Read on Twitter
Don't normally do this, but the @BBC removing *all* of the Gender Identity support helplines from the BBC Action Line service that they provide to help people affected by news items really does seem without a precedent I know of for minority coverage. https://twitter.com/TotallyTills/status/1288753213164978176
They've responded to complaints with the form email screenshot on the left, and placing a link to the NHS gender dysphoria website at the bottom of their LGBT page.
This is bearing in mind getting help on the NHS can take 3+years right now.
Completely disgusting.
This is bearing in mind getting help on the NHS can take 3+years right now.
Completely disgusting.
That is to say, turning to the NHS is no help at all at the current time if you need help now or in the near future.
We aren't just a medical diagnosis. The idea that support for trans people or our families is adequately met by sending us to the NHS to get treatment is really harmful.
Community support helplines help provide vital services outside of healthcare for dealing with trans life.
Community support helplines help provide vital services outside of healthcare for dealing with trans life.
If you're trans and dealing with domestic violence, workplace harassment or discrimination, family abuse, if you're trans and struggling to get your healthcare needs met because of the documented transphobia in the healthcare system, if you're trans and struggling with housing...
There are so many issues which aren't meaningfully, even slightly, covered by the NHS.
It's why we have a civil rights movement at all in the first place rather than just organising patients advocacy groups.
Sorry @BBC that I couldn't fit this into your 1000 character limit form on your website, but this is an absolute disgrace, and you need to change it.
For what it's worth this is the NHS "support" re Gender Identity. Note the third screenshot where they say quite clearly the waiting times are long (for long, for many that's 3+ years, as I mentioned).
If you click through to their "How to get support while you're waiting" page, you get this advice:
For children, go ask GIDS, (the oversubscribed under funded service you're on an over long waiting list for).
For adults, try and quit smoking and maybe lose some weight (!!!)
For children, go ask GIDS, (the oversubscribed under funded service you're on an over long waiting list for).
For adults, try and quit smoking and maybe lose some weight (!!!)
Oh and "Don't try to self medicate but if you really need to, try socially transitioning without hrt etc".
There's no way on earth any of this meaningfully constitutes the support that trans people need. It's just a nasty neglectful hazing.
There's no way on earth any of this meaningfully constitutes the support that trans people need. It's just a nasty neglectful hazing.
Again, as I pointed out - trans people struggle with all sorts of other issues:
* Housing
* Employment
* Education environment
* Institutional abuse
* Domestic violence and bullying
And their advice is "lose some weight and pack in smoking".
* Housing
* Employment
* Education environment
* Institutional abuse
* Domestic violence and bullying
And their advice is "lose some weight and pack in smoking".
It's not acceptable @BBC, our non medical support organisations exist because we are not just a collection of healthcare needs