights groups and LGBTQ+ community organisations stand resolutely against your decision. The recent court case highlighted that no proper consultation took place with impacted parties prior to the implementation of the ban and it is surprising you feel compelled to support it yourself, without having first engaged any of the trans young people who will be affected, nor with the Labour movement who have consistently called for better access to trans healthcare.

Labour for Trans Rights, and our allies in the Labour movement will continue to fight and organise against any proposals that restrict access to healthcare for LGBTQ+ young people.

With waiting lists for a first appointment with a gender service for under 18s already over 5 years, evidence is mounting about the serious harm this is causing. Ultimately, families have been forced into the private sector due to these long waits and the serious concerns about the unethical nature of the proposed research trial into the use of puberty blockers Labour needs a Health Secretary prepared to tackle this crisis in a way that puts the evidence first, and crucially, puts the wellbeing of trans young people first.

That’s why we are calling on you to immediately drop the ban.

Yours sincerely, the undersigned.