October 16, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – As the number of children identifying as transgender has exploded, so has the evidence that the social experiment we are embarking on is going to end very badly for many people—especially those who are inflicting permanent damage to themselves by “transitioning” at younger and younger ages. As I’ve noted many times in this space, rates of transgender children have spiked by over 4,000 percent in the United Kingdom alone, and despite the sheer pace of this phenomenon, anyone who attempts to point out that perhaps more discussion is needed when the impact on children is so significant is promptly shouted down.
The most egregious enabler of this phenomenon has been England’s state-funded Tavistock Clinic in Leeds, which focuses primarily on assisting children who wish to “transition” to the opposite sex. Tavistock has already lied about whether puberty blockers are reversible—a recent study noted that these so-called treatments are “devastating” and “irreversible”—and they have attracted some controversy for their willingness to employ their “Gender Identity Development Service” on very young children. And now, the Times reported last week, the clinic is being sued by a mother who is accusing them of carrying out “experimental” treatments on children—children who cannot possibly understand what is happening to them.
The lawsuit alleges that Tavistock pushes its treatments by presenting an “inaccurate and potentially misleading” picture of the impact of hormone blockers, which have come under increasing scrutiny over the past year. The lawsuit has been put forward by “Mrs. A,” a woman who wishes to remain anonymous in order to protect the identity of her child, who is a 15-year-old patient at Tavistock. Joining her in bringing the lawsuit is Sue Evans, a mental health nurse who worked at the clinic from 2003 to 2007. Evans has had concerns for some time, and told the Times that Tavistock frequently recommended that children take hormone treatment with disturbing swiftness, despite the fact that medical risks can include infertility and an inability to orgasm.
Evans is not the first former employee at Tavistock to come forward, either. Several months ago, psychologist Kirsty Entwistle wrote an open latter to Tavistock director Polly Carmichael also articulating concerns about how quickly children were being recommended for treatments with life-long impacts. “It is a problem that GIDS clinicians are making decisions that will have a major impact on children and young people’s bodies and on their lives,” Entwistle wrote at the time, “Potentially the rest of their lives, without a robust evidence base.”
Mrs. A concurred with these concerns, noting that “no one, let alone my daughter, understands the risk” of hormone blockers, and that informed consent was farcical considering the fact that the potential risks and side effects are not articulated—and many of them are not yet known. “There are many parents, like me, who are anxiously trying to support their children,” she said. “We want the best for our children, but we need this to be from a position of evidence-based, not experimental, medicine.” Tavistock responded to the Times' request for comment by stating, “It is not appropriate for us to comment in detail in advance of any proposed legal proceedings. The GIDS is one of the longest-established services of its type in the world with an international reputation for being cautious and considered.”
I will confess to being a bit nervous about this particular lawsuit. Many keen observers of this phenomenon—including Dr. Jordan Peterson—have been predicting that a tsunami of lawsuits will eventually swamp the transgender industry. This lawsuit may be the first, and thus there is a lot riding on the outcome. Will the courts actually examine the evidence with a fair mind, or will they cave to the trans activists who increasingly behave like mafia gangs, targeting feminists, academics, and anybody else who refuses to get with the agenda? This lawsuit will have to be pursued very carefully, and we’ll have to pray for a fair-minded judge. It is no exaggeration to say that the futures of many, many children hang in the balance.
Jonathon’s new podcast, The Van Maren Show, is dedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, he interviews Os Guinness, an author and commentator who has written over 30 books that have had a profound impact on the American political conversation. And yes, he is the great, great, great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the famous Dublin brewer. You can subscribe here and listen to the episode below:
