A new report from the Policy Exchange think tank raises alarm over local councils in England allowing children in care to begin gender transitions without adult guidance or adequate safeguards. The report finds that some councils permitted social transitions for children under ten years old.
The report underscores how children in care are disproportionately referred to the now-shuttered Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), suggesting that vulnerable children are more susceptible to gender ideology pressures. The authors argue that such referrals lack sufficient oversight and fail to ensure proper safeguarding.
Baroness Spielman, former head of Ofsted, warns that social workers feel compelled to agree to a child’s request to transition, even when broader mental health concerns are at play. She points out that social transitions are not neutral and can have long-term repercussions.
Baroness Morris of Yardley, former Labour education secretary, emphasizes that the well-being and safety of children in care should take precedence over gender identity ideology. She describes some councils’ approaches as fundamentally misaligned with society’s duty to protect its most vulnerable members.
The report calls for aligning social care practices with clinical caution reflected in government health guidance, ensuring that decisions impacting a child’s gender identity are grounded in careful assessment and adult involvement. While encouraging adult envolvement and prudential medical advice is a step towards defending children from gender ideology, the fight must continue worldwide to ban gender mutilation surgeries as a dangerous and immoral practice.