Do Trans Teens Have Rights to Their Bodies?

Four young people standing next to each other, in a row, their arms around each others shoulders. They stand with their backs to the camera, in a field of grass or grain, seemingly looking to the horizon. In the background we see a forest and a blue sky, without clouds.

According to a study by Komodo Health, as reported in Reuters, from 2017 to 2022 at least 4,780 adolescents started puberty blockers and another 14,726 started hormone treatment. That’s about 20,000 kids. Komodo Health found that over the same period, at least 121,882 children aged 6 to 17 were diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Since hormones aren’t prescribed until puberty around age 10 or 11, about half are ineligible for any kind of medical care. So what is happening to the other 50,000 trans* kids who are not getting treatment?

The Netherlands discriminates against transgender people

Trans Rights Index: Human rights situation of trans people in Europe. The Netherlands score only 50% in 2023! In 10 years, the Netherlands drop from 8th to 13th place. The Netherlands share position with Austria, Croatia and Estonia. (Source: Transgender Europe)

Transgender people have lesser rights than cisgender people

Every year, Transgender Europe publishes the Trans Rights Map. This annual report shows how European countries are doing concerning human rights of transgender people. Our country is doing poorly: we score only 15 out of 30 points, an embarrassing 50%. The Netherlands shares position with countries like Austria, Croatia and Estonia.

What care do you need? And are you able to get that?

Logo Mama Cash

With these questions we like to talk to members of the trans community in the Netherlands. Our impression is that as a trans person you often have to pull to get complete and relevant information from healthcare providers. And you have to do your best to keep the assessment as light as possible. Principle 17 has good arguments for stating that - in addition to accessibility - there is still quite a lot missing in (trans) health care. And that together we can do something about that.

Netherlands not doing very well at LGBTI rights

Ranking Netherlands in Rainbow Europe: In 12 years the Netherlands drop from 4th to 14th place.

The Netherlands have been a frontrunner for LGBTI rights for a long time. Have been, unfortunately. ILGA-Europe’s Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of LGBTI People shows a worrysome trend: In the Netherlands, these fundamental rights are stagnating and even decreasing! In 12 years our country dropped from 4th to 14th place.

Gender-affirming care has a long history in the US – and not just for transgender people

Enforcement of binary gender norms has led to unwanted medical interventions on intersex and cisgender children. [Photo: Claire51700]

When politicians today refer to gender-affirming care as new, “untested” or “experimental,” they ignore the long history of transgender medicine in the United States. It’s been nearly 60 years since the first transgender medical clinic opened in the U.S.. Dr. Milton Edgerton had cut his teeth caring for transgender people at Johns Hopkins University in the 1960s.

Statement on the Genocidal Nature of the Gender Critical Movement’s Ideology and Practice

Logo Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention voices its concern over the growing number of laws introduced in the United States that target transgender individuals and the transgender community. The Lemkin Institute believes that the so-called “gender critical movement” that is behind these laws is a fascist movement furthering a specifically genocidal ideology that seeks the complete eradication of trans identity from the world.

This is how you do trans healthcare! An alternative vision

Cover Report 'Trans* Healthcare Differently' (version 2)

Today, 1 May 2023, Principle 17 presents the fully updated, new health care vision “Trans* Healthcare Differently”, an alternative vision on trans healthcare for the Netherlands. The first version was already presented to the trans community in September 2022. This report is now available in a revised and supplemented edition.

Speech at Trans Health Care demo Nijmegen

Jochem (sitting in wheelchair, interpreting into sign language) and vreer (standing) at presentation report Trans* Healthcare Differently

"So, here we are again. Another demonstration for our right to good health and good health care. This time explicitly aimed at the Nijmegen clinic. We have enough reasons for that. One of the most important in my opinion is that Nijmegen is not as different from the rest of the clinics as they wish or pretend. Does not advocate for radical change as much as I hoped after their initial conference some two years ago. And when I hear the head of the clinic, she is still pretty much stuck in archaic opinions. A good thing, and they may be the first in this in the Netherlands, they are rolling out a gender sensitive patient registration system with room for non-binary options. Still sub-optimal, but a nice leap."

Principle 17 presents Alternative Vision on Trans* Healthcare

Cover Report Trans* Healthcare Differently (version 1)

Today, Sunday 18 September, the collective Principle 17 presents the report “Trans* Healthcare Differently” (Dutch: Trans* Zorg Anders), an alternative vision of trans healthcare in the Netherlands. Chair vreer verkerke hands over the first copy to a prominent representative of the trans community at the Trans Healthcare Now demonstration in Nijmegen.

Trans healthcare update: more of the same

Logo of Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport

In a letter that the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport sent to the House of Representatives on 9 May, he writes that hard work is being done with the Quartermaster Trans Healthcare ('Kwartiermaker Transgenderzorg') to make it possible for general practitioners who want to but are not yet officially allowed, because they have not had further training, to soon be able to help trans patients. This year and next year, a hundred GPs who have previously indicated that they want to follow a webinar, are expected to be updated in this area. After that webinar they can get started.

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