Scotland’s only youth gender clinic has paused prescribing puberty blockers for under-18s. Prescriptions for under-18s currently on the waiting list are to be blocked following the decision by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC). The Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow also said that patients aged 16 and up would no longer receive hormone treatments until they are 18. The decision comes following a similar decision by NHS England last month after just over a week after the publication of the Cass report last week, which made recommendations to change NHS England’s approach to trans youth care. The report, which was commissioned in 2020 and headed by paediatrician expert DR Hilary Cass, emphasised “extreme caution” in prescribing puberty blockers to under-18s. Puberty blockers are a physically reversible medical treatment that stop certain hormones from being produced and suppresses unwanted aspects of puberty. NHSGGC said in a statement to BBC News that the decision had been made following a position taken by the board, as well as NHS England and NHS Lothian. The board’s director of public health, Dr Emilia Crighton, said: “The findings informing the Cass review are important, and we have reviewed the impact on our clinical pathways. “The next step from here is to work with the Scottish government and academic partners to generate evidence that enables us to deliver safe care for our patients.” Those who are currently prescribed puberty blockers will continue treatment, according to the new policy. Puberty blockers are currently paused in NHS England and only prescribed through clinical trials, which the Cass report said should only be done if there is a “clear clinical rationale.” Scottish Trans and the Equality Network spokesperson, Vic Valentine, said the decision by NHSGGC would “harm trans children and young people.” “The decision has been taken within the context where the reality of trans people’s experiences and lives is questioned almost daily in some of the media and some political circles. “This makes us worry that the decision has been influenced by that context rather than solely through consideration of the best interests of trans children.” #pubertyblockers #trans #breakingnews #scotland #nhs #lgbtq #transhealthcare

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has accused the UK government for using trans people as a scapegoat for its “own ineptitude”. As Ncuti Gatwa steps into the TARDIS for the upcoming new season of Russell T Davies’ Doctor Who, the 31-year-old actor has deemed UK politicians as the real villains and monsters who need stopping. Speaking to Attitude magazine ahead of the new season of the beloved sci-fi show landing next month, Gatwa shared his distress at watching politicians incite hatred against trans people and other minority groups. “Everything trickles down from the top, and when you see politicians openly attacking marginalised communities, when you see our politicians openly attacking trans people, it makes it OK for everyone else,” he explained. “It is scary to see that we’ve got to a point where it is fine to attack vulnerable people because that’s essentially what’s happening.” Data released last October showed that hate crimes against the trans community in England and Wales had risen by more than 10 per cent compared to the previous year. In response, the Home Office itself suggested that trans people being “heavily discussed by politicians” may have led to an increase in such offences. Earlier this year, prime minister Rishi Sunak was widely criticised after making a jibe about trans women during Prime Minister’s Questions while Ester Ghey, the mother of murdered trans teenage Brianna Ghey, was watching on in the chamber. Sunak has a long history of hostile rhetoric towards trans people, including repeatedly suggesting that misgendering trans people is “common sense”. In footage shared by PinkNews last year, he was recorded mocking those who believe that trans women are women. Gatwa continued to vent his fury at the “sick” politicians who use trans people and other minorities as a means of “hiding away” from their “ineptitude”. “People who are the most vulnerable, the most disenfranchised, most disconnected from everyone else, are being told that they are the threats,” he declared. “You’re going to put the blame on immigrants, Black and brown people, trans people, queer people, to hide the fact that you are not doing anything for people? “It’s easier to just create discord amongst people. It’s divide and conquer, isn’t it?” Politicians across the political divide in the UK have continued to use trans people as a punchbag as the general election nears, with Labour frontbencher Wes Streeting recently explaining that he no longer stands by his statement that “trans women are women”. The shadow health secretary has also expressed his desire for trans hospital patients to be treated in separate hospital wards in order to “maintain the integrity of single-sex spaces”. As a party, Labour has also recently backed banning trans women from competing in women’s sports. Ncuti Gatwa, also known for appearing as Eric Effiong in Sex Education, came out as queer last year. In his Attitude interview, he explained that he had to get therapy in order to deal with “internalised homophobia” – an issue he only realised he struggled with after he found fame. “I always thought that I was the most free-spirited person… No-one could tell me what to do. I do whatever I want,” he explained. “Until I came into the public eye (and) I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know’. It is an ever-evolving journey… What I can do is try each day to tackle that and become more proud of who I am, fully. But it’s a long old slog.” Doctor Who returns to BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK on 11 May, and to Disney+ on 10 May for international viewers. #ncutigatwa #transgender #lgbtq #doctorwho

Throughout his star-studded career, Tennant has remained a steadfast ally, so here’s five times the acclaimed actor has showed up for the LGBTQ+ community over the years. As David Tennant bursts back onto screens to host the 2024 #BAFTAs, just a short while after Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary, he’s also made his solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community clearer than ever. The 52-year-old star featured alongside former co-star Catherine Tate as Donna Noble in the trio of Doctor Who specials late last year, from returning showrunner Russell T Davies. The cast also included trans Heartstopper actress Yasmin Finney as Donna’s daughter, Rose. Finney’s prominent role in the first of the special episodes, “The Star Beast”, sparked fierce reaction with LGBTQ+ fans praising the inclusion and bigots (as usual) sharing their fury. Throughout his star-studded career, Tennant has remained a steadfast ally, so here’s five times the acclaimed actor has showed up for the LGBTQ+ community over the years. In the lead up to the Doctor Who 60th anniversary, BAFTAs host David Tennant appeared on The One Show and The Last Leg, where the Scottish actor was spotted wearing a trans flag themed #TARDIS badge as a small act of solidarity with the trans community. Naturally, fans praised the actor for his initiative, but the wholesome saga doesn’t end there. The badge creator, Dr Jamie Gallagher, soon announced on Twitter that over £18,000 had been raised in badge sales and all proceeds would be going towards LGBTQ+ homeless charity AKT. Humbly reacting to the joyous news, Tennant later said while he couldn’t take “any credit”, the badge perfectly “suits what Doctor Who is all about”. It’s not the first time Tennant has showed his support through the medium of pin badges. Earlier in 2023, eagle-eyed fans spotted him wearing a non-binary Pride badge on shows such Saturday Night Takeaway, The Graham Norton Show and This Morning. In July 2023, BAFTAs host David Tennant took his pro-trans message one step further during the press run for Good Omens season two. In a viral image, fans caught a glimpse of him sporting a black t-shirt with a crystal clear pink hued slogan emblazoned on top. “Leave trans kids alone, you absolute freaks”. We love to see it. The top, which comes from online store Crooked, caused a stir online with many fans flocking to social media to share their joy. During Pride month 2023, Tennant appeared on the Ed Miliband’s Reasons To Be Cheerful podcast where he praised the importance and joy of Pride month in modern day Britain. “Do you know what’s making me cheerful at the moment? It’s Pride month,” he told the podcast. “The fact that Pride Month is existing and is flourishing and is something that’s happening at a time when the world seems to be getting in some corners worryingly intolerant and weirdly backward.” As usual his words impacted #LGBTQ fans who shared that his powerful statement moved them to tears. “We can’t take our foot off the gas,” the actor continued. “We can’t expect that we will always travel in the right direction towards acceptance. We’ve all got to be fighting that fight every day.” Tennant’s allyship hasn’t just started over the past couple of years. As far back as 2008, during his stint as the 10th Doctor, he hit back against the idea that dressing flamboyantly and being called “gay” is an insult during an interview with The Telegraph. A few years later, in 2012, he showed his support for a Diversity Role Models campaign tackling homophobic bullying. “It is essential that young people have the opportunity to meet role models from the LGBT community to help break down the stereotypes and prejudice that lead to bullying,” he said at the time. A decade later, it’s no surprise David Tennant has consistently proven himself as an LGBTQ+ ally, through and through. #doctorwho #davidtennant #lgbt #entertainment #tvshow #uk

#NoahCyrus was seen liking #LiamHemsworth ‘s instagram “thirst trap”, and is now firing back in a cryptic post. Liam is her sister #MileyCyrus ‘ #ex fiancée - which raised the question, should you engage with a family member’s ex on social media? #lgbtq #celebrity

Humza Yousaf has confirmed that #transwomen will be protected under new misogyny laws in Scotland. The Scottish government are set to introduce a bill to address prejudice and violence against women and girls – which rightly includes trans women and girls – before the current parliamentary term ends in 2026. The First Minister said that “anyone affected” by misogyny would be safeguarded, no matter their gender identity. Speaking to BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, he said: “Women and girls will be protected, and trans women will be protected as well, as they will often be the ones who suffer threats of rape or threats of disfigurement for example. “When a trans woman is walking down the street and a threat of rape is made against them, the man making the threat doesn’t know if they are a trans woman or a Cis woman. They will make that threat because the perception of that person [is] as a woman.” The First Minister then added that the bill would be processed with “urgency and pace” after several women “raised concerns” over gender not being included in the recent Hate Crime Act. He also explained that the Scottish Government would not be spending an “inordinate” amount of time choosing whether to follow the recommendations of the controversial Cass Review into gender care. The review – which was led by consultant paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass – urged that clinicians use “extreme caution” when prescribing puberty blockers to trans youth. The First Minister said “all recommendations” within the report would be considered, including banning children’s puberty blockers, but that there “wasn’t a case” to close down the Sandyford centre, which provides gender and sexual health services in Glasgow. Yousaf’s confirmation comes as a shocking report on the happiness of trans youth in Scotland has been released. The report also found that just one in three trans people (31 per cent) felt their home town was a safe enough space to socialise in. #lgbt #transrights #humzayousaf #scotland #misogyny