CNA Staff, Apr 23, 2020 / 13:40 pm
The United Kingdom’s Minister for Women and Equalities has announced plans to prohibit minors from undergoing any permanent procedure intended to change their gender. The policy was announced by the minister, Liz Truss MP, on April 22.
In an appearance before the House of Commons Women and Equalities Select Committee, Truss said she was committed to “making sure that the under 18s are protected from decisions that they could make, that are irreversible in the future.”
While Truss said that adults should be free to do what they wish with their bodies, “it’s very important that while people are still developing their decision-making capabilities that we protect them from making irreversible decisions.”
The United Kingdom has one gender clinic for children, the “Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS)” which is part of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust. Tavistock, as the clinic is often referred to, has come under increasing public scrutiny because of the skyrocketing number of children, particularly young girls, who are referred for its services.