Protestors from gender critical groups and pro-trans counter protestors gathered in St Peter’s Square this weekend, bringing the national debate on puberty blocker clinical trials to Manchester.
Protestors from Northern RadFem network and #199days later, both gender critical groups, gathered to protest against proposals for clinical trials on puberty blockers.
Puberty blockers, which are used to treat gender dysphoria, were banned last year. Following this, a clinical trial to further investigate how puberty blockers affect under 18s has been set up.
The PATHWAYS trial will monitor the participant’s mental and physical health, as well as conducting a careful consent process with children and parents,the research team said.
Counter protestors from Manchester’s blocs of Youth Struggle, Anti-Facist action and the Manchester Feminist Coalition also gathered nearby.
One gender critical protestor said that: “A lot of children grow feeling like they don’t fit in and somebody might suggest that they are in the wrong body [..] Adults know you’re never born in the wrong body.
“There’s nothing kind about adding to the confusion.”
Another protestor shared that part of the reason she was protesting was because she has a 10-year-old child, who she believes wouldn’t be able to consent to such a trial.
During the protest, gender critical groups sang ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ by Pink Floyd, with protestors holding signs saying ‘Hey, Streeting leave those kids alone’.
Roger Waters, lead singer of Pink Floyd, has previously shown screens during his concerts expressing the need for trans rights.
Counter protestors believe that the protest was an ‘attack on trans youth’s bodily autonomy’, as stated on Youth Struggle’s Instagram.
An organiser from Youth Struggle said: “Attacks on trans youth’s access to puberty blockers, when cis youth are allowed to use them, is an attack on bodily autonomy. The limited use trial is forcing trans youth to further wait for rights their cis counterparts already have and jump through hoops that cis youth do not have to.
“Puberty blockers are used on cis youth experiencing precocious puberty or for other health reasons, they are only banned for the treatment of trans youth – we must call this out as transphobia and support trans people in their right to access healthcare.”
Jane Fae, a trans rights activist with TransActual, stated: “This is all part of an incredibly reactionary movement that weaponises anything it can get its claws on.
“When your living standards are falling and you not sure about your job you’re given somebody else to be angry at.”
Fae also explained how ‘off-label prescribing’, which is when clinicians prescribe approved drugs for different conditions to what they were originally approved for, has been used often by the NHS.
In the case of puberty blockers, concerns over ‘off-label prescribing’, in her view, is part of a wider ‘‘Anti-trans panic’.
The Medicines, Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has released advice stating that off-label prescribing is ‘common’ practice, especially in pediatrics.
Yet the advice also states that prescribers should pay “particular attention to the risks associated with using unlicensed medicines”.
Risks associated with using puberty blockers for under 18s were set out in the Cass review. The main risk was outlined as being that delaying puberty delays brain maturation. Due to a lack of research into this, the Cass review, outlined a need for further study into the effects of puberty blockers on under 18s.
However, the Cass review came under fire from many critics when it was released, with 200 educational psychologists showing concern with its methods and findings.
Prof Sir Jonathan Montgomery, Professor of Health Care Law, produced expert advice for the Science Media Centre.
He said: “The legislative ban on the use of puberty blockers itself contains the expectation that a trial will be set up. It is inconsistent to rely on the ban without acknowledging the legitimacy of a trial.”
Heath secretary, Wes Streeting, has rejected calls to stop the trial.