When I was about six, I spent a long period thinking that life would be easier if I were a boy. I thought I could get into more mischief and that no one would think it was strange that I liked to climb trees.
I only wanted to wear trousers and preferred cars and trains to dolls. What a relief that my parents didn’t object!
Of course, I stopped wanting to be a boy and became a proud woman, although I still like trousers and cars. But if I had grown up in today’s climate of parents who have accepted the cult of “we can change her sex,” what would have become of me?
This week it was revealed that a child under the age of five is on a waiting list for one of the new gender clinics set up in place of the discredited and now closed Tavistock centre (file image)
When Jenni Murray was six years old she wanted to be a boy. She only wanted to wear trousers and preferred cars and trains to dolls, but she grew up to be a proud woman, although she still likes trousers and cars.
I was reminded of this when I read the news this week that a child under the age of five is on a waiting list for one of the new gender clinics that have been set up in place of the discredited and now closed Tavistock centre. What does such a young and innocent child know about sex and gender? Nothing. The child’s parents should have more common sense.
The two new clinics, one at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and the other at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, have been designed to offer “holistic” care for children struggling with their gender identity. They will include specialist services in mental health, hormones and autism.
The Tavistock was closed after a review by Dr Hilary Cass raised concerns about the unsafety of the care it was providing. Children had been given untested and potentially dangerous treatments, including puberty blockers, which are now the subject of an emergency government ban that is in place for the NHS until 3 September. There was also evidence that teenagers had been prescribed cross-sex hormones and rushed into medical transition.
The waiting list for the new clinics is huge. New figures show that more than 5,700 under-18s are waiting for an appointment to receive help with their decision to change gender.
The number of children referred has increased exponentially in recent years, from fewer than 50 per year in 2009 to around 5,000 in 2021-22.
I have nothing but compassion for a teenager who genuinely believes they want to change sex, but what kind of GP is quick to refer a child under the age of five for medical treatment to change gender? Are there really parents who would panic because their child likes to pretend to cook dinner in their sister’s toy kitchen and never misses a chance to wear her pretty dress?
Are there parents who can’t stand the idea of their daughter preferring excavators to dolls and wanting to cut her braids?
Hopefully, given that the Cass report has presented extensive evidence that much of the trend-driven thinking around sex change needed to be carefully examined, things will change for the better.
Cass noted that autism was often a factor among children seeking help. Professionals should not be afraid of being accused of conversion therapy if they talk to a child and examine their motives.
The huge rise in waiting list numbers certainly deserves scrutiny, too. Ashley Grossman, an endocrinologist with more than 40 years’ experience in the field, described the numbers as “deeply depressing” and pointed to the lack of resources for children’s mental health care.
The emeritus professor of endocrinology at Oxford University added: “There seems to have been a huge increase in demand for these services, particularly since the lockdown and loss of schooling during the pandemic, so I suspect this is a much wider issue than just children with gender dysphoria. Where have children learned about gender and the possibility of being born in the wrong body?
The Stonewall lobby group has been effective in promoting the trans agenda, and in schools teachers have been too afraid to challenge the inclusion of gender identity issues in lessons for fear of being labelled transphobic.
It is difficult for a parent these days to accept that a little girl might think she prefers to be a boy and that you can just play along until she moves on.
Since I first wrote in 2018 about my concerns about the growing power of Stonewall’s transgender push, I’ve been called a Terf, had speaking invitations cancelled, and received death threats.
But I refuse to be threatened into silence because I have two major concerns. Protecting women’s rights has been a priority for me, but even more important to me has been ensuring that children are not involved in anything that could harm them.
Keira Bell (pictured) wanted to be a boy. She was 15 when she persuaded her father to take her to the Tavistock, where she was given puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, and had a double mastectomy. By the age of 20, she realised she had made a terrible mistake.
I will never forget the astonishing courage of Keira Bell, who at 15 persuaded her father to take her to Tavistock. She wanted to be a boy. She was given puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.
She underwent a double mastectomy. At 20, she realized she had made a terrible mistake and took her case to court. The damage done to her cannot be repaired, but we can prevent it from happening to other people.
Dr Cass spent four years researching and began to restore common sense to the gender debate. With the new clinics, which are expected to operate in accordance with Cass’s recommendations, the thousands of children on the waiting list should be safe.
And to the parents of the five-year-old I say, “Let him go ahead and be what he wants to be. Pretending is what kids do and it doesn’t hurt.”
Kate shames those who criticize overweight people
Kate Winslet is proud of her body as she ages – she’s not ashamed of her chubby parts or the increasing number of wrinkles on her face.
The actress poses on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar’s September issue, ahead of the release of her new biopic Lee next month.
BTheKate Winslet, who filmed the story of photographer and war correspondent Lee Miller, had to appear sitting down in a bikini. She was advised to sit up straight and hide the rolls of fat around her belly. She refused.
She is not ashamed of her chubby parts or the increasing number of wrinkles on her face.
She’s proud of her body as she ages, as we all should be, and she’s brave enough to tell those who would body shame her to go away. I couldn’t love her more!
What was the BBC thinking?
What were the BBC thinking when they continued to pay Huw Edwards his huge salary for months, even giving him an extra £299,000, when they knew what he was accused of?
Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards arrived in court last week. He pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children.
I am horrified that even a single penny of my licence money has gone into the pocket of a man who pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.
Receive the CEO’s refund and use it to create some decent programs.
A curious thing has happened at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. They are running a recruitment drive to find more men to work there. They say there are too many Victorias and not enough Alberts. How can it be considered a problem that there are more women than men working there? It seems to me that this is how things should be.
Minnie, Jenni’s chihuahua, who likes the natural dog smell.
Dolce & Gabbana have launched a pet perfume called Fefe, named after Domenico Dolce’s dog. I asked Frieda, Madge and Minnie if they would like it. “No way,” they said. “We’re dogs. We like to smell like dogs.” Thanks, girls, that saves me £85.