Hannah Barnes is a British author and anti-transgender activist. Barnes is a key historical figure in the oppression of trans and gender diverse youth.
Barnes was an invited speaker at a 2023 conference organized by SPLC-designated anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine. Barnes frequently writes anti-trans pieces for The New Statesman.
Background
Barnes earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Oxford in 2005 and a degree from City University of London in 2006.
After roles at DeHavilland and GCap Media, Barnes joined the BBC in 2014. Barnes is a significant contributor to anti-trans publication The New Statesman.
Anti-trans activism
Barnes is a key figure in FUD propaganda around healthcare for gender diverse youth, with a special focus on medications for unwanted puberty.
Time to Think
Barnes authored the 2023 book Time to Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock’s Gender Service for Children. The Tavistock was typical of bureaucratic centralized federally funded clinics that have emerged under nationalized healthcare systems. These clinics often deliver substandard care due to unacceptable wait times. Countries like Canada and the UK have closed these kinds of clinics in favor of decentralized options.
The acknowledgements list many key figures in global anti-trans activism:
This book would never have been written without the endless support of my husband, Pat, who has kept our family on track while allowing me to research, conduct interviews, write and rewrite. Enormous thanks are also due to my parents and step-parents for their love, and for their help with looking after their amazing grandchildren. To all those who shared their experience of GIDS as service users or as their family members, thank you for telling your stories. Ellie, Jack, Phoebe, Hannah, ‘Jacob’, ‘Michelle’, ‘Diana’, ‘Harriet’ – thank you for trusting with me with such personal accounts, and, in some cases, highly sensitive information.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of the GIDS clinicians who have given me their time, shared their thoughts – whatever they may be – and who met or spoke with me, even if they did not feel comfortable being interviewed. To Anna Hutchinson, who patiently shared her experiences over many hours, to Matt Bristow, Will Crouch, Kirsty Entwistle, Sue Evans, Az Hakeem, Melissa Midgen, Natasha Prescott, Anastassis Spiliadis, and to the many, many others who have spoken on condition of anonymity – thank you. For some, I am aware it has been a difficult experience, and I do not take lightly how daunting it might have been to share your views – for a variety of reasons. There are also further, unnamed clinicians who have spoken out over several years, and who have tried to bring about change away from the public eye. Thanks too to all who have spoken with me who work or worked in the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, or were charged with its governance: Sonia Appleby, Juliet Singer, David Bell, Marcus Evans, Stanley Ruszczynski, David Taylor, Marilyn Miller and those who do not wish to be named. Paul Moran, Donal O’Shea, Russell Viner, David Freedman and Stephanie Davies-Arai also deserve my thanks, as do Lucy Bannerman, Susan Matthews and Richard Stephens.
My first, and exceptionally brilliant, reader was my uncle, Robert Barnes, and I thank him for his many thoughtful, wise suggestions and feedback. My second was Julia Murphy, who managed to squeeze in reading alongside work and family life. Thank you. This book would also not have been written without the encouragement of Innes Bowen, who convinced me that I had it in me. Nor would it have been possible without my agent Toby Mundy, who took it – and me – on, and who has been a consistent voice of calm when I have needed it. And to Mark Richards and Diana Broccardo at Swift Press, who were brave enough to publish it. For bringing coherence to the many, many references, thank you to the ever-patient Alex Middleton. The seeds were sown at BBC Newsnight, and there would have been no book without the original backing and courage of my former editor, Esmé Wren, and my friend and former colleague Deborah Cohen, as well as support from deputy editors Dan Clarke, Verity Murphy and Stewart Maclean. Finally, thank you to everyone who has sent me source material or shared information, and to those whose names I don’t know who have had the wisdom to archive hundreds of webpages. I am indebted to you all.
Selected anti-trans writing by Barnes
Barnes, Hannah (14 June 2025). Do our politicians understand the Supreme Court’s gender ruling? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-report/2025/06/do-our-politicians-understand-the-supreme-courts-gender-ruling
Barnes, Hannah (27 May 2025). Exclusive: Why Wes Streeting changed his mind on cross-sex hormones. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2025/05/exclusive-why-wes-streeting-changed-his-mind-on-cross-sex-hormones
Barnes, Hannah (23 April 2025). Labour’s cynical shift on biological sex. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2025/04/labours-cynical-shift-on-biological-sex
Barnes, Hannah (26 March 2025). How gender ideology corrupted government data. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2025/03/how-gender-ideology-corrupted-government-data
Barnes, Hannah (27 February 2025). The new puberty blockers trial is expensive and adds little. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2025/02/the-new-puberty-blockers-trial-is-expensive-and-adds-little
Barnes, Hannah (12 February 2025). Katharine Birbalsingh: “They’re going to destroy our schools.” New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2025/02/katharine-birbalsingh-interview-destroy-our-schools-bridget-phillipson-academies
Barnes, Hannah (23 January 2025). Are politicians trying to undermine the Cass Review? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2025/01/are-politicians-trying-to-undermine-the-cass-review
Barnes, Hannah (20 December 2024). Why courts could stop a teenager changing their gender. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/12/why-courts-could-stop-a-teenager-changing-their-gender
Barnes, Hannah (29 November 2024). The Scottish government is ignoring women’s rights. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/11/scottish-government-is-ignoring-womens-rights
Barnes, Hannah (3 December 2024).Why courts could stop a teenager changing their gender. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2024/12/why-courts-could-stop-a-teenager-changing-their-gender
Barnes, Hannah (November 2024).The Scottish government is ignoring women’s rights. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/11/scottish-government-is-ignoring-womens-rights
Barnes, Hannah (21 October 2024). Questions remain over NHS youth gender care, despite Cass Review. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/thestaggers/2024/09/the-bma-turns-away-from-rejecting-the-cass-report
Barnes, Hannah(27 September 2024). The BMA turns away from rejecting the Cass Report. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/09/the-bma-turns-away-from-rejecting-the-cass-report
Barnes, Hannah (25 September 2024). The intolerant age. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/09/intolerant-age-free-speech-britain-institutions
Barnes, Hannah (18 September 2024). Data and ideology don’t mix. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/09/data-and-ideology-dont-mix
Banres, Hannah (25 September 2024). Has Labour shifted on sex-based rights? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/09/has-labour-shifted-on-sex-based-rights
Barnes, Hannah (8 August 2024). Hundreds of doctors are challenging the BMA’s stance on puberty blockers. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/08/hundreds-of-doctors-are-challenging-the-bmas-stance-on-puberty-blockers
Barnes, Hannah (26 July 2024). Why are BMA Council’s confidential discussions on the Cass Review a matter of public interest? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/comment/2024/07/why-are-bma-councils-confidential-discussions-on-the-cass-review-a-matter-of-public-interest
Barnes, Hannah (16 July 2024). Why are British doctors considering rejecting the Cass report? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2024/07/why-are-british-doctors-voting-to-reject-the-cass-report
Barnes, Hannah (26 June 2024). The vexed history of British feminism. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2024/06/the-vexed-history-of-british-feminism
Barnes, Hannah (25 June 2024). Labour’s women problem. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2024/06/labour-starmer-women-problem-jk-rowling-gender
Barnes, Hannah (12 June 2024).Politicians ignore the Mumsnet manifesto at their peril. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/politicians-ignore-the-mumsnet-manifesto-at-their-peril
Barnes, Hannah (5 June 2024). Why won’t Labour tell the truth about the NHS? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/why-wont-labour-tell-truth-about-nhs-debates
Barnes, Hannah (5 June 2024). Kemi Badenoch and the legal definition of sex. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/06/kemi-badenoch-and-the-legal-definition-of-sex
Barnes, Hannah (30 May 2024). The government’s 11th-hour ban on puberty blockers. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2024/05/government-11th-hour-ban-puberty-blockers-gender
Barnes, Hannah (8 May 2024). Hilary Cass: “Do I regret doing it? Absolutely not.” New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/ns-interview/2024/05/hilary-cass-interview-review-transgender-identity-tavistock-puberty-blockers-do-i-regret-it
Staff (April 11, 2024). How will the gender care report affect politics? New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/2024/04/how-will-the-gender-care-report-affect-politics
Barnes, Hannah (10 April 2024). The Cass Review into children’s gender care should shame us all. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2024/04/the-cass-review-into-childrens-gender-care-should-shame-us-all
Barnes, Hannah (20 March 2024). Inside the collapse of the Tavistock Centre. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/03/inside-the-collapse-of-the-tavistock-centre
Barnes, Hannah (24 February 2024). Reem Alsalem on the biggest obstacles to ending violence against women. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/the-weekend-interview/2024/02/reem-alsalem-biggest-obstacles-ending-violence-against-women
Barnes, Hannah (8 February 2024). Kemi Badenoch sticks to the facts. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/02/kemi-badenoch-facts-select-committee
Barnes, Hannah (24 March 2024). New legal challenge aims to restrict private gender clinics for teenagers. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/03/legal-challenge-stop-private-gender-clinics-teenagers-tavistock
Barnes, Hannah (12 March 2024). No more puberty blockers for children, says NHS England. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/03/no-more-puberty-blockers-for-children-says-nhs-england
Barnes, Hannah (16 January 2024). Inside NHS England’s faltering plan to replace the Tavistock. New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/01/inside-nhs-englands-faltering-plan-to-replace-tavistock
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