The Puberty Blocker Ban 2024 & why 5 of Europe’s Primary LGBT Organisations Condemn it

Five of the most respected LGBT organisations in Europe, each with a wealth of expertise in the human rights field, have condemned the UK government’s decision to ban puberty blockers – saying:

“This decision, which overrides years of established medical guidance and expertise, is deeply political, rooted in a divisive public discourse and misinformation rather than the recommendations of leading medical authorities.”

Released on the 18th of December with five co-signatories, ILGA-Europe, IPPF European Network, TGEU, IGLYO and the UK’s The Kite Trust, which specialises in supporting trans and gender-questioning children and young adults, the statement goes on to say:

“Misinformation about the nature and effects of puberty blockers has played a significant role in shaping public opinion and policy”.

This united front of respected organisations underscores the gravity of the situation.

TransLucent were one of the chosen LGBT organisations to give evidence to the Commission of Human Medicines (CHM) regarding extending the ban on private healthcare providers being able to prescribe puberty blockers.

Puberty Blocker Ban – TONIC & CHM

Steph Richards, TransLucent’s CEO, was one of our team to give evidence telling the CHM:   

“In January of this year, the research organisation TONIC, published the results of a public consultation (commissioned by NHS England) concerning puberty blockers….receiving 4040 responses”.

Not surprisingly, respondents fell into two groups, labelled by TONIC as Group A, those who supported using PBs, and Group B, those who did not….And let’s be clear here – the vast majority of respondents in Group B would be part of the global anti-gender hate movement – in essence, the same people who made Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people’s lives an utter misery in past decades.

People in group A, a total of 3492 respondents said that puberty blockers have been shown to be harmless and beneficial, and that they should be made available to gender dysphoric children and young people without the requirement to enrol in any research trials.

People in group B argued the opposite. In total, there were just 180 responses from this group.

Points mentioned by those in group A included: –

• The potentially severe impact on the physical, emotional and mental health of transgender children if denied puberty blockers.
• The obvious discrimination against trans children as puberty blockers will still be available to cisgender children.
• The protected characteristic of gender reassignment as per the Equality Act not being adequately addressed.
• An acknowledgement that children and young people from low-income homes who are unable to afford private health care abroad will be discriminated against.
• The future impact on transgender children after developing secondary sexual characteristics…. because of an unwanted puberty.
• The impact and risk of driving patients to access treatment from unregulated sources.
• The potential impact on those who are currently receiving puberty blockers but, as is now the case …..are currently forced to stop because the current regulations are an utter mess.

TransLucent have previously commented on the Puberty Blocker Ban in: TransLucent Puberty Blocker (GnRH Analogues) Position Statement

The Puberty Blocker Ban. More from the Statement

The statement from ILGAILGA A driving force for political, legal and social change for LGBTI https://www.ilga-europe.org and the co-signatories went on to say:

“The framing and justification for this ban have leaned heavily on a polarised and often misleading public narrative about trans identities and related trans healthcare and epistemologically, and methodologically questionable studies about trans identities and trans-specific healthcare. Despite claims of prioritising child safety, this decision disregards the consensus of medical professionals and organisations such as the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATHWPATH World Professional Association for Transgender Health https://www.wpath.org) and the Endocrine Society’s Clinical Practice Guideline, which have long endorsed puberty blockers as a safe and reversible option for managing gender dysphoria in minors.

These treatments allow young people experiencing distress with their assigned gender to pause puberty, giving them time to better understand their needs and identity, without the added pressure of physical changes brought on by puberty.

The political instrumentalisation of healthcare for trans minors has become a rallying point for anti-trans rhetoric, which often conflates all trans-specific healthcare with irreversible medical interventions. This characterisation is not only inaccurate but also deeply harmful. Puberty blockers do not lead to permanent medical transition – they are a widely used and reversible treatment prescribed for various conditions, including precocious puberty. By banning them for trans youth specifically, the UK government is singling out a vulnerable group for discriminatory and harmful treatment based on ideology rather than evidence.”

Opponents of trans-specific healthcare frequently cite exaggerated or unfounded claims about the risks of these treatments, ignoring the robust body of research demonstrating their safety and efficacy. Long-term studies show that puberty blockers and other trans-specific healthcare significantly reduce rates of depression and suicidality among trans youth  —outcomes that align with broader understandings of the critical importance of affirming care for marginalised populations.

Expert voices, including paediatric endocrinologists, psychologists, and trans health specialists, have been side-lined in favour of rhetoric that frames trans-specific healthcare as controversial. This erasure of medical expertise undermines the principles of patient-centred care and puts the health of trans youth at risk. The decision to ban puberty blockers ignores the individualised, case-by-case assessments that qualified professionals conduct before prescribing such treatments, opting instead for an unyielding prohibition that strips both doctors and families of agency.

The consequences of this ban will be devastating. For many trans youth, the ability to access puberty blockers represents a lifeline. Denying them this care will force young people to undergo the changes of puberty associated with their assigned gender, exacerbating gender dysphoria and increasing risks of mental health struggles, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies. By removing a critical tool for early intervention, this decision condemns trans youth to unnecessary suffering and places an already marginalised group at greater risk of harm. Furthermore, this policy undermines the trust between trans individuals and the healthcare system.

Families seeking support for their children will face increased barriers, uncertainty, and stigma, while healthcare providers may find themselves unable to offer the care they know to be best for their patients. These ripple effects extend beyond trans youth, chilling the broader provision of trans-specific healthcare and reinforcing a climate of fear and hostility.”

Puberty Blocker Ban – TransLucent Comment.

Responding to the joint statement, TransLucent director Paul Levene said:   

“We echo every word of the joint statement, and it’s deeply disappointing that the CHM relied on evidence from known LGBT hate groups.

We are now in a situation where children who are approaching puberty, which is already a difficult time in youth development, are facing the added pain and anguish of a body that for them, is going to go through the wrong puberty.

Puberty blockers do not treat Gender Dysphoria, as their aim is simply to halt puberty ensuring the dysphoria does not get any worse. In a perfect world, hormone therapy should start when puberty starts, but puberty comes at an age way too young for such a life changing decision, so that’s why reversible puberty blockers are vital to safely halt the distress of puberty, giving the time needed to make sure and delaying the decision until an adult.

If there were evidence from decades of use to treat both trans and cis kids that there was a genuine risk to health, and the risk of trans use far outweighed the clear risks of a ban, we would wholeheartedly support it, but the facts simply do not support this.

As a result, parents understandably don’t trust the NHS with being prescribed less effective medicines or any psychological treatment that can only amount to a form of conversion therapy, so they are left with few options and risk buying puberty blockers online and self-medicating or travelling outside the UK to get care”.

Where does the Puberty Blocker ban leave trans youth?

Nicola from TransLucent’s leadership team commented on the Joint Statement by saying:

“Essentially there are two principle aspects to the Puberty Blocker ban. Firstly, the reinforcing of the ideology of the right with the intended and stated denial of trans people, especially trans women to exist.
Secondly, as covered in her article  What Is Hope And Why We Should Worry? the removal of hope from a small group of vulnerable young people, who had they not been trans, would otherwise be prescribed the same drug were they to have need of it”.

She added, “There is a wider and more concerning failure here as well. The failure to properly consider and even handed (neutral) position and view (all) the evidence. In cases such as this, it is seriously lacking, but is being exposed more and more easily. The lack of proper evaluation of all the evidence is causing actual harm.”

The Puberty Blocker Ban 2024 & why 5 of Europe’s Primary LGBT Organisations Condemn it?

If you need help our recently published guide will help you Transgender Children’s Healthcare in the UK – Navigating the Complexities

Transgender healthcare has been in serious decline for many years, and the Puberty blocker ban only makes matters worse. We have done our own review into trans healthcare and the GICs earlier this year.

Find out more in Translucent’s GIC Report.