News you need, the perspective you won’t find anywhere else. The trans community’s guide to UK news, media and politics and our place in it.
The Trans Agenda
[23 February 2025]
Follow me on Bluesky – @HLeeHurley.substack.com
UK & IRELAND NEWS
Scottish Labour U-turn on trans rights
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has reversed his party’s stance on the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill, lying that “knowing what we know now, we would not have supported the bill.” He seems to have forgotten how comprehensive the consultation process was before Labour – and every other party – voted for it.
Sarwar previously whipped his MSPs to vote in favour of the bill in December 2022, which aimed to simplify the process for trans people to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) by removing the medical requirement. However, the reforms were later blocked by the UK government after a sustained anti-trans media campaign.
In February 2023, Sarwar defended his support for the bill but insisted that “tighter curbs on sex offenders should have been introduced.”
Now, in a complete reversal, he has distanced himself from the legislation, saying: “Looking back, the deep regret that that we have is that actually we didn’t push harder on the amendments that we had as conditions for supporting the bill. And we took at face value the Scottish Government, on the record, they said that nothing in the legislation would negatively interact with the Equality Act. [edit – the Scottish Government was correct]
Sarwar also addressed the employment tribunal involving nurse Sandy Peggie, who accused NHS Fife of harassment because she had to work with a trans doctor. Peggie was suspended following complaints, which included her leaving vulnerable patients unattended because a trans person walked into the room.
Speaking on the case, Sarwar ignored most of the important details and said: “This isn’t just about a government issuing guidance and then a health board choosing to either follow a guidance or not follow a guidance or interpret a guidance.
“This is about following the law, the actual law. And the Equality Act is very clear. So this actually undermines the argument, which is around how do we challenge transphobia and how do we make sure we are also challenging misogyny and sexism at the same time.
“Because there’s a failure to respect the Equality Act [edit – yes, by the GC cult] and there is no robust action from government – who actually were notified about this and didn’t take meaningful action.
“If we are going to stop falling into divisive culture war politics, if we are going to make sure we’re making progress as a nation, then we’ve got to say quite clearly we support single sex spaces based on biological sex. We respect the Equality Act.”
This U-turn, complete with lies, misinformation and bigotry, signals a dramatic shift in Scottish Labour’s position on trans rights. Sarwar’s alignment with “single-sex spaces based on biological sex” moves the party away from its previous support for trans equality, and in-line with the governing Labour party in the UK.
NASUWT Scotland responds to Sarwar
Arts Council ordered to compensate diversity manager in trans rights win [Telegraph]
Afreena Islam-Wright, a diversity manager at Arts Council England (ACE), has won an unfair dismissal case after being investigated for comparing gender-critical beliefs to racism. She had criticised a grant given to the LGB Alliance, calling it a “cultural parasite and glorified hate group,” and expressed concern for trans colleagues.
An employment tribunal ruled that Islam-Wright was acting to support trans and non-binary staff, and that ACE mishandled the situation, failing to follow informal procedures before taking disciplinary action. The tribunal upheld her unfair dismissal claim, though her victimisation claim was rejected. Her compensation will be determined later.
Concerns grow over misinformation and attacks on trans healthcare [What the Trans]
Two anonymous clinicians from the Tavistock GIDS clinic have revealed the forced culture of silence surrounding their work. Speaking out, they described an environment where concerns about trans healthcare were suppressed, limiting their ability to advocate for young trans patients.
0.02% of doctors are trans
After a week-long assault on trans doctors as the media try to protect their latest favourite bigot, the Sunday Telegraph revealed that there are 62 registered trans doctors in the UK. With around 300,000 doctors working in the UK, that works out at around 0.02%.
AROUND THE WORLD
USA: No evidence of hate crime in trans man’s killing, police say [New York Times]
Police say they have found no evidence that the killing of Sam Norquist, a 24-year-old transgender man, was a hate crime. Authorities stated that some or all of the five suspects charged with his murder are also LGBTQ. New York State Police and Ontario County District Attorney James Ritts confirmed Norquist knew his alleged killers, with at least one having lived with him in a motel. The Guardian report he was tortured from ‘early December 2023 to February 2024’.
Two more arrested in death of transgender man Sam Nordquist [Advocate]
New York police have arrested Kimberly L. Sochia, 29, and Thomas G. Eaves, 21, charging them with second-degree murder of depraved indifference in connection with the torture and killing of 24-year-old transgender man Sam Nordquist. Nordquist’s body was found on 13 February in a field near Benton, following a period of prolonged abuse. He had travelled from Minnesota to New York to be with a girlfriend and was staying at a local motel at the time of his death. A total of seven arrests have so far been made.
Europe:
USA:
Citi bank quietly removes promotional material on trans-inclusive credit card program [Wall Street Journal]
Citi has removed promotional content from one of its career webpages that highlighted its program allowing transgender and nonbinary customers to use their chosen names on credit cards. The now-deleted statement had encouraged other financial institutions to follow suit, reading, “We want other banks to join us in enabling consumers to use their chosen name on their credit cards.” Citi has not publicly commented on the removal.
Australia: Family Court backs gender affirmation in landmark ruling [just.equal]
The Family Court of Australia has awarded sole parental responsibility to a mother supporting her trans son’s hormone treatment, rejecting the father’s opposition. Justice Peter Tree, ruling in Brisbane, found that the risks of denying treatment outweighed any potential concerns, dismissing claims that the young person’s decision was impulsive.
The judgment discredited the UK Cass Review, citing its political motivations and limitations, and instead endorsed the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) guidelines, as well as Australian Standards of Care, as the most reliable frameworks for gender-affirming treatment.
USA: Young trans leaders launch national network to fight erasure [19th news]
Faced with a hostile political climate and an administration seeking to erase trans identities, young trans advocates are building their own leadership pipeline. Lily Rood, Jay Jones, and Forest Cusolito have founded the National Transgender Leadership Conference Committee (NTLCC) to cultivate trans leaders across the US. Their initiative will launch with a summit in Western Massachusetts, offering mentorship, advocacy training, and skills development for trans people entering leadership roles.
MEDIA
Telegraph describe LGB Alliance accurately
In article in Thursday’s Telegraph (see PAPER REVIEW), an unnamed reporter described the LGB Alliance as, “a campaign group founded to oppose the policies of LGBT rights charity Stonewall on transgender issues”. No wonder they didn’t put their name to the article – the GC cult will be furious with this accurate description. As we know, nothing annoys them more than reality.
Daily Mail use gender neutral pronouns for their staff
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Target learns the hard way: Dropping DEI comes with consequences [Yahoo Finance]
Target is facing a class action lawsuit and a $15.7 billion market loss after ending its DEI initiatives. Shareholders accuse the company of “artificially inflated” stock prices and failing to disclose risks tied to removing DEI and ESG policies. The backlash was immediate, with boycotts and civil rights leaders condemning the move, proving that abandoning diversity commitments carries a heavy price.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Full parliament business can be viewed here.
Monday 24 February
Debate: e-petition relating to a minimum age for social media, Westminster Hall, 4.30pm
Former Reform UK Wales leader Nathan Gill in court on bribery charges
USA: Donald Trump hosts Emmanuel Macron at the White House
Ukraine: 3rd anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion
Tuesday 25 February
Oral questions: What progress has his Department made on tackling HIV and AIDS globally, House of Commons, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, 11.30am
Debate: Maternity Services, Westminster Hall, 9.30am
Committee: Met Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist on summer riots
Ofcom to announce quarterly price cap change
Wednesday 26 February
Prime Minister’s Questions, House of Commons, 12pm
Thursday 27 February
Quarterly immigration stats to be released
USA: Donald Trump hosts Keir Starmer
125 years ago: Labour founded
Saturday 1 March
The BRIT awards
Sunday 2 March
The Oscars (hosted by Conan O’Brien)
SHORTS
UKIP are pledging to reclassify ‘transgenderism’ as a ‘mental health issue’. I forgot they were still a thing until I saw this, tbh.
THE PAPERS
It was somewhat quieter in the papers than it has been recently, with 22 articles this week compared to 30 last week and 32 the week before. The total, after 23 days of February stands at 87.
The Telegraph, with 12, have more than all the other papers I monitor combined and, for two days in a row, despite everything that is going on in the world, attacked trans doctors on their front page (Friday and Saturday).
That was the dominant narrative this week as the media attack Dr. Upton for having the temerity to stand up to her (alleged) GC abuser.
The Times had six articles while the Mail had four. Both joined in attacking trans doctors for no reason whatsoever.
The Guardian/Observer had nothing. Sonia Sodha doesn’t seem to write a column on the last weekend of the month, so there was nothing at all from her. Kathleen Stock was back, however, standing in for Hadley Freeman and producing the kind of shite the latter would be proud of.
Quoted, mentioned or featured this week: Sandie Peggie (x7), Murdo Fraser, Gendered Intelligence, Fiona McAnena, Sex Matters (x4), Ben Dybowski, LGB Alliance, Maya Forstater, Kristie Higgs (x2), Wes Streeting (x4), Sarah Vine KC (x2), Dr Louise Irvine, Helen Joyce (x2), Zoe Hollowood, Liberal Voice for Women, Harold Shipman.
Whose bylines were on all these articles? Daniel Sanderson (x2), letters, Sanchez Manning, our foreign staff, Alan Cochrane, anon (x3), Craig Simpson, Shaun Wooller, Jonathan Ames, Peter Chappell, Laura Donnelly (x3), George Chesterton, Kamal Sultan, Jan Moir, Jawad Iqbal, Kathleen Stock, Ellie McDonald, Michael Deacon.
What was this week’s standout: The way the papers have united to attack trans doctors, providing yet more evidence of how this is all co-ordinated.
Spotted or know something you think I should include in the Trans Agenda?
THE PAPERS Monday 17 February- Sunday 23 February
Monday Total: 2
The Guardian [0]
The Times [0]
Daily Mail [1]
Telegraph [1]
Tuesday Total: 1
The Guardian [0]
The Times [0]
Daily Mail [0]
Telegraph [1]
Wednesday Total: 3
The Guardian [0]
The Times [0]
Daily Mail [0]
Telegraph [3]
Thursday Total: 5
The Guardian [0]
The Times [2]
![Sacking ordeal bizarre, says Christian Jonathan Ames - Legal Editor Kristie Higgs won her legal battle Days before the Christmas break seven years ago, senior teachers at a secondary school in Gloucestershire ordered one of their administrators to attend a disciplinary meeting. Over six and a half hours, Kristie Higgs was accused of being a “neo-Nazi extremist” for sharing her beliefs about LGBT relationships in two private social media posts. Shortly after the holidays, Higgs was sacked from her role as a pastoral administrator at the Farmor’s School in Fairford. That decision threw Higgs and her family into a years-long legal battle that ended last week when the Court of Appeal ruled she had been wrongfully dismissed. Three judges, led by Lord Justice Underhill, said the secondary school’s decision to sack Higgs “was unquestionably a disproportionate response”. They added that there “was no evidence that the reputation of the school had thus far been damaged” and that “there was no possibility that, even if readers of the posts associated [Higgs] with the school, they would believe that they represented its own views”. Prior to her sacking, Higgs had spent seven years at Farmor’s in a job she loved. Speaking to The Times, the mother of two boys said she “really enjoyed seeing the children grow from being young to strapping people”. But Higgs’s job ended when she became concerned about what her son, who was eight at the time, was being taught at his Church of England primary, which was not the school Higgs worked at. He brought a letter home informing parents that books from a programme devised by No Outsiders, a diversity charity, were to be introduced during lessons. Higgs accepted an invitation to come to the school and review the books that were going to be used. Higgs noted that one publication, My Princess Boy, a 2009 picture book about a boy who likes to wear a tiara and dresses, caught her attention, as did another, Red: A Crayon’s Story, which tells the story of a crayon who “suffers an identity crisis”. Higgs told the teacher that she thought the books contained transgender themes, which she considered inappropriate for her son and asked that he be exempted from the lessons. The school agreed, although Higgs said she remained concerned over plans to ultimately make those materials compulsory. She then posted two comments on Facebook. Her account was under her maiden name, did not link her to Farmor’s School and was open only to a few family and friends. Within a day, the head teacher at Farmor’s had received an anonymous complaint and two days later Higgs was suspended. The formal disciplinary hearing was held in a hotel with Higgs facing a panel of six that included at least one school governor. “It was really bizarre. The chairman seemed to be trying to help the woman who had conducted the investigation. And he suddenly turned and said to me that [my social media post] was like being a neo-Nazi extremist,” Higgs said. “I was in shock. I could see that they were against me — I just had to sit there and face it.” After she was sacked, Higgs launched an appeal with the school that failed. It was then that her pastor referred her to the Christian Legal Centre, which took her case to an employment tribunal and ultimately to vindication at the appeal court. The centre, in Marylebone, central London, supported her from 2018. As to her views on whether there is any place for discussing transgenderism and sex education more widely in primary schools, she said: “It was a Church of England school — they should be going by God’s word and that alone.” Lawyers for Higgs are now pressing for compensation. After the appeal judges backed her claim last week, Higgs stood on the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice to say: “I pray that today will prove to be a landmark day for Christian freedoms and free speech.”](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/18356949-cba7-4513-a05e-f0778c9a4986_1516x565.png)
Daily Mail [1]
Telegraph [2]
![Arts Council faces payout over trans row Organisation’s diversity chief who likened gendercritical beliefs to racism wins unfair dismissal case The Daily Telegraph20 Feb 2025By Telegraph Reporter AN ARTS COUNCIL diversity manager investigated after she compared gender critical beliefs to racism has won a payout for unfair dismissal. Afreena Islam-wright became upset after a grant was awarded to the LGB Alliance, a campaign group founded to oppose the policies of LGBT rights charity Stonewall on transgender issues. She said she would “feel terrified” if co-workers were making “openly racist statements” and “can’t imagine” what transgender colleagues were going through at finding out about the grant. An employment tribunal heard the “hasty, ill-informed and ill-thought” comments upset staff who held gender-critical views, meaning they believe biological sex cannot be changed, and she was taken to a disciplinary meeting. She has now successfully sued Arts Council England (ACE) for unfair dismissal after the tribunal found she had made the comments because she was “motivated solely” to support transgender and non-binary colleagues. The hearing in Manchester was told Mrs Islam-wright began working for the arts organisation as a diversity relationship manager in September 2020. In April 2022 an organisation called the London Community Foundation awarded a grant out of ACE funding it had been given to the organisation LGB Alliance. The tribunal heard that although ACE was not involved in the funding decision it faced criticism, internally and externally. Mrs Islam-wright later commented on a spreadsheet, emailed to all employees, asking for support for trans staff. Mrs Islam-wright’s comment read: “If I came to work one day, and attended a drop-in session where staff members were openly making racist statements, and asking [ACE] what protection would be offered to them as race critical staff members – I would feel terrified. “I’m very concerned that gender-critical staff members make funding decisions and believe it is of the utmost importance that trans awareness training is delivered… We can’t necessarily ‘train’ people out of being transphobic, but we can make it clear that we don’t tolerate transphobia.” She also called the LGB Alliance a “cultural parasite and glorified hate group”. In June 2022 she was invited to a disciplinary investigation meeting where she claimed her comments were not directed at specific colleagues. She was shown two anonymous statements from “gender-critical” colleagues who said being compared to racists had an “adverse impact” on them. She quit before the next meeting and took the Arts Council to the tribunal claiming unfair dismissal and victimisation. Upholding her unfair dismissal claim, the tribunal found that trust between Mrs Islam-wright and ACE had been “seriously damaged” and that informal processes should have been followed first and that the relationship manager’s complaint should have been “properly considered”. Mrs Islam-wright’s victimisation claim was dismissed. Her compensation will be decided at a later date. Article Name:Arts Council faces payout over trans row Publication:The Daily Telegraph Author:By Telegraph Reporter Start Page:10 End Page:10](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e7e60080-02b3-41b2-8d16-8cc1b360b5a0_1517x355.png)
Friday Total: 5
The Guardian [0]
The Times [2]
Daily Mail [2]
![Doctors’ details ‘scrubbed’ from record when they change gender Daily Mail21 Feb 2025By Kamal Sultan DOCTORS who change gender are being issued new registration details that ‘scrub’ their public disciplinary history from the record, it was last night claimed. Patients are usually able to search the General Medical Council’s (GMC) official register using their clinician’s name and number. But it has now emerged that trans doctors are given new numbers, which means future patients are unable to find details listed under their previous identity. The revelation came after concerns were raised that trans medic Dr Beth Upton – who is currently at the centre of an employment tribunal – had been given a new registration number, according to The Daily Telegraph. The GMC said Dr Upton is one of 62 to have been given a new registration with a different GMC number – which is the equivalent of a doctor’s professional fingerprint. It appears on all of their paperwork including training, appraisals, prescriptions, revalidation and complaints. Dr Upton’s previous male identity is still on the medical register but there are no external links with her new entry visible to the public. The old entry says her registration to be a doctor was ‘relinquished’ in April 2023, with no visible reference to this on her current record. There is no suggestion Dr Upton has previously faced disciplinary action. The GMC does not require doctors to ‘provide any evidence of your change in gender status’, which means a female patient who requests a female doctor will not know if their medic was born male. A GMC spokesman said: ‘If a doctor received a historical sanction [i.e. the suspension is no longer in place] prior to ‘Serious implications’ transitioning, this information would not be available on their new public-facing record on the register.’ These sanctions could include formal warnings and upheld suspensions – which are usually visible on the public record for years. However, the GMC stressed that there is no risk a doctor who is struck off could change their gender and re-register. Helen Joyce, of the gender-critical charity Sex Matters, criticised the decision to hand out new registrations. She said: ‘There are extremely serious implications for the GMC issuing new numbers – essentially new identities. There are a whole host of personal, religious or cultural reasons for a woman to want to be seen by a biological female doctor. Patients have the right to say they only want to see a doctor of one sex. ‘You can’t present as a woman “on paper” and expect patients to sort this out at the rough end of the process in the consultation room.’ The GMC insisted that the records of doctors before and after their transition are linked internally. It said the lack of public links between records are ‘because there are clear legal protections afforded to individuals who transition’ and that it ‘relates to the disclosure of their personal information’. Sarah Vine, a KC at Doughty Street Chambers, said: ‘There is a strong public interest in knowing a doctor’s disciplinary history. It’s very hard to argue that a doctor’s privacy can override that.’ The registration backlash comes amid an employment tribunal brought by nurse Sandie Peggie, who was suspended in January 2024 after objecting to Dr Upton using a female changing room. A hearing has been scheduled by NHS Fife into allegations of misconduct against Ms Peggie, which include claims that she ‘misgendered’ Dr Upton. The GMC was contacted for comment. Article Name:Doctors’ details ‘scrubbed’ from record when they change gender Publication:Daily Mail Author:By Kamal Sultan Start Page:8 End Page:8](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/77f063cd-bd00-4de5-8598-d397deadaaf8_432x468.png)
Telegraph [1]
![Trans doctors given clean records Streeting urges GMC to close loophole that erases complaints after gender change The Daily Telegraph21 Feb 2025By Laura Donnelly and George Chesterton DOCTORS who change gender are able to have past wrongdoings scrubbed from the public record, a Telegraph investigation has revealed. The General Medical Council (GMC) has admitted that it erases the public disciplinary history of doctors after they change their gender identities, and that this had happened more than 60 times. The watchdog regulates medics and holds a register of all doctors, allowing the public to check whether a medic has been subject to restrictions, suspensions or struck off. It raises the prospect that medics seeking to hide a chequered disciplinary history could exploit the system by changing their gender identity in order to erase their past. It also means that a female patient who specifically requested a female doctor would be unable to find out if their doctor was born a man. Last night, Wes Streeting raised concerns and said the GMC must overhaul the system, adding that the situation should “never have been allowed”. The Health Secretary told The Telegraph: “This is extremely concerning and should not have been allowed to happen. It is completely within the power of the GMC to find a work-around that means transparency for patients as well as protections in the Equality Act are preserved. I expect them to make reassurances that they will address this.” The Telegraph can also reveal that medics who seek to change their “gender status” on the GMC record can do so without any supporting evidence. Such medics – who include Dr Beth Upton, a trans doctor now at the centre of a legal case in Scotland – are issued with a new registration and a fresh GMC number. All public links on the watchdog’s register between old and new identities are erased – meaning that any historical misdemeanours, such as previous suspensions, are wiped from the slate. The GMC’S position came to light after a retired anaesthetist contacted The Telegraph, raising concerns that Dr Upton had been given a new registration number. “Because the GMC has an even more important role than it did a couple of decades ago – recording and marking the careers of doctors – people need to be confident about the identities of doctors,” the retired doctor said. Dr Upton is at the centre of an employment tribunal against NHS Fife. Sandie Peggie, a nurse, said she was subjected to harassment by being made to share a changing room at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, with Dr Upton, who was born male but insisted on using the women’s changing room. The GMC has now confirmed that Dr Upton is one of 62 doctors to have been given new registrations. The regulator said: “If a doctor had received a historical sanction [i.e. the suspension is no longer in place] prior to transitioning, this information would not be available on their new publicfacing record on the medical register.” This means that current patients would be unable to see any details of their doctor’s previous identity by searching the GMC’S online database using their new name and number. The loophole raises the prospect that those who wish to cover up previous sanctions could change their gender identity to exploit the system. It follows a crackdown in prisons, where trans offenders were previously able to move to women-only prisons, even if they had male genitalia and a history of sex crimes, until rules were changed in 2023. According to its own guidelines, the GMC does not require doctors to “provide any evidence of your change in gender status”. When a doctor changes their gender status, information about their pre-transition career is not transferred to their post-transition page. There is no suggestion that Dr Upton has faced any such disciplinary actions. The GMC said the records of doctors pre- and post-transition were still linked internally, but that the links could not be seen by the public. According to the regulator, this information would not be available on their new public-facing record “because there are clear legal protections afforded to individuals, including doctors, who transition, and relate to the use and disclosure of their personal information. This includes human rights and equalities law, data protection law and the Gender Recognition Act”. However, leading lawyers said their justification was “unsustainable” saying there was a strong public interest in knowing a doctor’s disciplinary hearing. Sarah Vine, a KC at Doughty Street Chambers said: “There is a strong public interest in knowing a doctor’s disciplinary history. It’s very hard to argue that a doctor’s privacy is something that can override that legitimate purpose. It looks like a wholesale misreading of the application of human rights, domestic equality law and the Gender Recognition Act.” If a doctor was struck off they could not identify as a different gender and re-register. But an upheld suspension against a doctor, which would normally be visible on the register for years, depending on the circumstances, would be obscured from public view with a new gender identity. Suspensions of more than three months are normally kept on GMC records for 15 years, with records held for 10 years for shorter suspensions. The GMC said it was unable to tell The Telegraph if any of the 62 doctors who have been issued with new numbers had any disciplinary measures taken against them under their previous identity. The lack of any link between old and new identities also means that patients are unable to find out the biological sex of their doctor. “There are extremely serious implications ‘Female patients, who may have requested a female doctor, have not consented to be examined by a man’ for the GMC issuing new numbers – essentially new identities – to 62 doctors,” Helen Joyce, the director of advocacy at Sex Matters, a gender-critical human rights charity, said. Dr Louise Irvine, a GP who is co-chair of the Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender, says: “When you look up ‘Dr Beth Upton’ and you don’t see any reference to the doctor’s professional life or records before the change of identity and GMC number, including previous name, then you have a problem with accountability and transparency. “That should be the public purpose of the GMC. They shouldn’t be obscuring past information.” According to the record of Dr Upton’s previous entry, registration to be a doctor was “relinquished” in April 2023. No mention of this is on her current record. A patient has no way to find this former male identity, nor any way of knowing if the doctor they were looking up had transitioned, when it had occurred and what their previous identity was. Women’s groups said the lack of clear information about the biological sex of doctors is a particularly acute problem for those female patients who seek to be seen by a biological woman. Ms Joyce said: “The implications of this are particularly severe with female patients, who may have requested a female doctor and have not consented to be examined by a man.” “Patients do have the right to say they only want to see a doctor of one sex or the other,” says Ms Joyce. “You can’t present a woman ‘on paper’ and expect patients to sort this out at the rough end of the process in the consultation room. What is a woman in that situation supposed to do when confronted with that? Are they supposed to say, ‘I’m sorry but are you a man?’ Nobody should be put in that position.” A GMC spokeswoman said people “may have particular reasons for wanting to see a doctor of the same sex,” but says that the “primary purpose of the Medical Register is to confirm that doctors have the appropriate training, skills and experience.” Article Name:Trans doctors given clean records Publication:The Daily Telegraph Author:By Laura Donnelly and George Chesterton Start Page:1 End Page:1](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/720d34e9-959f-459c-9040-3aa4021243a2_483x769.png)
Saturday Total: 3
The Guardian [0]
The Times [0]
Daily Mail [0]
Telegraph [3]
Sunday Total: 2
The Observer [0]
The Sunday Times [1]
Mail on Sunday [0]
Sunday Telegraph [1]
![Trans doctors’ past sanctions made public Disciplinary record of medics that change their gender will now remain on record, says GMC The Sunday Telegraph23 Feb 2025By Laura Donnelly HEALTH EDITOR THE disciplinary record of doctors who change their gender identity will be available to the public, the regulator has said. The General Medical Council (GMC) has issued an updated statement following an intervention from the Health Secretary. The decision comes amid public outrage after the regulator said that historical sanctions on doctors who changed their gender identity would not be available on the public-facing records relating to their new identity. The GMC had said the records of doctors pre and post-transition were still linked internally, but that the links could not be seen by the public. On Thursday night, Wes Streeting said the situation was “extremely concerning and should not have been allowed to happen”. He said he would demand the regulator provide transparency for patients, while respecting protections in the Equality Act. The GMC has now said that if a doctor changed their gender identify, information about previous sanctions would remain on the public record. The regulator said any redactions would be “confined to information like pronouns and name prior to transition”. Previously it said: “If a doctor had received a historical sanction [ie the suspension is no longer in place] prior to transitioning, this information would not be available on their new public-facing record on the medical register.” On Friday night, the GMC said it had not faced such a situation, adding: “In such a scenario we would need to consider carefully how best to present such information, balancing a number of factors and being mindful of the Gender Recognition Act.” Yesterday the regulator said such redactions would be confined to information like pronouns and name prior to transition. Senior medics had raised fears that NHS hospitals hiring transgender doctors would be unable to see their disciplinary records. When a doctor is selected for an interview, HR departments must check the GMC record. This would include examining any warning notices on the record – such as a history of inappropriate relationships, a history of alcoholism or drug abuse. Hospitals hiring doctors are expected to get references from previous employers, which could alert them to recent disciplinary matters, but would be less likely to elicit information on more historical misdemeanours. The GMC’s position came to light after a retired anaesthetist contacted The Telegraph, raising concerns that Dr Upton had been given a new registration number. Dr Upton is at the centre of an employment tribunal against NHS Fife. Nurse Sandie Peggie has said she was subjected to unlawful harassment by being made to share a changing room at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, with Dr Upton, a transgender doctor who was using the female changing rooms. The GMC has confirmed that Dr Upton is one of 62 doctors to have been given new registration numbers under different GMC numbers. There is no suggestion that Dr Upton has faced any disciplinary action. Article Name:Trans doctors’ past sanctions made public Publication:The Sunday Telegraph Author:By Laura Donnelly HEALTH EDITOR Start Page:8 End Page:8](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c8bd125e-7763-4f19-915c-c8c2874183db_1529x349.png)
TRANSWRITES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
Judge Tinnion should be ashamed of allowing tribunal to become a circus of harassment, by Gemma Stone
Calls for boycott as Oxford Literary Festival continually promotes bigotry, by Gemma Stone
My doctor emailed me back, by Abigail Thorn
The Rainbow Laces campaign isn’t enough, by Arthur Webber
How Erika Hilton – a Black travesti trans woman – is changing Brasil, by Lis Welch
When was the T added to LGBT? A quick history, by Sarah Clarke
Trans people are the greatest assault on women in JK Rowling’s life time, apparently, by Gemma Stone
NHS & puberty blockers: Former GIDS patients reflect on long wait times, invasive assessments, by Sasha Baker.
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