Conscientious doctors are calling on Britain’s largest GP body to cancel a “gender critical” conference at its headquarters because it is giving a platform to “transphobic” speakers.
The Clinical Sex and Gender Consultancy Network (CAN-SG) will host the event at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) conference center in London next month.
Speakers, including family doctors, psychiatrists and sociology professors, will discuss “controversies in child care,” including sex-based language in health care and the “impacts of gender medicine on young people attracted to people of the same sex.
The College, which represents more than 50,000 members, has said the event is not affiliated with or endorsed by it.
but DDoctors have criticized the RCGP’s “accidental endorsement”, warning LGTBQ+ patients already feel insecure and have a difficult relationship with the patient National Health Service.
The College, which represents more than 50,000 members, has said the event is not affiliated with or endorsed by it. But doctors have criticized the RCGP’s ‘accidental endorsement’, warning that LGBTQ+ patients already feel unsafe and have a difficult relationship with the NHS.
Activists, however, pointed to others such as CAN-SG member Stella O’Malley (pictured left), psychotherapist and author. She is a strong advocate of certain gender identity conversion efforts and has described teenage patients as “autogynephiles,” a theory that trans identity is a fetish. Another, Oxford University sociology professor Michael Biggs (pictured right), was accused in 2018 of running a troll account targeting trans people online.
Speakers at the event include educational leaders from NHS children’s gender services and midwifery teachers. Professor Susan Bewley (pictured left) is an emeritus professor of midwifery and women’s health. Meanwhile, Dr Az Hakeem (pictured right) has publicly opposed the upcoming ban on conversion practices and was charged in 2022 with “attempting to practice” transgender conversion therapy.
A psychotherapist involved in the conference previously controversially claimed that trans teens Patients are fetishists and have also advocated for certain gender identity conversion efforts.
The Pride group RCGP, an informal network set up to deliver educational programs and Pride events, said the event would worsen the trust the LGBTQ+ community has in general practice.
In a post on “We shouldn’t have to do it.” sharing a platform with people who invalidate or dehumanize the lived experiences of trans/non-binary peers/patients. “Our community does not feel safe.”
The Trans Safety Network, a collective set up in 2020 to record evidence of transphobia in the UK, said: “It is outrageous that the RCGP is hosting this event organized by hate groups posing as a scientific conference.”
The RCGP today said the conference at 30 Euston Square “can continue”.
A statement said: “This is an extremely complex situation that the RCGP has inadvertently been dragged into, and we have spent the last few days in intense and extensive discussions.”
‘We understand the concerns and strength of feeling this event has provoked, particularly among our LGBTQ+ community of GPs and patients.
“The legal considerations are such that the College would risk facing a lawsuit for breaching the Equality Act if we acted otherwise.”
It added: “30ES is the headquarters of the RCGP but also an events space managed by an independent events company.”
Until last week, former RCGP president Dr Clare Gerada was scheduled to speak at the event. The reasons for her withdrawal are unknown.
Speakers at the event include educational leaders from NHS children’s gender services and midwifery teachers.
Activists, however, pointed to others such as Stella O’Malley, a CAN-SG member, psychotherapist and author.
She is a strong advocate of certain gender identity conversion efforts and has described teenage patients as “autogynephiles,” a theory that trans identity is a fetish.
Another, Oxford University sociology professor Michael Biggs, was accused in 2018 of running a troll account targeting trans people online.
The account was registered with Yahoo! email believed to be connected to Professor Biggs’ official Oxford University email address.
Meanwhile, Dr. Az Hakeem has publicly opposed the upcoming ban on conversion practices and was charged in 2022 with “attempting to practice” transgender conversion therapy.
In response to the backlash, other GPs called on the RCGP not to cancel the event and let “bigoted” bullies “bully and dictate what others are allowed to talk about”.
One wrote on the GP Pulse magazine website: ‘RGCP please don’t let these bigoted bullies bully and dictate what others are allowed to talk about.
The RCGP today said the conference at 30 Euston Square “can continue”. A statement said: “This is an extremely complex situation that the RCGP has inadvertently been dragged into, and we have spent the last few days in intense and extensive discussions.” Until last week, former RCGP president Dr Clare Gerada was scheduled to speak at the event. The reasons for her withdrawal are unknown.
The Clinical Sex and Gender Consultancy Network (CAN-SG) will host the event at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) conference center in London (pictured) next month.
“This type of intimidation is a threat to democracy.”
Another said: ‘It would be completely inappropriate to cancel this event.
‘Transgender care and questions is complex and deserves appropriate and careful scrutiny, particularly in the context of care for children with gender dysphoria.
“The evidence base on puberty blockers and transition in children is very uncertain and disputed.”
They added: ‘There is nothing transphobic about the CAN-SG organization and no reason to use the hyperbole of “feeling unsafe.”
“Pride RCGP should welcome these opportunities to expand the breadth of evidence and maximize the safety of children in its care who may have gender dysphoria.”
A third wrote: ‘As a queer, gay GP in a 28-year relationship with a transgender person, I feel I can speak with some experience.
‘We both feel that legitimate debate on trans issues is being suppressed by fascist trans bigots causing real harm to some young people. Stand strong RCGP.’