Complaints and responses regarding "gender identity" to Gender Plus, the BMA, the GMC, LGBT Switchboard, the UKCP, Mind, the NSPCC, the Scouts, the Children's Society
The belief in "gender identity" is causing harm
Response from a consultant child psychiatrist
11th January 2024
Dear Dr […],
I had gender dysphoria as a teenage boy, and the research that I read then, makes me concerned with the way it is being treated now. I put together a referenced memo of my concerns on Substack, and would like to share this with you:
I hope it is of interest, and I would welcome any comment that you may have on it.
Yours,
Orlando
11th January 2024
Hi Orlando
[…]
Thanks for your interesting Substack.
I believe your piece helpfully highlights about a number of key points.
1. The sudden recent flare up in predominantly late onset and female GIDS referrals suggests a new environmental or social cause (rather than genetic, hormonal, or endogenous previously known cause) for this phenomenon.
2. The issue is not just a simple one of “it’s just how we are”, but is a very complex web of issues most likely. I do suspect most are social phenomenon, and as you say the role of AGP [autogynephilia], pornography, latent homophobia, internet grooming by “support groups", social media contagion, and even environmentally active agents from organic chemistry pollutants could be involved.
It is so difficult to define a single cause for so many individual situations. Hence the need for individual proper assessment, which the GIDS was not doing adequately in Dr Hilary Cass’ and my view.
Thanks for your email.
Best Wishes
[…]
UK Council for Psychotherapy
11th December 2023
Dear UK Council for Psychotherapy,
I have been concerned about the treatment of issues of cross-sex identification on the basis of "gender identity" for some time. I have personal experience regarding this issue, and my life experience and research suggests to me that something is going badly wrong, and that people, especially girls, are coming to harm over the treatment of this issue. I have written a referenced memo on Substack to outline my concerns.
The link is:
I would appreciate it if someone were able to assess what I have written.
Yours, Orlando
12th December 2023
Hi Orlando,
Thank you for your email. Our interpretation of your email is that you are contacting us to review a memo you have put together. This is not something we are able to do.
Very best wishes,
[…]
12th December 2023
Dear […],
I can see that something is going badly wrong regarding the way psychologists are counselling people under the basis of “gender identity”.
Your code of ethics that you say you want to enforce, is for practioners to act in the best interests of their client. My memo outlines that this is not happening.
Therefore I am asking you to assess my memo, which outlines what is going badly wrong.
Yours,
Orlando
7th January 2024
Dear UKCP,
I believe that my message may have been lost during the Christmas period.
Please, could I ask that the UKCP read my memo:
That shows that there is something going badly wrong with pyschotherapists understanding of "gender identity", which is causing harm to children, especially girls.
Please could you make a response, even if it is "We have read your memo, and have no concerns".
Yours,
Orlando
8th January 2024
Hi Orlando,
Thanks for following up, however, as per our previous email, this is not something that we are able to do.
Kind regards,
[…]
Head of content and engagement
8th January 2024
Dear […],
Thank you for your email.
Are you able to advise any organisations that would able to investigate the concerns raised in my memo?
Yours,
Orlando
10th January 2024
Hi Orlando,
I’m afraid I’m not aware of any that would be able to assist with what you are looking for.
[…]
Head of content and engagement
10th January 2024
Hi […],
Sorry, I don't understand.
Don't psychotherapists handle matters of gender identity?
That's what my concerns are — that something is going badly wrong with this issue, and that there are a cohort of girls who are at risk of inappropriate medical intervention.
My memo highlights that looking at statistics and history, there is a likely psychological contagion regarding this issue, That's why I'm raising my concerns with you, as I thought psychotherapists handled this issue, and your website has "the importance of extensive research into psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling methods, and the timely, widespread dissemination of relevant findings" as one of its objectives.
Yours,
Orlando
12th January 2024 (followup)
Dear […],
Please could you consider my correspondence as now a complaint, following the Charity Commission's advice to complain to a charity first. [1]
I do not see that the UKCP is doing what it claims to do in its charity overview:
“...promotes the art and science of psychotherapy for the public benefit; it promotes research and education in psychotherapy and disseminate the results of any such research. It also promotes high standards of training and practice in psychotherapy and the wider provision of psychotherapy for the public benefit.” [1]
In this case, I have asked the UKCP to investigate a referenced memo, which suggests that many of its therapists have a misconception of the nature of cross-sex identification. Furthermore, that this misconception is contributing towards a harmful psychological contagion amongst girls, who have come to believe they have the "gender identity" of the opposite sex.
Yours,
Orlando
[1] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1058545/charity-overview
[2] https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-charity
19th January 2024
Hi Orlando.
Apologies for the delay. I was waiting for a response from our CEO which I received last night and copy below for you:
Dear Orlando,
I have read your memorandum. We are aware of the current debate about different therapeutic approaches to children and young people with gender dysphoria. This is a matter which is being thoroughly investigated by others, for example the Cass Review into NHS gender services. We await the full findings from the Cass review, to be published shortly, and will consider what action to take in the light of those findings.
Regards,
Jon Levett
Chief Executive
British Medical Association
11th January 2024
Dear BMA,
I was reading your page on managing patients with gender dysphoria [1] and your wish to provide high quality healthcare.
I had what is now called gender dysphoria as a teenage boy, and I read research then, which has led me to have concerns with the way this subject is being treated by the medical profession today.
I have collected my concerns together in a referenced memo and published it on Substack.
I hope you can take the time to read my memo, as I think some of the most vulnerable in society are currently being harmed regarding this issue.
Yours,
Orlando
12th January 2024
Hi Orlando
Thank you for contacting the British Medical Association (BMA)
As you may already know, the BMA is the voice of doctors and medical students in the UK. We are a professional organisation and independent trade union, representing doctors and medical students from all branches of medicine across the UK and supporting them to deliver the highest standards of care.
As we are a trade union we are unable to help/provide guidance however you may find guidance at:
https://www.nhs.uk/
I am sorry we are unable to help further.
Kind Regards
Public Information Adviser
Member relations directorate | First point of contact
British Medical Association
12th January 2024
Dear BMA,
I was not seeking help or guidance.
Please consider my correspondence as now a complaint:
Dear BMA,
I would like to make a complaint regarding your content "Managing patients with gender dysphoria" [1].
Specifically, your characterisation of matters of cross-sex identification being a case of "people whose gender identity is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth" is unsupported by research. I cover the research that shows matters of male cross-sex identification is a matter of atypical sexuality in the following, referenced, memo:
Furthermore, I complain that this conceptualisation is contributing to a social contagion amongst girls, who now believe they have a "mismatched" "gender identity". This is something which I also highlight in the memo above.
Yours,
Orlando
29th January 2024
Thank you for contacting the British Medical Association (BMA).
Your email has been forwarded to the relevant team.
As you may already know, the BMA is the voice of doctors and medical students in the UK. We are a professional organisation and independent trade union, representing doctors and medical students from all branches of medicine across the UK and supporting them to deliver the highest standards of care. As we are a trade union and not a regulatory body, we are unable to provide advice or guidance on your query.
I am sorry we are unable to help further.
Kind Regards
Public Information Adviser
Member relations directorate | First point of contact
British Medical Association
29th January 2024
Dear BMA,
You say you aim to help doctors to deliver the "highest standards of care".
My memo [1] highlights that doctors are not providing the highest standards of care, and indeed are harming a cohort of girls by referring them to "gender identity clinics" for what is a social contagion, not medical reason.
I don't think you have correctly assessed my concerns. Please could you escalate this issue.
[1] https://transpolicy.substack.com/p/trans-memo
Yours,
Orlando
4th March 2024
Dear Joel Summers,
Please could you see the complaint below. Your complaints policy has not been followed.
Yours,
Orlando
5th March 2023
Dear Orlando
Thank you for your email and my apologies for the delayed response.
As the guidance referred to below is not a product or service delivered to members by the BMA, we would not consider this under our complaints policy.
However, as you are still looking for a full response, I have requested that my colleagues in our relevant policy team review your email below and provide a response. Thank you for your patience and I will reply to you in full as soon as possible.
Kind regards
Joel
Joel Summers (he/him)
Head of complaints and member liaison
People and Corporate Development
8th March 2024
Dear Orlando
Thank you for your patience in awaiting a response whilst I have sought some further information from the relevant team at the BMA.
The definition for transgender used in the BMA’s guidance aligns with the definitions used by many experts and professional bodies, such as the American Psychological Association.
While we represent members with a diverse range of views in this area, the BMA’s policy is that we affirm the rights of transgender and nonbinary individuals to access healthcare and live their lives with dignity, including having their identity respected.
I do hope this addresses your queries, and thank you again for contacting us.
Kind regards
Joel
Joel Summers (he/him)
8th March 2024
Dear Joel,
You have appealed to an alternative authority, however I do not find this a satisfactory response, given that the organisations that present themselves as authorities on this subject are shown to be widely discredited, e.g. WPATH [1].
Therefore, please could I ask that the BMA read my memo: https://transpolicy.substack.com/p/trans-memo and offer a response, rather than deferring to an alternative authority.
My memo substantiates my concerns that the narrative of cross-sex identification being a "gender identity" that has become "trapped" in the wrong body is not the truth, and that this is causing a mental health contagion, primarily amongst girls.
[1] https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/wpath-the-truth-about-gender-affirming-healthcare/
Yours,
Orlando
8th March 2024
Dear Orlando
Thank you for your email. I am afraid we do not intend to comment further on the below, having made the BMA’s policy position on this matter clear.
Kind regards
Joel
Joel Summers (he/him)
Gender Plus
21st January 2024
Dear Gender Plus,
I had what is today called "gender dysphoria" as a teenage boy in the 1990s.
I read research then, by Dr. Ray Blanchard, which has led me to today be concerned with the way matters of cross-sex identification are being handled.
I have put together my concerns into a short referenced memo, which I published on Substack:
I was wondering if you were aware of the issues that I raise in the memo?
I am concerned that vulnerable people, primarily girls, are being harmed regarding this issue.
Yours,
Orlando
21st January 2024
Dear Orlando,
Thank you for making contact and for sharing some details about your own story.
Our clinical team is aware of Blanchard's research and the AGP [autogynephilia] data.
Much has changed in the last 10 years of transgender healthcare and this certainly isn't a straightforward issue. We take our role very seriously and believe that we have a responsibility to help all of those that attend our clinics, both those for whom this pathway will likely be helpful and those for whom it will not.
We are planning to publish more blogs and videos (as well as conduct our own research) about our work and the positions we take on different matters and these will be published on our website.
From reading your memo, I can say that we certainly disagree on a number of the issues you raise- in particular your interpretation of the sex ratio data- however I do acknowledge this issue is complex and it is not possible to be definitive due to the need for more research in the field.
Kind regards,
Gender Plus Team
21st January 2024
Dear Gender Plus team,
Thank you for reading my memo.
It was encouraging to hear that you are aware of Blanchard's research, and are not treating patients on the belief that they literally have the “gender identity” of the opposite sex.
Would you mind elaborating on your disagreements with my memo?
I know what autogynephilia is, as I experience it, and I can understand homosexual transsexuality. However the dramatic rise in girls presenting to clinics has not been seen in the research before, suggesting a exogenous social, rather than endogenous reason.
Yours,
Orlando
21st January 2024
Hello,
We hope to publish something on this topic in the coming months. It's quite complex to explain via email but we hope to do so empirically, using our own clinic data, very soon.
We will make it available on our website once we do.
Kind regards,
[…]
General Medical Council
10th December 2023
Dear GMC,
I am contacting you not with a concern regarding a particular doctor, but rather regarding how the medical profession as a whole appears to be treating matters of “gender identity”.
My life experience, and subsequent research, tells me that something is going badly wrong around this issue, and people, especially children, are being harmed.
I have written a referenced memo outlying my concerns, which I have published on the Substack platform, the link is:
I would appreciate it if there was someone who could read the memo, and who could assess my concerns and perhaps advise further on how to take forward this issue.
Yours,
Orlando
20th December 2023
To whom it may concern
Thank you for contacting us about your concern about how the medical profession as a whole appears to be treating matters of “gender identity”.
I have passed your enquiry to the appropriate team who will be in touch in due course. Should you have further enquiries, please send an email to standards@gmc-uk.org
If you would like to discuss this further, please call us using the number below or reply to this email.
Yours sincerely
[…]
4th January 2024
Dear Orlando,
Thank you for your enquiry.
In your letter to us you have asked if we could assess your concerns and perhaps advise further on how to take forward your memo on gender identity.
I thought it might help to start by explaining that it is beyond our remit to comment broadly on issues around gender identity in medicine. This is because as the independent regulator of doctors our role is to set the standards of patient care and professional behaviours doctors need to meet.
In line with this we set out principles of good practice in our guidance. For example, in Good medical practice we set out the expectations for doctors when treating all patients. This includes making sure the care of patient is their first concern, treating patients as individuals and respecting their dignity, and respecting patients’ right to reach decisions with doctors about their treatment and care.
We also have guidance on the treatment of children and young people, here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/professional-standards-for-doctors/0-18-years. Here, we set out ways to explore what’s important to a young person, how to involve their family and others close to them in sensitive and complex decisions, and how to assess their capacity to consent.
However, as our guidance is necessarily high-level, so it can be widely applicable to all doctors in the UK, regardless of their specialty, grade and area of work, we also have a collection of resources that explore how our professional standards apply in practice, focusing on particular areas of care that doctors often ask us about, or have told us they find challenging. That is the purpose of our page on trans healthcare for adults (https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/ethical-hub/trans-healthcare), which aims to support doctors in ensuring every patient receives high-quality and inclusive care.
I am sorry we cannot be of more help.
Best,
[…]
Policy Officer
Standards and Ethics
General Medical Council
350 Euston Road
London
NW1 3JN
LGBT Switchboard
12th February 2024
Dear LGBT Switchboard,
As a teenage boy in the 1990s, I experienced what is today called "gender dysphoria".
I read research then, which has led me to the opinion today, that what children are being taught about this issue is not the truth, and is causing a social contagion amongst girls who have come to believe that they have the "gender identity" of the opposite sex.
I have written a short, referenced, memo outlying the evidence and reasoning for my view. Please could you read it, as I think children are coming to harm over this issue:
Yours,
Orlando
14th February 2024
Hello Orlando,
Thank you for emailing Switchboard, the LGBT+ listening service. It is good to hear from you.
Switchboard exists to provide a safe space for members of the LGBT+ community, as well as their friends and family, to talk about anything they want to. We offer a non-judgemental and non-directive service, meaning we won’t tell you what to do, but will offer links to further information and support available to you.
We hear that you experienced gender dysphoria as a teen. You are not alone. For some people though as with you that may be a fleeting experience or a lasting and life changing one, each person’s experience is unique and individual. To assume that one’s own experience must therefore dictate how all people should feel is an act of colonialism. I include below our basic introduction to gender for someone asking questions around this. We hope this helps.
Gender identity refers to our sense of who we are and how we see and describe ourselves.
Some people identify themselves as being a man or a woman, and some people feel like they are neither of these or something else entirely.
Some people spend their whole lives feeling like the gender they have always been told they are, and some people feel very differently.
For example, some people may have a penis and facial hair, but do not identify as a male or feel masculine. Some may have a vulva and breasts, but do not identify as a female or feel feminine.
For some people, gender identity can stay fixed for their whole lives and for some people it can move around over time.
Many people have a strong, lasting desire to live a life that “matches” or expresses their gender identity, and that will look different for everyone.
We hope this response is of some help to you.
Please reply to us if you’d like further information. We are always happy to listen or read.
We can talk about sexuality, gender, relationships, sexual health, coming out and just about anything else. Please note it is not necessarily the same volunteer who will respond to the email each time, but all volunteers are trained the same way, are members of the LGBT+ community and are here to support you as best they can.
In addition to the support available via email, you might find it helpful to discuss what’s going on for you in more detail by talking to one of our volunteers by phone or instant message. We can be contacted via phone in the UK on 0800 0119 100 (10am to 10pm) or by using the instant messaging service on our website ( www.switchboard.lgbt).
Please note that within the UK, we have a partnership with Shout Crisis Messenger ( https://switchboard.lgbt/help-when-were-closed ) for people who are in crisis when we are closed. Shout is a 24/7 text messaging service that is open to all and is not specifically staffed by LGBT+ volunteers. They can be reached by texting ‘Switchboard’ to 85258.
Best wishes,
The Switchboard Team
14th February 2024
Dear LGBT Switchboard,
Please could you escalate this message to your complaints/safeguarding team.
I do not see how providing you with research that shows that cross-sex identification in males is connected to atypical sexuality orientation: being either autogynephilia, or homosexuality, is “an act of colonialism”.
Please also consider within the context of my memo, [1] whether your view that matters of cross-sex identification are a matter of a "gender identity" which does, or does not "match" is actually the truth behind cross-sex identification.
Please further consider that teaching this to children is likely causing a social contagion amongst girls.
[1] https://transpolicy.substack.com/p/trans-memo
Yours,
Orlando
[No further reply]
Mind
9th January 2024
Dear Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO,
I am contacting you as I saw you signed the “Stand with Trans” petition.
I had gender dysphoria as a teenage boy. As a teenager, I also read research that has led me to be concerned about the trans issue today.
I've put together a referenced memo of my concerns, and published it on Substack:
I hope you would have the time to read it, as I think people are coming to harm over this issue.
Yours,
Orlando
8th February 2024
Dear Orlando,
The Action team wanted to pass on their reply.
Thanks for getting in touch and apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I can confirm that we (at Action for Mind team) have passed on the link to our CEO Sarah Hughes to read, and wanted to ensure that she had received this.
We agree that this is an incredibly important and complicated issue. Whilst we do not have the answers that will resolve all of the tensions around it, we know that people in the LGBTQIA+ community are more likely to experience a mental health problem than the wider population which is why it is important that Mind remains a safe place for all trans, non-binary and gender diverse people to work, volunteer or seek support. Mind exists to provide advice and support to everyone experiencing a mental health problem and we believe all people deserve to live in a safe world, free from discrimination and with equal access to high quality mental health support.
Thank you again for sharing your memo.
Kind regards
[… ] (She/her)
Supporter Care Coordinator– Supporter Care
9th February 2024
Dear […],
Neither the Action team nor Dr. Sarah Hughes have responded to the points I raised in my memo:
My memo is not primarily concerned with the mental health of people from the "LGBTQIA+ community". Rather it is concerned with the mental health of the drastic increase in girls being referred to “gender identity clinics” with the belief that they have the “gender identity” of the opposite sex.
The memo argues that teaching children indiscriminately that everyone has a "gender identity" is causing a social mental health contagion, as has happened many times before in history amongst girls.
The memo also shows that cross-sex identification being a matter of "gender identity" is not the truth.
Please could you send my comments back to your Action team and to CEO Sarah Hughes.
Yours,
Orlando
20th February 2024
Dear Orlando,
Thank you for your follow-up.
We’ve passed your memo on to our CEO to read, as mentioned we agree this is an incredibly important and complicated issue. At this time, we’re unable to comment further and would like to thank you for sharing your memo with us.
Best wishes,
[…]
Supporter Relations
NSPCC
16th January 2024
Dear NSPCC,
As a teenage boy in the 1990s, I experienced what is today called “gender dysphoria”.
I read research then, which has led me to the opinion today, that what children are being taught about this issue is not the truth, and is causing a social contagion amongst girls who have come to believe that they have the “gender identity” of the opposite sex.
I have written a short, referenced, memo outlying the evidence and reasoning for my view. Please could you read it, as I think children are coming to harm over this issue:
Yours,
Orlando
18th January 2024
Good afternoon,
NSPCC Reference A-2699768
Thank you for your email which we received on 16/01/2024 at 09.28. You have been very brave in coming forward and sharing your story and we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us and let us know about your experiences.
Please may we explain our role at the NSPCC Helpline. The role of the NSPCC Helpline is to receive child protection concerns, explore and assess those concerns, and provide the appropriate safeguarding advice. The helpline can also share information with statutory agencies such as Children’s Services and the Police if this is necessary should we have sufficient identifying details for the child/children and family.
The NSPCC does not believe that a child being trans or gender questioning to be a safeguarding issue as all children deserve the chance to express themselves and find their identity.
If you do have any specific child protection concerns relating to specific children or families please let us know via email response or by contacting our freephone Helpline on 0808 800 5000.
If you witness any incidents which concern you relating to a child/ren the NSPCC encourage you to contact the Police at the time of any incidents so that the Police can take the most appropriate steps to safeguard the child/children. Please contact the Police on 101 to request a welfare check or 999 in an emergency.
Kindest regards,
[…]
NSPCC Helpline Practitioner
18th January 2024
Dear […],
Thank you for your reply. However, I don't see that you have correctly assessed this safeguarding issue.
That a child might experience issues of cross-sex identification is not in itself a safeguarding issue. That charities, such as the NSPCC are teaching children and parents that they might have a "gender identity" that can mismatch with one's sex, [1] is a safeguarding issue.
My memo argues that this belief is not supported by research, and is causing a social contagion amongst girls, who have come to believe that their “gender identity” is mismatched from their “sex registered at birth”.
Please could you escalate this issue.
[1] https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/sex-relationships/gender-identity/
Yours,
Orlando
28th February 2024
Hello Orlando,
Your complaint was logged within our complaints policy and was passed on to the appropriate team for their information.
You will be aware of our mission to be here for all children. Everything we do is to protect children and prevent abuse, and that is why our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is so important. We believe that every individual has the right to be their true self and to live a full life without prejudice, fear, or barriers. This is the starting point for all our actions and underpins our commitment to be there for all children.
We do not have anything further to add to the responses we have already given, where we state that the NSPCC does not believe that a child being trans or gender questioning to be a safeguarding issue. All children deserve the chance to express themselves and find their identity.
As previously, we would encourage anyone with any specific child protection concerns to contact our Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or via email to help@nspcc.org.uk. If at any point you believe that the children are at immediate risk of harm contact the Police on 101 to request a safe and welfare check at the time of the incident, or 999 in an emergency.
Regards, […]
NSPCC Supporter Care Team Manager
28th February 2024
Dear NSPCC,
That a child may identify as the opposite sex is not necessarily a safeguarding issue.
However teaching children that they have a “gender identity” that might not “match” with their sex, [1] is causing a social contagion, primarily amongst girls, and is not the truth behind matters of cross-sex identification.
I raise this point in my memo: https://transpolicy.substack.com/p/trans-memo
Please could I confirm, before you close my complaint, that you have read the memo above, and still have no concerns regarding this issue.
[1] https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/sex-relationships/gender-identity/
Thank you.
Yours,
Orlando
5th March 2024
Hello Orlando,
As previously advised, your email and all attached information was assessed by the Helpline for all safeguarding concerns, and we have nothing further to add to our response.
Regards, […]
Supporter Care Team Manager
Scouts
21st February 2024
Dear Scouts,
I would like to make a complaint regarding your material on "gender identity":
As a teenage boy in the 1990s, I experienced what is today called "gender dysphoria".
I have been concerned for a long time that today's narrative of matters of cross-sex identification being a matter of, as your content suggests, “people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth” is not the truth.
Furthermore, I can see that teaching this to children is causing a social contagion, primarily amongst girls.
I have written a short, referenced, memo, to convey my concerns above:
I am aware of what I am saying is indicative of a significant issue. However I am of the opinion that the Scouts is ultimately harming children regarding this matter.
Yours,
Orlando
4th March 2024
Good morning Orlando,
My name's […]. Thanks for getting in touch with us and taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback.
Our Complaints Policy shouldn't be used where individuals disagree with a national policy set by The Scout Association so in line with our policy we're unable to accept your comments as a complaint I'm afraid - I will however feed your comments back to the relevant team for their consideration when these policies are next reviewed.
Thanks again,
[…]
Support Centre Manager
4th March 2024
Dear […],
My complaint raises the concerns that what the Scouts are teaching to children regarding matters of cross-sex identification is not the truth. Furthermore, it highlights that what the Scouts are teaching to children is causing a mental health contagion, primarily amongst girls.
Given the serious nature of this topic, I don't think that your response to consider my concerns at an unspecified date is appropriate.
If you cannot consider my complaint, as a complaint, please could you forward my complaint to your safeguarding team, as as far as I am concerned, the Scouts are causing children to come to harm with their handling of this issue.
Yours,
Orlando
6th March 2024
Hi Orlando,
Thanks for getting back in touch and I'm sorry you feel the response you've received isn't appropriate.
Your feedback/concern has already been shared with the Safeguarding Team and we're satisfied that we've adequately responded to the points you've raised.
Thanks again,
[…]
Support Centre Manager
The Children’s Society
26th February 2024
Dear Children’s Society,
I would like to make a complaint regarding your material on “gender identity”:
As a teenage boy in the 1990s, I experienced what is today called "gender dysphoria".
I have been concerned for a long time that today's narrative of matters of cross-sex identification being a matter of a mismatch between one’s “gender identity” and “sex” is not the truth. Or, as your content puts it, the “match between [one's] assigned gender and gender identity”.
Furthermore, I can see that teaching this to children is causing a social contagion, primarily amongst girls.
I have written a short, referenced, memo, to convey my concerns above:
It's my sincere belief that your content is harming children, for the reasons outlined above.
Yours,
Orlando
6th March 2024
Dear Orlando,
Thank you for your email. Its contents have been recorded as a complaint as requested.
Thank you for sharing that you were a teenage boy who experienced gender dysphoria in the 1990s. We know from speaking to and working with children and young people every day, that this can be a very traumatic and profound experience that can be difficult to talk about, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on our work and feedback on it in this context.
Our guidance on gender identity is first and foremost centered in listening to the children and young people we work with and ensuring that their wellbeing is the most important consideration in everything we do. They have fed back that having their identity and gender identity questioned and undermined by peers and adults can leave them feeling isolated and bullied, and that this in turn can be extremely damaging to their mental and physical wellbeing.
This is also reflected in research, and in the work of organisations (some of which you have mentioned in your memo) who also work in this area. The language we use to describe gender identity mirrors their experiences, this research and terms acknowledged by other organisations. It’s a language endorsed by the children and young people we work with.
We are proud that our work to support children has helped them overcome some enormous obstacles and challenges and to go on to lead happier and more fulfilling lives. We are committed to continuing to support children and young people in every way that we can.
We are an organisation that is open to learning and understands the importance of listening to different experiences. As such, we will continue to listen to children and young people, research and partner organisations in this space and adjust our communications as and when appropriate based on this.
Yours sincerely,
[…]
Head of Supporter Experience
6th March 2024
Dear […],
It is evident from my life experience, and subsequent research, that matters of cross-sex identification are connected to atypical sexuality: namely, homosexuality or autogynephilia, which is something that has affects males. As my memo shows, [1] the narrative of a “gender identity” that somehow becomes mismatched, as your content suggests, [2] is a narrative that has been created by activists, to obscure the root cause behind cross-sex identification. It is not the truth, nor supported by research.
Children have not spontaneously come to the conclusion that they have a “gender identity” that has become mismatched with their “sex assigned at birth”. This is rather something that has been taught to them by adults, over the last two decades. This has resulted in a social contagion, primarily of girls, who have mistakenly self-diagnosed their distress with having a “gender identity” that does not match with their sex.
You write that when children have their “gender identity questioned and undermined by peers and adults can leave them feeling isolated and bullied”. In the context of girls, which is where this social contagion is happening, this is understandable, however not because they have a "gender identity" that does not match with their sex.
It is rather because, as Abigail Shrier covers in the book “Irreversible Damage”, they are misdiagnosing their distress with a having a syndrome. As Shrier writes, “Her distress is real. But her self-diagnosis, in each case, is flawed.” If the root cause of these girls' distress is not addressed, then having their “gender identity” questioned may feel like being bullied or being isolated, because this is what they have misdiagnosed themselves with being the cause of their distress.
Similar social contagions have happened many times throughout history, as Shrier notes: “...the nervous disorders of the eighteenth century and the neurasthenia epidemic of the nineteenth century, anorexia nervosa, repressed memory, bulimia, and the cutting contagion in the twentieth. One protagonist has led them all, notorious for magnifying and spreading her own psychic pain: the adolescent girl.” Today's social contagion is having a supposedly mismatched “gender identity”.
Therefore what is extremely damaging to the well-being of children, is that the Children’s Society are providing children with a false narrative that it is possible to have a “gender identity” that can “mismatch” with one's sex, or that it is possible to be “non binary”. These are narratives that, while being false, also, looking at history, seem designed to induce a socially contagious mental health condition amongst children, as indeed we are currently seeing with the dramatic increase in referrals of girls, who are misdiagnosing their distress with having a “gender identity" of the opposite sex, or being “non binary”. Furthermore, this has resulted in many cases of girls receiving double mastectomies or cross-sex hormones, both in the UK and abroad, a decision that is later met with intense regret.
In any other generation, these girls, being neither homosexual, nor having autogynephilia, would have not experienced issues of cross-sex identification. It remains my view, as someone who has personally experienced autogynephilic “gender dysphoria,” that the Children's Society should remove content that suggests it is possible to have a “gender identity” that might mismatch with one's sex, as this narrative is not the truth of the matter, and is causing a social contagion, primarily amongst girls.
[1] https://transpolicy.substack.com/p/trans-memo
Yours,
Orlando