Following confirmation that the UK Government’s decision to impose an indefinite ban on giving puberty blockers to under-18s questioning their gender identity will apply to Scotland, NUS Scotland President Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan said:
“Denying healthcare to trans young people like this is a shameful decision which reflects on the UK Government’s part a greater concern for fighting culture wars than for the health, mental wellbeing and human rights of trans young people. Trans people are not being afforded the dignity and respect that every person is entitled to and should be able to expect from their government.
The fact this decision applies to Scotland is not only disappointing and harmful to trans young people here but echoes the previous UK Government’s undemocratic decision to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill passed by the Scottish Parliament with overwhelming cross-party support.
NUS Scotland stands in solidarity with the trans community and always will. We will continue to fight for trans & nonbinary people’s right to access adequate, timely healthcare and lifesaving social and medical transition.
We call on the UK Government to reverse this unjust and poorly evidenced decision and to lift the previous government’s block on the Gender Recognition Reform bill. We call on the Scottish Government to oppose and appeal this decision with the UK Government.”
