1.
Trans people are depressed.
Incorrect.
It is commonplace for the media to suggest that trans people are depressed and suffering, but nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is that trans people of all ages are leading joyous, fulfilling and normal lives. And transition-related care helps make those lives possible. The majority of cases of depression and anxiety tend to be the result of hate crimes, isolation, societal pressure and homelessness.
2.
Being trans is just a phase.
Incorrect.
The overwhelming majority of trans and non-binary people who receive transition-related health care continue to identify as trans or non-binary later in life. Those who argue that being trans is a “phase” often rely on deeply flawed studies that conflate gender dysphoria with gender non-conforming behaviour. A new surgery by PRS Journal reported a 99.7% of trans individuals were satisfied with their gender-affirming surgery, a 0.3% regret rate in comparison to 2/3 of Brits who regret plastic surgery.
3.
Transition-related care isn’t safe.
Incorrect.
Expert health care providers have studied and provided transition-related health care for more than four decades. Decades of clinical research and experience show that trans people with access to the care they need see a positive impact on their mental and physical health.
In contrast to recent press articles in the UK, people younger than 18 cannot have surgery or any permanent interventions to alleviate their gender dysphoria. They can only be prescribed puberty blockers, “off-label” medication in the same category as the contraceptive pill used to treat acne. Only when they are 18 years old can they can have surgery and hormones.
4.
Transition-related care isn’t lifesaving care.
Incorrect.
Research demonstrates that trans people with access to transition-related health care to treat their dysphoria show decreased anxiety, depression, suicidal behaviour, and psychological distress, and increased quality of life. This is why a 5-year waiting list for the first appointment with a doctor is so detrimental to trans and non-binary peoples’ quality of life.
5.
People who transition often "regret" it later.
Incorrect.
Regret around medical transition fails to see the reality of trans people’s lives, the vast majority of trans people find difficulty even accessing the transition-related care they need because of high costs of private healthcare and the 5 year waiting times for the first appointment. The truth is that trans people deserve competent and compassionate health care as they seek to live their best lives – and that very few regret receiving this care.
Research says a majority of people (99.7%) who transition medically are happy with their decision to do so. Of those people who have de-transitioned, 82% did so because of external pressures such as rejection from family, and discrimination in education or employment.
6.
Trans people want to encroach on women’s sports.
Incorrect.
Regulation in professional sport monitors hormone levels of athletes, yet the community still face backlash; recently the media has been taking aim at trans woman participating in the London Marathon Women’s category, even though the runner facing vitriolic pressure placed 6,159th out of 14,000 runners.
In July 2021, Olympic runner Caster Semenya who is a CIS woman, assigned female at birth, was prevented from competing due to her naturally occurring elevated testosterone levels. All competitors, including trans people, already undergo rigorous hormone screening and exclusionary practices are routed in misinformation.
7.
Children aren’t old enough to know their gender identity.
Incorrect.
Gender identity is a spectrum, which can and should be questioned in a supportive environment supported by parents and professionals, the attack on trans youth trying to live in their preferred gender and the culture it’s creating is damaging for all.
This is where ancient wisdom can step in, the Igbo of Nigeria, also in Western Africa, “appear to assign gender around age 5”, prior to colonialism trans and non-binary people had a place in society and it was understood that people should have the freedom to express their gender identity.
8.
Trans people want to invade female bathrooms.
Incorrect.
Bathrooms are extremely functional places, the misinformation in the press that heavily sexualises the trans community using these spaces, creates the false narrative that trans people are dangerous. Explore this more in the Netflix documentary, Disclosure. The idea that the trans community should use a bathroom which aligns with their gender assigned at birth would “out” trans people in public spaces, so ensuring equal rights to access these spaces should be a priority.
9.
You can only become trans if you have gender affirming surgery.
Incorrect.
A common misconception is that being trans is only associated with the gender assigned at birth. However, one in ten trans people (10 per cent) don’t want any form of medical intervention and their identity is still valid. They instead prefer to socially transition as trans-ness is as much about the feeling of affirmation inside as it is about the physical representation of yourself outside.
10.
Young people are being ‘taught’ to be trans.
Incorrect.
Gender identity is not learned from peers or others; although children and adolescents may imitate or influence each other, gender identity is not something that is learned from peers. It is a deeply personal view of oneself rather than taking on views from someone else. Others might come out as trans and/or LGBTQ to your child, not because they are “recruited,” but because they recognise a common bond or shared experience of being outside social or cultural norms.
We are trying to create safe spaces for trans kids to become trans adults