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2024 UK Public Inquiry request

In 2024, a group of conservatives, anti-transgender activists, and ex-transgender activists sent a letter demanding a public inquiry into transgender healthcare.

Many of the most prominent anti-trans figures in the UK government and media signed.

Letter

19th April 2024

Dear Prime Minister,

We are a group of concerned citizens from a wide range of backgrounds and professions.

We are gravely concerned about the harm, both physical and emotional, caused to children in the name of gender identity ideology. That is the notion that everyone has a ‘gender identity’ that may differ from, and overrides, their birth sex.

Some schools teach gender identity ideology to pupils as if it were fact, often to the exclusion or denial of biological reality. This includes teaching children that it is possible to be born in the wrong body, thereby encouraging vulnerable children to seek powerful medical treatment on ideological, rather than scientific, grounds. Those most at risk are children who do not conform to traditional sex stereotypes. Evidence shows that, in fact, the vast majority are sexually attracted to people of the same sex.

Medical interventions known as ‘gender-affirming transition’ have been revealed as a major medical scandal. Whistleblowers in this field have been vindicated by recent events, such as the final report of the independent Cass Review, the NHS decision to halt the prescription of puberty blockers, the closure of the GIDS gender clinic at the Tavistock, and the revelations contained within the WPATH files, amongst other things.

Encouraging confused and vulnerable children to transition, socially or medically, including with puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, has caused irreversible developmental issues, physiological damage (such as loss of bone density, infertility and sexual dysfunction) and significant social and relational harms. This has already had a direct and lifelong impact on child development, the true extent of which is not yet known.

We believe this is a major scandal that requires a Public Inquiry. This should consider the extent to which State and non-State institutions have failed in their duty of care by supporting, encouraging or facilitating a model of ‘gender-affirming transition’ towards children who believe they are transgender.

Such an Inquiry will need to consider how this was allowed to happen, the impact on the children and their families, and make recommendations as to how to protect other children from harm.

The scope of an Inquiry must include all institutions complicit in this harm, including government departments, the NHS, private gender clinics, mental health bodies, schools, ‘LGBTQ+’ campaign groups, broadcast and print media (particularly the BBC), and private corporations.

Crucially, an Inquiry will have the power to compel institutions to provide evidence (particularly important given the withholding of certain data from the Cass Review).

The Inquiry will need to consider:

  • The causes behind the significant increase in children, particularly girls and those with (often suppressed) same-sex sexual orientation, believing themselves to be transgender and seeking to ‘transition’;
  • Depictions of ‘gender-affirming transition’, including its glorification or promotion;
  • How and why gender identity ideology became embedded in the policies and practices of relevant institutions;
  • The evidence base of a ‘gender-affirming transition’ model and how this aligns or conflicts with medical and therapeutic best practice;
  • The influence of third-party organisations (including charities and campaign groups) on government, education and health practitioners;
  • The clinical treatment offered to children, including, but not limited to, social transition, puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones and surgical procedures (or referrals for surgery). The basis on which such treatment was offered. The culture, practices and ethics of such clinics;
  • The process of obtaining consent from these children and/or their parents (or guardians);
  • The risks associated and whether such risks were adequately communicated;
  • The comorbidities present, including autism spectrum disorder, and the impact of those on care and treatment;
  • The correlation with same-sex sexual orientation and the consideration given to this as part of care and treatment;
  • The facilitation and encouragement of children to ‘transition’ without their parents’ (or guardians’) knowledge;
  • The social transitioning of children within schools;
  • Follow-up of former patients, such as monitoring outcomes and offering support, including to those who experienced regret, harm or sought to ‘detransition’;
  • The concerns raised by clinicians and whistleblowers and the way in which such concerns were handled; and
  • Attempts to silence individuals (professionals, parents and members of the public) who raised concerns about harm being caused to children as a result of ‘gender-affirming transition’, whether social or medical.

The pervasive influence of gender identity ideology has already caused serious harm to children. We ask that you establish this Public Inquiry as a matter of urgency. It should work expeditiously, with clear focus on the key issues detailed above, to enable completion in a timely manner. The future safety and wellbeing of our children depends on it.

Yours sincerely,

[signatories below]

Signatories

Presented alphabetically. See References for original signing order.

  • Dr Shahrar Ali Former Deputy Leader of the Green Party
  • Ermine Amies Co-Founder of Parents for Education
  • Helen Auburn Nutritional Therapist
  • Nessa Bagnall Counsellor
  • Kate Barker Chief Executive Officer of LGB Alliance
  • Jo Bartosch Journalist
  • Dr Daiva Barzdaitiene Consultant Psychiatrist
  • Dr Michael Bazlinton General Practitioner
  • Keira Bell Detransitioner
  • Dr Mark A. Bell Consultant in Emergency Medicine
  • Lucy Beney Counsellor
  • Julie Bindel Journalist and Author
  • Heather Binning Founder of Women’s Rights Network
  • Katharine Birbalsingh Headmistress of Michaela School
  • Sir Peter Bottomley MP Conservative MP and Father of the House of Commons
  • Suella Braverman KC MP Conservative MP and Former Home Secretary
  • Adam Brooks Entrepreneur and Commentator
  • Dr Heather Brunskell-Evans Academic and Co-Founder of Women’s Declaration International
  • Nick Buckley MBE Charity Worker and Candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester
  • Sarah Burton Founder of the HR Sex Equality and Equity Network
  • Marion Calder Director of For Women Scotland
  • Miriam Cates MP Conservative MP
  • Nicky Clark Writer and Autism Campaigner
  • William Clouston Leader of Social Democratic Party
  • Dr Clare Craig Diagnostic Pathologist
  • Dr David Critchley Clinical Pharmacologist
  • Alka Sehgal Cuthbert Academic and Director of Don’t Divide Us
  • Peter Daly Solicitor
  • Professor Angus Dalgleish Professor of Oncology at St George’s, University of London
  • Sharron Davies MBE Olympian and Author
  • Stephanie Davies-Arai BEM Director of Transgender Trend
  • Dr Peter D’Lima Educational and Child Psychologist
  • Belinda de Lucy Former Member of the European Parliament
  • Dr Phuoc-Tan Diep Consultant Histopathologist
  • Laura Dodsworth Journalist and Author
  • Andrew Doyle Writer and Broadcaster
  • James Dreyfus Actor
  • Dr James A. Dyson Retired General Practitioner and Schools Medical Advisor
  • Simon Edge Author
  • Paul Embery Author and Trade Unionist
  • Dr Jonathan Engler Healthcare Entrepreneur
  • James Esses Founder of the Declaration for Biological Reality
  • Marcus Evans Former Governor of Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust
  • Nick Fletcher MP Conservative MP
  • Baroness Foster of Oxten DBE Conservative Peer and Former Member of the European Parliament
  • Baroness Fox of Buckley Peer and Director of the Academy of Ideas
  • Dr Sheena Fraser General Practitioner
  • Lord Frost of Allenton Conservative Peer and Former Minister of State
  • Amy Gallagher Mental Health Nurse and SDP London Mayoral Candidate
  • Mary Garner Counsellor and Co-Founder of Thoughtful Therapists
  • Genevieve Gluck Writer and Co-Founder of Reduxx Magazine
  • Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Conservative Peer and Former Minister of State
  • Professor Matt Goodwin Professor of Politics at University of Kent
  • Damian Green MP Conservative MP
  • Dr Az Hakeem Consultant Psychiatrist
  • Sue Parker Hall Psychotherapist
  • Dr David Halpin Retired Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon
  • Neale Hanvey MP Alba Party MP and Westminster Leader
  • Jane Harris Writer
  • Julia Hartley-Brewer Journalist and Presenter
  • Amber Hartman Professional Coach at the International Coaching Federation
  • Jonathan Hayward Director of Gay Men’s Network
  • Ritchie Herron Detransitioner
  • Dr John Higgon Clinical Neuropsychologist
  • Milli Hill Journalist and Author
  • Dr Tony Hinton Consultant Surgeon
  • Dr RenĂ©e Hoenderkamp General Practitioner, Writer and Presenter
  • Dr Richard House Psychologist and Former Lecturer in Early Childhood Psychology
  • Lord Jackson of Peterborough Conservative Peer and Former MP
  • Dame Andrea Jenkyns MP Conservative MP
  • Laura Anne Jones MS Member of Senedd and Shadow Minister for Education
  • Dr Rosamond Jones Retired Consultant Paediatrician
  • Christina Jordan Former Member of the European Parliament
  • Keith Jordan Founder of Our Duty
  • Nick Karr Psychotherapist
  • Professor Eric Kaufmann Professor of Politics at University of Buckingham
  • Dennis Kavanagh Director of Gay Men’s Network
  • Rosie Kay Co-Founder of Freedom in the Arts
  • Molly Kingsley Executive Founder of UsForThem
  • Richard Kirker Secretary (Acting) of LGB Christians
  • Konstantin Kisin Writer and Social Commentator
  • Dr Philip Kiszely Cultural Historian and Academic
  • Danny Kruger MP Conservative MP
  • Graham Linehan Writer and Director
  • Professor David Livermore Professorial Fellow of Medical Microbiology at UEA
  • Dr Anna Loutfi Human Rights Barrister and Head of Legal at the Bad Law Project
  • Tim Loughton MP Conservative MP
  • Hassan Mamdani Scientist and Director of Gay Men’s Network
  • Winston Marshall Musician, Writer and Commentator
  • Dr Fiona Martindale General Practitioner
  • Dr Samuel McBride NHS Emergency Medicine & Geriatrics
  • Mr Ian McDermott Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
  • Dr Claire McGuiggan Educational and Child Psychologist
  • Maggie Mellon Co-Founder of the Evidence-Based Social Work Alliance
  • Dr Janet Menage Retired General Practitioner
  • Robin Millar MP Conservative MP
  • Harry Miller Former Police Officer and Founder of Fair Cop
  • Lord Moonie Former Labour MP and Peer, and Psychiatrist
  • Dr Alan Mordue Retired Consultant in Public Health Medicine & Epidemiology
  • Margaret Moss Director of Nutrition and Allergy Clinic
  • Dr Greta Mushet Retired Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy
  • Dr Chris Newton Biomedical Research Scientist
  • Patrick O’Flynn Commentator and Former Member of the European Parliament
  • Stella O’Malley Psychotherapist and Director of Genspect
  • Professor James Orr Professor of Philosophy of Religion, University of Cambridge
  • Professor David Paton Professor at University of Nottingham
  • Terry Patterson Counsellor and Co-Founder of Thoughtful Therapists
  • Allison Pearson Columnist and Author
  • Dr Christina Peers Consultant in Contraception and Reproductive Health
  • Gillian Philip Writer
  • Sarah Phillimore Barrister
  • Alex Phillips Broadcaster and Former Member of the European Parliament
  • Stephen Pollard Editor and Journalist
  • Dr Naomi Riddel Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
  • Gareth Roberts Writer
  • Rachel Rooney Writer
  • J.K. Rowling Author and Philanthropist
  • Mr T. James Royle Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon
  • Helen Runciman Psychotherapist
  • Professor Neil Scolding Emeritus Professor of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Bristol
  • Sorrel Scott Physiotherapist
  • Ben Sears Trainee Counsellor
  • Dr Carole Sherwood Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Save Mental Health
  • Dr Pam Spurr Chartered Psychologist and Author
  • Kathleen Stock Co-Director of The Lesbian Project
  • Graham Stringer MP Labour MP
  • Jane Symons Health Journalist
  • Dr Jasmine Thomas Hospital Doctor
  • Dr Val Thomas Psychotherapist and Founder of Critical Therapy Antidote
  • Richard Tice Leader of Reform UK
  • Dr Stephen Ting Consultant Haematologist
  • Liz Truss MP Conservative MP and Former Prime Minister
  • Bev Turner Broadcaster
  • Holly Valance Actress
  • Dr Stuart Waiton Chairman of the Scottish Union for Education
  • Sarah Waters Psychotherapist and Counsellor
  • Professor Roger Watson Honorary Professor of Nursing at University of Hull
  • SinĂ©ad Watson Detransitioner
  • Dr Stephen Westgarth Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
  • Dr Carmen Wheatley Medical Researcher and Head of Orthomolecular Oncology
  • Bob Withers Psychotherapist and Co-Founder of Thoughtful Therapists
  • Mel Withers Director of the Rock Clinic and Psychotherapist
  • Peter Whittle Founder and Director of New Culture Forum
  • Joanna Williams Author and Commentator
  • Colin Wynter KC Barrister

References

Signatories (April 19, 2024). [2024 UK Public Inquiry request.] https://www.transgendermap.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/10/UK-transgender-Public-Inquiry-Letter.pdf