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Dear @cbbc
This is not teaching self-acceptance.
Being trans is a major decision involving life-altering surgery and a lifetime on medication with no guarantee of mental or physical well-being at the other side of this long medical process.
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Dear @cbbc
This is not teaching self-acceptance.
Being trans is a major decision involving life-altering surgery and a lifetime on medication with no guarantee of mental or physical well-being at the other side of this long medical process.
1/
2/ The consequences of when this complex surgery goes wrong are so unbelievably tragic. Here is a truly heartbreaking case in point:
3/ And why did it smell so bad? Because puberty blockers had restricted the growth of their penis so surgeons have to use part of the colon instead to construct a vagina.
Limited penis size is common in young children given puberty blockers: https://twitter.com/GenderfreeCamp/status/1270831306897850369?s=20
Limited penis size is common in young children given puberty blockers: https://twitter.com/GenderfreeCamp/status/1270831306897850369?s=20
4/ For anyone interested in supporting children towards this surgery here is a more detailed explanation of colon vaginoplasty (and secondary colon vaginoplasty for when the first operation fails): http://www.chet-plasticsurgery.com/colon-graft-technique/
5/ And for all those people espousing that puberty blockers are completely reversible, it is not possible to reverse the limited genital growth caused in childhood by this medication: https://twitter.com/bloominanna/status/1293922207152955392?s=20
6/ And for this reason many specialists are urging caution in promoting this as a pathway for children to start on: https://twitter.com/marcusevanspsyc/status/1288759013656743936?s=20
7/ In fact the @BBC already know that, in the words of @jk_rowling, "we are on the brink of a medical scandal" because they have reported on it several times: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51806962
8/ And this doesn't begin to cover the extraordinary growth in young girls identifying as trans and the different medical problems that can occur for their bodies. These are some of the side-effects of Lupron: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/women-fear-drug-they-used-to-halt-puberty-led-to-health-problems
9/ And the @BBC have covered the case of Keira Bell who felt rushed into this medical pathway as a child without sufficient safeguards or mental health care: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51676020
10/ Female to male surgery is more problematic because phalloplasty is high-risk experimental surgery that carries a higher rate of complications than vaginoplasty - and does not replicate a real penis.
It's why many females settle for top surgery only: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/complications-of-reconstruction-surgery-differ-for-transgender-patients
It's why many females settle for top surgery only: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/news/complications-of-reconstruction-surgery-differ-for-transgender-patients
11/ But despite this reality, the number of girls identifying as boys and starting on this medical pathway has grown exponentially.
This new phenomenon is written about with compassion in Irreversible Damage by @AbigailShrier https://twitter.com/PublicDiscourse/status/1292974244100440071?s=20
This new phenomenon is written about with compassion in Irreversible Damage by @AbigailShrier https://twitter.com/PublicDiscourse/status/1292974244100440071?s=20
12/ And has been beautifully photographed by @BareReality https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-detransitioners-what-happens-when-trans-men-want-to-be-women-again-fd22b7jhs
13/ The tragedy of children being sold this medical pathway is only just coming to the fore. More heartbreaking stories will follow and this scandal will blow up...it's just a case of when: https://twitter.com/will_malone/status/1292920189164478464?s=20
14/ In conclusion @BBC, you have a duty to support & represent trans adults in your programmes.
But in this age of self-hatred & self-harm, your duty towards children should be promoting body positivity whatever a child's shape or form.
It's for their health and your reputation.
But in this age of self-hatred & self-harm, your duty towards children should be promoting body positivity whatever a child's shape or form.
It's for their health and your reputation.
