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scottishtrans.bsky.social
Scottish Trans
@scottishtrans.bsky.social
2.3K followers 240 following 340 posts
Working for gender identity and gender reassignment equality and rights in Scotland. Part of @lgbtiscotland.bsky.social

https://www.scottishtrans.org/
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scottishtrans.bsky.social
Over the weekend, details were provided about the research trial for prescribing puberty blockers to trans children and young people. Taking part in this research will be the only way to access puberty blockers on the NHS.

Read our full response at our website: www.scottishtrans.org/details-publ...
A graphic with a gradient purple background. In the centre there is a white square box with black text that says "Our response to the details of the new research trial for prescribing puberty blockers to trans children and young people" The Scottish Trans logo is beneath the text. A graphic with a gradient purple background. In the centre there is a rectangular white box with black text that reads "The number of people who can take part is capped at 226. This would seem to raise the very real possibility that there will be situations where clinicians, a young person themselves, and at least one of their parents, carers or guardians all agree that this is the right course of treatment, but that puberty blockers will not be available to them. We are extremely concerned about this and cannot see how it is in children and young people's best interests." The Scottish Trans logo is underneath the text.
November 25, 2025 at 2:43 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We Can't Keep Waiting takes place tomorrow, 22nd November at the Pyramid at Anderston in Glasgow! We're excited to see you there!

The event is for trans and nonbinary people only - sign up for your ticket here: www.outsavvy.com/event/30917/...

Our final workshops to be announced are ⬇️
"We Can't Keep Waiting - Take Action for trans healthcare!" "The Pyramid at Anderston Glasgow 22nd November 10am-4pm" There are two pink boxes. The first box has the Trans Kids Deserve Better Scotland logo and says: "Trans Kids Deserve Better Scotland are running a workshop on direct action, what direction action is, how to take direct action and how to be safe while doing direct action. It will be a mix of physical aspects and some zine making!" The second box has the Scottish Trans logo. It says: "Scottish Trans: Create your own mini-healthcare campaign - a workshop for meeting other trans people and coming up with ideas for action you can take to improve trans healthcare. Whether talking to the media, creating impactful posters that cause a stir, talking to politicians, making community zines - or any other ideas you might have - use this time to think about who you need to persuade and how you want to do it!"
November 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
Today is Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR), a day where we pause to remember those who we have lost around the world this year to transphobic violence.
A black graphic with five candles on it. The candles are in the trans flag colours - blue then pink then white then pink then blue. White text above the candles reads "Trans Day of Remembrance 2025" and the Scottish Trans logo is in the top right hand corner.
November 20, 2025 at 9:16 AM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We Can't Keep Waiting takes place this Saturday, 22nd November at the Pyramid at Anderston in Glasgow!

The event is for trans and nonbinary people only - sign up for your ticket here: www.outsavvy.com/event/30917/...

Our next workshops to be announced are ⬇️
"We Can't Keep Waiting - Take Action for trans healthcare!" "The Pyramid at Anderston Glasgow 22nd November 10am-4pm" There are two pink boxes. The first box has the Trans Harm Reduction logo and says: "Trans Harm Reduction: Workshop about self-medicating for anyone who is considering or already self-medicating. Flexible and interactive format, covering practicalities of self-medding as safely as possible as well as the principles of community-led healthcare movements and harm reduction. There will be an opportunity to sign up for future updates or to volunteer with THR. ." The second box has the Scottish Trans logo. It says: "Scottish Trans: Join Scottish Trans for a workshop looking at how we can start campaigns across Scotland in health boards that refer to Sandyford but don’t currently provide and gender identity healthcare. This workshop is open to people who live in Ayshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway, Forth Valley, Argyll and Bute, Lanarkshire, Tayside and Western Isles."
November 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We asked trans and non-binary people in Scotland about how they have been impacted by the cost of living crisis. They told us that the rising cost of living had impacted their lives, including having to choose between the cost of privately transitioning and purchasing household essentials.
Graphic with a purple background. In the top left corner is a line drawing of a pile of coins and bank notes. In a white box it says "86% of trans and non-binary people we heard from felt that rising costs for fuel and food had affected their normal financial decisions a little or a lot." Graphic with a purple background. In the bottom left corner is a line drawing of a pile of coins and bank notes. In a white box it says "Just over half (52%) of respondents said that they had been forced to make a decision between essential household purchases and costs related to their transition."
November 19, 2025 at 11:01 AM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We asked trans and non-binary people about their experiences with benefits services. We asked about their experience of claiming benefits and accessing job centres and the DWP.
Graphic with a purple background. In the top left corner is a line drawing of a pile of documents. In a white box it says "A third (33%) of the trans and non-binary people we heard from were currently claiming benefits. 13% of people felt being trans had a negative impact on their ability to claim benefits." Graphic with a purple background. In the bottom left corner is a line drawing of a pile of documents. In a white box it says “Claiming benefits via the DWP and the job centre I have found is the most dehumanising experience in the world and is one of the major reasons I don’t currently claim them despite being unemployed and poor.”
November 18, 2025 at 12:01 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We Can't Keep Waiting takes place this Saturday, 22nd November at the Pyramid at Anderston in Glasgow!

The event is for trans and nonbinary people only - sign up for your ticket here: www.outsavvy.com/event/30917/...
Graphic with a black background. It says "We Can't Keep Waiting - Take Action for trans healthcare!" "The Pyramid at Anderston Glasgow 22nd November 10am-4pm" There are two pink boxes. The first box has the Glasgow Trans Collective logo and says: "Glasgow Trans Collective" "This workshop will be an exploration of how Glasgow Trans Collective started our grassroots organisation, and will encourage participants to consider how they could get involved or start their own groups to fill the gaps in what our community needs." The second box has the U Belong logo. It says: "U Belong Glasgow" "U Belong Glasgow is a multilingual community platform established in 2020 and features BPOC, queer and disabled creatives. We are delivering a creative writing workshop exploring queer resistance."
November 17, 2025 at 4:06 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We asked trans and non-binary people in Scotland about their experiences with work and employment. We included questions about their experiences of workplace culture, being unemployed and accessing and recieving support at work.
Graphic with a purple background. In the top left corner is a line drawing of a person wearing a shirt and tie. In a white box it says "38% of trans and non-binary people we heard from were currently unemployed, with just over a quarter (25%) having been unemployed for the past 5 years. Full time workers we heard from had a lower median earning that the general population." Graphic with a purple background. In the bottom left corner is a line drawing of a person wearing a shirt and tie. In a white box it says "42% of respondents said they had had at least one negative experiences in the workplace, including 26% of people having had their trans status disclosed without their permission at work, and 24% having been verbally harassed or insulted."
November 17, 2025 at 10:01 AM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We asked trans and non-binary people in Scotland about their experiences with housing and homelessness. This included questions around their ability to rent or buy their homes and their experiences of interacting with landlords and housing associations, or experiencing housing insecurity.
Graphic with an orange background. In the top left corner is a line drawing of a house. In a white box it says "15% of respondents had experienced problems obtaining housing due to being trans or non-binary." Graphic with an orange background. In the bottom left corner is a line drawing of a house. In a white speech bubble it says "Once I disclosed I was trans and was told that if I was on a waiting list or pursuing surgical or medical transition then I was not reliable for paying rent because I might take sick leave or be unable to work.” Graphic with an orange background. In the top left corner is a line drawing of a tent. In a white box it says "23% of trans and non-binary people we heard from had been homeless at some point – compared to 8% of the general population. 1% were currently homeless." Graphic with an orange background. In the bottom left corner is a line drawing of a tent. In a white speech bubble it says "Disabled trans and non-binary people were also more likely to have been homeless compared to non-disabled respondents – 29% compared to 13%."
November 16, 2025 at 1:01 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We asked trans and non-binary people in Scotland about their experiences in their local neighbourhood, including how included they felt in their local community or accessing local support services and spaces.
Graphic with a green background. In a white box it says "Nearly a quarter (23%) of trans and non-binary people told us that they felt their trans status had a negative impact on their experience of their neighbourhood." In the top left corner is a line illustration of a block of flats with a tree next to it. Graphic with a green background. In a white speech bubble it says “I have been harassed outside of my home, and when walking around my local area. I feel unsafe to go out, and will often take longer routes than necessary in order to avoid certain areas where I feel particularly unsafe around the people that live there.” In the bottom left corner is a line illustration of a block of flats with a tree next to it.
November 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We asked trans and nonbinary people in Scotland about their experiences of accessing their GP and recieving healthcare, including the barriers they may face.
Graphic with a green background. In a white box it says "Only 40% of trans and non-binary people rated the care provided by their GP as “excellent” or “good” compared to 66% of the general population." In the bottom right corner is a line illustration of a heart with a plus symbol on top of it. Graphic with a green background. In a white box it says "OThe biggest theme that emerged from people telling us about their GP was a lack of knowledge around trans healthcare. Other common themes were: • Poor treatment from GPs and staff • Issues with shared care (whether with NHS or private prescribers) • Problems with referrals to other services • Issues with administrative changes" In the top left corner is a line illustration of a heart with a plus symbol on top of it.
November 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We've worked with Paul McLennan MSP to submit a motion to the Scottish Parliament to recognise Transgender Awareness Week, and Trans Remembrance Day, in the Scottish Parliament.

You can read the motion in full here: www.parliament.scot/.../votes-an...
Graphic with a pink, blue and white gradient background. It says "Ask your MSP to support motion S6M-19547, to mark Transgender Awareness Week in the Scottish Parliament." There is a screenshot of the motion text. It says "That the Parliament recognises 13 to 19 November 2025 as Transgender Awareness Week (TAW), and 20 November as Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR); notes that TAW is intended to increase understanding of trans and non-binary people, highlight their achievements and diversity as a community, and bring attention to the issues that they can face; believes that trans and non-binary people can face many barriers in their daily lives in Scotland, including in employment, education, housing and using public services, as detailed in the Scottish Trans and Non-binary Experiences: Research Report, published by Scottish Trans in July 2024; recognises that the 2022 Census data recorded that nearly 20,000 trans and non-binary people live in Scotland, and that every MSP will have trans and non-binary constituents, and indeed many MSPs will have trans and non-binary friends, family members and colleagues; understands that TDoR is an international day of mourning, where trans people and allies across the world hold vigils to remember those they have lost to anti-trans violence, and encourages MSPs to promote what it sees as the importance of addressing discrimination, inequality and violence faced by trans and non-binary people, and to make decisions all year round that seek to improve their lives and make Scotland a safer and more inclusive place to live for everyone."
November 13, 2025 at 1:40 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We asked trans people in Scotland about their experiences of accessing public services - this includes things they may use everyday such as public spaces and public transport, as well those they might need in difficult situations.
Graphic with a green background. In a white box it says "61% of trans and non-binary people had avoided at least one of the public services we asked about due to fear of being harassed, being read as trans, or being outed." There is a line drawing of a bus in the corner. Graphic with a green background. In a white box it says "When using public services: • 50% of respondents had experienced verbal harassment, insults or other hurtful comments • 32% had experienced threats of physical or sexual harassment or violence • 19% had experienced sexual harassment or violence • 19% had experienced physical harassment or violence • 18% had had someone disclose their identity without their permission • 17% had been excluded from services, events or activities." The numbers are each in a green circle.
November 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We Can't Keep Waiting, a day of action to create a better future for trans healthcare in Scotland, takes place next Saturday, 22nd November at the Pyramid at Anderston in Glasgow!

The event is for trans and nonbinary people only - sign up for your ticket here: www.outsavvy.com/event/30917/...
Graphic with a black background. It says "We Can't Keep Waiting - Take Action for trans healthcare!" "The Pyramid at Anderston Glasgow 22nd November 10am-4pm" There are two pink boxes. The first box has the House Ball Scotland logo and says: "House Ball Scotland" "In this workshop Nxa and Zulaa 007 from the Scottish ballroom scene will give an introduction to underground ballroom culture and to ways of exploring gender expression, physicality and confidence building through the artform of runway. Bring a look you feel great in, if you wish! All levels welcome, QTBIPOC to the front." The second box has the Houseball Scotland and Trans Healthcare Access Glasgow logos. It says: "House Ball Scotland and Trans Healthcare Access Glasgow" "'Mutual Aid for Trans Liberation' - How to start practically supporting each other and building support systems that are by us, for us"
November 12, 2025 at 1:45 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We wanted to share some more updates following April’s Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010, and some ways that you can help.

Read our full update here: www.scottishtrans.org/supreme-cour...
A graphic with a pink a blue gradient background. In the centre there is a purple box, with white text that reads "Some more thoughts and updates following the Supreme Court ruling". Underneath this text are the Equality Network and Scottish Trans logos.
November 11, 2025 at 1:30 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
Trans Day of Rememberance (TDoR) is coming upon the 20th November.

Across Scotland, different groups are holding remembrance vigils and events, which we have gathered below in a list. If you know of others that aren't on the list, please reply and we'll add them.
Graphic with a black background. It says "Trans Day of Rememberance 2025". Below are drawings of lit candles in the trans flag colours, and the Scottish Trans logo.
November 10, 2025 at 12:45 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
Are you a rural trans or non-binary person in Highland or Argyll and Bute? NHS Highland Public Health have partnered with Scottish Trans to conduct trans-led research on experiences of GP practices.

Take part in this important research: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RTHTNBSurv...
Graphic with a light blue background. At the top are small drawings of the trans and nonbinary flags, the Scottish Trans, NHS Highland and Public Health Scotland logos. It says "Trans People Needed for Rural Research - Rural Transgender Health: Primary Care Experiences The survey can be found at: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RTHTNBSurvey" There is a drawing of a computer with a webpage of a survey. "Chance to win one of 3 x £100 vouchers"
November 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
Just over two weeks to go until 'We Can't Keep Waiting', a day of action and collaboration to push for trans healthcare in Scotland. We're collaborating with some incredible community organisations and groups - sign up for your ticket here!

www.outsavvy.com/event/30917/...
Graphic with a black background. It says "We Can't Keep Waiting - Take Action for trans healthcare!" "The Pyramid at Anderston Glasgow 22nd November 10am-4pm" "In Collaboration With" and the logos for: Glasgow Trans Collective, LGBT Health and Wellbeing, UBelong, Trans Kids Deserve Better Scotland, Trans Harm Reduction, LEAP Sports, Trans Healthcare Glasgow and House Ball Scotland. "Plus More!"
November 5, 2025 at 12:39 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
Are you a rural trans or non-binary person in Highland or Argyll and Bute? NHS Highland Public Health have partnered with Scottish Trans to conduct trans-led research on experiences of GP practices.

Take part in this important research: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RTHTNBSurv...
Graphic with a light blue background. At the top are small drawings of the trans and nonbinary flags, the Scottish Trans, NHS Highland and Public Health Scotland logos. It says "Trans People Needed for Rural Research - Rural Transgender Health: Primary Care Experiences The survey can be found at: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RTHTNBSurvey" There is a drawing of a computer with a webpage of a survey. "Chance to win one of 3 x £100 vouchers"
October 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
➡️ Come along to our event 'We Can't Keep Waiting' - a community led event of workshops and discussions centred around community care and taking action to decrease the waiting lists. This event is for trans and nonbinary people only. www.outsavvy.com/event/30917/...
"2. Sign up to our community led event 'We Can't Keep Waiting'." "Join us and some amazing community groups for a day of workshops and discussions centred around community care and taking action to decrease the waiting lists." Graphic with a black background. It says "We Can't Keep Waiting - Take Action for trans healthcare!" "The Pyramid at Anderston Glasgow 22nd November 10am-4pm" "In Collaboration With" and the logos for: Glasgow Trans Collective, LGBT Health and Wellbeing, UBelong, Trans Kids Deserve Better Scotland, Trans Harm Reduction, LEAP Sports, Trans Healthcare Glasgow" "Plus More!"
October 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
➡️ If you live in a health board that refers to Sandyford, apart from Greater Glasgow and Clyde, you can sign our letters we are sending to health boards across Scotland. www.scottishtrans.org/cantkeepwait...
'1. Sign our letters to healthboards across Scotland to ask them to do more for trans and non-binary people in their area.' 'Find the letters and how to take part on our website: scottishtrans.org/cantkeepwaiting'. Next to this is a QR code for that link. A map of Scotland with different health boards highlighted. It says "Are you on the Sandyford waiting list? Do you live in one of these health boards? Sign our letter to your health board to tell them: We can't keep waiting!" "Help us write to health boards that refer to sandyfird and fix our broken system" "This data makes it clear to us that Sandyford is simply overrun as a service. Sandyford covers 8 health boards and it clearly can't cope. It’s time for other health boards to step up and take responsibility for trans and non-binary people in their area. We want to write letters to each of the health boards that refer people to the Sandyford. And we need you to co-sign them and help us bring the scale of this crisis to their attention. The letters will encourage these health boards to see if they could deliver gender affirming care, and/or provide support to people on long waiting lists and offer harm reduction services for those who are self-medicating."
October 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
Today, Public Health Scotland released its latest data on waiting times for gender identity services in Scotland. While the data is useful to have, it doesn’t tell the whole story. But it does tell us how appalling waiting times for Sandyford are & that they're just getting worse.

What can you do?
‘Today, new data has been published by Public Health Scotland. The data is useful to have, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. It can tell us how long someone being seen today might have waited for that appointment, but it does not tell us how long someone who joined the waiting list today might expect to wait. This data, plus data gathered through FOI requests shared with Scottish Trans, shows that Sandyford's waiting list continues to get worse. We estimate that someone joining the waiting list today would be expected to wait somewhere between 160 and 660 years. What can we do about it?’
October 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We’ve sent a submission to GANHRI’s accreditation sub-committee to raise concerns about the EHRC’s behaviour since the Supreme Court judgement.

You can read our full statement on our website here: www.scottishtrans.org/8149-2/
Graphic with a pink to blue gradient background. The Equality Network and Scottish Trans logos are at the bottom. It says “We should be able to rely on our national human rights institution to protect and promote the rights of everyone. Instead, we’ve had years of the EHRC frequently acting in ways that make trans people’s lives harder.”
October 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
We're excited to be collaborating with some incredible community organisations for 'We Can't Keep Waiting', they'll be running workshops for trans people from across Scotland to come together and work out how we can care for eachother, and push for the healthcare we vitally need.
Graphic with a black background. It says "We Can't Keep Waiting - Take Action for trans healthcare!" "The Pyramid at Anderston Glasgow 22nd November 10am-4pm" "In Collaboration With" and the logos for: Glasgow Trans Collective, LGBT Health and Wellbeing, UBelong, Trans Kids Deserve Better Scotland, Trans Harm Reduction, LEAP Sports, Trans Healthcare Glasgow" "Plus More!"
October 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
scottishtrans.bsky.social
"A blanket ban on access to gender- affirming spaces does not support healing. It retraumatises. It isolates. It tells vulnerable young people that their needs don't matter."

A powerful letter from a parent of a trans child in the National today, calling for the govt. to challenge EHRC guidance.
Guidance from EHRC should be challenged by Labour I WRITE as a feminist and the parent of a trans teenager. I have also spent years working to safeguard women and children. I understand risk- and where harm comes from. I'm writing because of the damage being done by the initial guidance on single-sex spaces from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), and the urgent need for principled leadership from Keir Starmer. The trans community - and by extension, my child - faces hostility, suspicion, and dehumanisation simply for existing. The hatred I see online is terrifying. When politicians fail to stand up for their rights, it sends a chilling message: that trans people are not safe, not welcome, not worthy of dignity. That families like mine don't matter. But it also fails women. It misdirects their fear. The risk to women and children is overwhelmingly from cis men. Women are not safe in their own homes - why are we talking about toilets? This guidance doesn't protect women it undermines us. It shifts the burden of safety onto marginalised groups, rather than addressing the real sources of harm. It tells cis women that their fear should be directed at trans women, rather than at the systems that fail to protect them from male violence. It also divides us. It pits cis women against trans women, when we should be united in fighting misogyny, inequality, and abuse. It distracts from the real battles - like the epidemic of domestic violence, the failures of the justice system, and the rise of online misogyny. It offers a false sense of security while leaving the actual threats untouched. As a feminist, I find this deeply regressive. It's not about protecting women - it's about controlling spaces. And this brings me to the hypocrisy of current safeguarding rhetoric. Politicians claim to be protecting children, yet ignore the fact that many public spaces - swimming pools, for example - are not gendered. Children routinely share spaces with cis men, often with no supervision. No-one seems concerned about safeguarding in those contexts. Male children routinely stand beside adult men exposing themselves at urinals - yet no-one calls for reform in those spaces. Sex offenders are not routinely stopped from using public toilets. But no pearl-clutching for that. Why? Because the concern isn't about safeguarding - it's about targeting trans people under the guise of protection. The current political framing of trans people as a blanket risk is not only inaccurate - it's unethical. It is also incompatible with trauma- informed practice. Blanket bans and exclusionary policies ignore the complexity of trauma, identity, and safety. Trauma-informed work requires us to consider the individual, not to impose rigid categories. It demands that we create environments where people feel safe, seen, and respected. I am astounded that Labour have not yet publicly rejected the EHRC's guidance. Surely their role is to challenge it - not quietly adopt it. It is the role of politicians to lead, to legislate, to protect - not to defer responsibility. The EHRC's proposals are unworkable. They do not support the rights of my trans child. From what I've read, they are focused on exclusion, not inclusion. Are we going to segregate trans youth like it's 1950s America? That seems to be what Wes Streeting is suggesting. Will my child have to walk miles to find a toilet they can safely use? This issue does not exist in a vacuum. Women in the UK face enormous challenges. We have a police force riddled with misogyny. În Scotland alone, there were 65,000 reported domestic abuse incidents last year. We face inequality in healthcare, threats to reproductive rights, and systemic failures in protecting victims of violence. Online misogyny is on the rise. These are the issues that demand urgent attention. Yet here we are talking about single-sex spaces. This is not about protecting women. It is about stoking fear. It is about scapegoating a marginalised group. And it is deeply harmful - not just to trans people, but to all women. All this could have been avoided. So much harm has been done - harm that will take years to undo. My child's life has been made more painful, more difficult, more isolating. Not because of who they are, but because of what the Labour Party has legitimised. Because of the fear and hatred that has been fuelled. I urge Keir Starmer to reject the EHRC's guidance, to listen to trans people, parents and professionals, and to lead with empathy - and more importantly, with evidence. Because right now, Labour is failing trans children. As a parent, it's horrifying. Parent of a Trans Child
October 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM