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Charlotte Paul vs. transgender people

Charlotte Paul is an Aotearoa New Zealand physician, epidemiologist, and anti-transgender activist. Paul is a prominent critic of trans healthcare for minors, especially puberty blockers.

Background

Charlotte Entrican Paul was born in 1948 to Dame Janet Elaine Paul and David Blackwood Paul. The Paul family had a publishing business. Paul’s sibling Joanna Paul (1945–2003) was an artist, poet and filmmaker.

Paul earned a doctorate from the University of Otago in 1992. Paul began teaching there in 1993. Paul’s published research included work on HIV/Aids, women’s cancers, screening, contraception and epidemiology.

Paul is married to Kevin Cunningham.

Anti-trans activism

Starting in 2022, Paul published a number of opinion pieces and papers critical of puberty blockers for trans and gender diverse minors.

In 2024, Paul, Simon Tegg, and Sarah Donovan published a paper in the New Zealand Medical Journal criticizing protocols used in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Coverage in anti-trans press

Matthews, Philip (September 27, 2024). The war over puberty blockers. The Press https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350428587/war-over-puberty-blockers

Matthews, Philip (September 26, 2024). Use of puberty blockers declines. The Press https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350430140/use-puberty-blockers-declines

Staff report (September 26, 2024). Puberty blocker use much higher in NZ than other countries. Stuff https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350431555/puberty-blocker-use-much-higher-nz-other-countries

Davison, Isaac (September 26, 2024). Puberty blocker use in New Zealand far higher than similar countries – study. New Zealand Herald https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/puberty-blocker-use-in-new-zealand-far-higher-than-similar-countries-study/DNZGTK6CSFE5RK76ZOB47STJ2M/

Rivers, Jan (June 26, 2024). Flawed Approach to New Zealand’s Kids in Care. Genspect https://genspect.org/flawed-approach-to-new-zealands-kids-in-care/

Hill, Ruth (April 11, 2024). Government won’t say if it will follow Britain’s move to ban routine use of puberty blockers. RNZ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/513980/government-won-t-say-if-it-will-follow-britain-s-move-to-ban-routine-use-of-puberty-blockers

Ovens, Jill (November 17, 2023). We call for an enquiry into the medicalisation of children with gender dysphorias. Women’s Rights Party https://womensrightsparty.nz/we-would-ban-medicalisation-of-children-with-gender-dysphoria/

Hill, Ruth (September 29, 2022). Puberty blocker use jumps as expert backs results. RNZ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/475757/puberty-blocker-use-jumps-as-expert-backs-results

Selected anti-trans writing by Paul

Paul, Charlotte. Identity crisis: Have we gone too far in letting kids change their gender? New Zealand Herald / The Listener https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/identity-crisis-have-we-gone-too-far-in-letting-kids-change-their-gender/TT4LEA5FS7JYWFYWWCCBAEB6JM/

Paul, Charlotte (January 7, 2025). Where do we go now with puberty blockers?: Charlotte Paul. New Zealand Herald https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/where-do-we-go-now-with-puberty-blockers-charlotte-paul/HYPDDEWZQZBNDGGPDW2JNGOT4M/

Paul, C., Tegg, S., & Donovan, S. (2024). Use of puberty-blocking hormones for gender dysphoria in New Zealand: descriptive analysis and international comparisons. New Zealand Medical Journal, 137(1603), 79–88. https://doi.org/10.26635/6965.6587

Paul, Charlotte (December 24, 2023). A terrible trap: Is our Ministry of Health failing to respond adequately to the rise in puberty blockers. North & South https://northandsouth.co.nz/2023/12/24/puberty-blockers-new-zealand/

Paul, Charlotte (September 10, 2022). Age of uncertainty: Other countries have reviewed their use of puberty blockers for children and young people. New Zealand should too, argues Charlotte Paul. New Zealand Herald / The Listener, 28-32. https://www.magzter.com/en/stories/news/New-Zealand-Listener/AGE-OF-UNCERTAINTY

Media

The Platform NZ with Sean Plunket and Charlotte Paul (April 14, 2024). Emeritus Professor Charlotte Paul on the Puberty Blocker Disaster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gIr_VN4TSI

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

University of Otago (otago.ac.nz)