What The Trans!?

This week, in a special US-focused episode, our mighty duo of Alyx and Flint talk about: More anti-trans activity North of the border in Scotland. An update on the Girlguiding policy which now has a ticking clock: all trans guides and volunteers must leave by September 6th. A look at the machinations of Darlington council and their recent motion regarding that supreme court judgement. An interview with Tori Cooper of the Human Rights Campaign in the US about her life, work and current focus. References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep152

Exploring a new format because we're never ones to shy away from innovation, let us know what you think.

On this fortnight's episode, our embattled hosts Flint, Ashleigh & Alyx go over: Difficult news from the Southern states of the US in Pond Hopping. CONTENT WARNING: This story contains talking about suicide, potential murder and racism. This is signposted within the episode and a time code to skip over this story is included. TransActual's new report "Continuing to Endure the UK's Hostile Environment. How a particular professer is prohibited from participating in the PATHWAYS trial by the MHRA. Our main section talks about the now 'official' halting of HRT prescriptions to 16 and 17-year olds. References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep151 Submit to a zine! Extended deadline: March 28th - Open Call — Carnations, Violets & Lavender

This week, Flint and Alyx are left to their own devices for this acronym-heavy episode and have the unenviable task of taking you through: Recent enforced driver's license changes in Kansas, USA. CONTENT WARNING: Our second story contains information about young people choosing to end their own lives and how these deaths were not included in 2024's Appleby Report. This is signposted within the episode and a time code to skip over this story is included. Not In Our Name Women (NION Women), supported by the Good Law Project and the letters they gather that focus on reasons to stay. New Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance. Submissions from the Trans Exile Network and the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention to GANHRI about the status of the UK's EHRC. PATHWAYS and the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). BUT! After escaping from the acronyms, the team talk about a trip to the theatre to see a show starring the inimitable Abigail Thorn, featuring an interview! Finally, an interview with Astrid from the Trans Solidarity Alliance - the TSA is who organised the mass lobby of trans people at the UK Houses of Parliament in 2025 - to sit down and have a little chat about a recent appeal brought by the Good Law Project to the High Court. References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep150

At last! It's here! Our long-awaited deep dive into the Levy review is here! In this episode, our hosts Ashleigh, Flint and Alyx take you through what the review got right, what it got wrong and where it didn't go far enough. This is a special episode and as such does not talk about the main news stories of the last few weeks. It's Levy all the way down this time. Normal service will be resumed as soon as we work out what that is. The Beaches! The awesome Canadian band we mentioned. The Atomic Hound Dog! Ashleigh's old band. References: Dr Hilary Cass Chair Independent review of gender identity services for children and young people John Stewart National Director Streeting's response -Adult Services Review Gender Identity Services for Adults (Non-Surgical Interventions) -NHS England NHS commissioning » Review of adult gender dysphoria services Review of the NHS adult gender dysphoria clinics in England: terms of reference and key lines of enquiry Arden GEM Review of NHS adult gender dysphoria clinics Engagement summary report of findings "The Levy Review" - Operational and delivery review of NHS adult gender dysphoria clinics in England NHS England's initial response to Dr Levy's Report Statement by Wes Streeting to HoC regarding the completed Adult Services Review Levy Review: A scathing audit of NHS Trans+ healthcare that isn't radical enough to fix the problems - Queer AF Some thoughts on the Levy Review - Dr Ruth Pearce The Levy review has been published | Good Law Project

This week, on a shorter-than-usual episode, Ashleigh and Flint take their collective feet off the accelerator and approach things in a more thoughtful way. But there is still some news talk! Including: CW: This episode contains a discussion around the actions of ICE, in the USA. There's no easy way of going over this. Closer to home, the Council of Europe has voted to ban conversion therapy, despite the best efforts of a certain anti-trans group... In fact that particular group had a double-whammy of deserved disappointment and we'll tell you all about it in Loser's Corner. Followed by a considered conversation about how, in these difficult times, are we to rest. Maybe there's ways of passing time that are in and of themselves radical. From the immortal Terry Pratchett: "It's not worth doing unless someone, somewhere would much rather you weren't doing it." References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep148

We're back! Happy New Year! On this short & sweet(ish) episode, our exquisite hosts wade into the waters of: A hop across the pond to talk about stories from Texas and the US Supreme Court. International criticism of the upcoming PATHWAYS clinical trial. Bridget Phillipson's statement that trans people "should not be used as a political punchbag" and why that's a bit f**king rich coming from a Labour cabinet minister. AQA educational materials and their, shall we say, problematic way of addressing gender dysphoria. A not-quite Loser's Corner, concerning Sex Matters and the Charity Commission. References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep147 Thumbnail photo credit: Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street

The studio has a visit from the Holly King himself...

On this svelte-yet-festive episode, hosts Ashleigh and Flint give some details about some surprisingly positive news stories, some that you may have missed and some that you absolutely definitely have heard about, including: An update on the NDAA bill in the USA. New protections for intersex people in Victoria, Australia. The Girlguides and the Women's Institute both saying they'd bar trans women, only for a lot of their members to rebel against it. A quick update from the EHRC now that Falkner has finally, finally left. A triple-threat Loser's Corner, including a particular Scottish nurse... And a visit from Father Transmasc, for a decidedly festive section about the nice list, and the naughty list! References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep146 Thumbail photo credit: Chatham House

On this episode, Ashleigh, Flint and Alyx explore the finer details of: Details allegedly 'leaked' from the Civil Service to the Times about the upcoming guidance from the EHRC. It's safe to say that we have one or two concerns about it. The PATHWAYS trial, what it is, what it'll involve and what that stupid backronym* is supposed to mean. The Levy review, the much-delayed review into adult trans healthcare, featuring details of an FOI we sent and an interview with Chay from TransActual. Plus our regular segments of Pond Hoppin', Loser's Corner and Trans Joy! References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep145 *a real term, I promise I didn't make that up.

On this episode, Alyx, Flint & Ashleigh go over: The EHRC wanting to get out in front of any statements made by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) with mixed success. Some social science, of the LGB Alliance. An NHS ICB threatening to close a group of GP's surgeries for continuing to support trans young people, in line with existing legislation. Lib Dem returning officers don't get off lightly after an encounter with the FAP committee. Stop sniggering! Yes you read that correctly! And for our meat, we find out what Your Party's Trans Liberation Group had to say about Alyx's recent article calling Your Party a waste of time... References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep144

This week, on another packed episode, Ashleigh, Alyx and Flint rake over the coals about: Esther Ghey, mother of Brianna Ghey, has launched a campaign called Phone-Free Education and the team consider its implications. Multiple organisations have submitted evidence to the Global Alliance of National Human Rights institutions showing that the EHRC is, to put it lightly, not really fulfilling its stated role. A symphony of statistics from two new GLP-instigated YouGov polls. Labour backbenchers warn of "chaos" if the EHRC's guidance is implemented as is, but not for the reasons you might be expecting. Before moving on to the meat of the episode, which we've developed alongside https://www.wearequeeraf.com/ and Claire Prosho (https://linktr.ee/CTransTalks). This final part in our series about the UK's Gender Clinic system looks at potential future outcomes, including: The upcoming -although much delayed- Levy Review. Suggested ways for the GIC's to deal with their extreme backlog of patients. The numerous failures of the "specialist clinic" model as it stands. A lack of consistent data standards across the clinics and why this presents a problem. References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep143 Action Alley: Widnes Bridge Walk: Walk in solidarity for Transgender Awareness Week If you've been affected by the Virgin active ban on trans people in bathrooms and changing rooms, as either a member or a staffer, then the Good Law Project would like to hear from you: Post by @goodlawproject.bsky.social TransActual's MP emailing tool: Scrap the Bathroom Ban - Action Network Amnesty's emailing tool to ask the government to remain in the European Convention on Human Rights: Defend our Human Rights – Tell Your MP to Back the ECHR

This week, before jumping into our main event, our Flintless duo of Ashleigh and Alyx take in the scenery of: Two new things from our immortal archenemies, the EHRC. A trans woman sent to a men's prison, but sadly we're talking about the UK this time. Bashing Back in Brighton. Before moving on to the meat of the episode, which we've developed alongside https://www.wearequeeraf.com/ and Claire Prosho (https://linktr.ee/CTransTalks) to bring you some more information from inside the UK's gender identity clinic system, including: Last time we spoke of first appointments, but we look at how waiting for a second appointment can be almost as tortuous as the first and the length of the treatment pathway itself can take several years of a person's life, just to receive appropriate treatment. How the 18-25 year olds in the system are now hanging in the balance, depending on what the Levy Review's conclusions are and how they are put into practise. Data standards and how different models of data collection can make collation and looking for trends all the more difficult. Soon you, too, will be able to access all of this data. Would you like more information about this? Then please listen to the episode. References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep142

On this deep-dive episode, the first in a three-part series, the team take a brief look at the news, including: A proposed "Brit Card" digital ID system and the troubling implications for trans people. Excellent news from Estonia, which has revolutionised its medical and gender recognition system overnight. SEGM gets rekt by Gordon Guyatt (that's him in the thumbnail!) Before moving on to the meat of the episode, which we've developed alongside https://www.wearequeeraf.com/ and Claire Prosho (https://linktr.ee/CTransTalks) to bring you new information from inside the UK's gender identity clinic system, including: How Wes Streeting used information that was already a year out of date. A look at the astounding, centuries-long waiting list for a first appointment in some areas of the UK. How newer clinics are doing much more with less, compared to the old GIC system. With much more to come in the next two episodes! References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep141

On this sleeker, meaner episode, Ashleigh, Alyx and Flint go through: A brief talk about UK politics, Your Party and the Greens. The shot heard around the (English-speaking) world, from Utah Valley University. Other news from the US looking at the House & Senate and another from Michigan. Bridget Phillipson's overloaded inbox. The Liberal Democrat conference and Liberal Voice for Women. An absolute heroine taking on JPAC and the NHS Blood & Transplant service. And some trans joy! Join our Discord! References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep140

On this, rather delayed episode (sorry about that), Alyx and Ashleigh go through the details of: Graham Linehan's legal tussles and the mainstream press's reaction to them. Spoiler alert: there was a lot of stuff they left out of their coverage... Physical copies of EHRC consultation responses delivered to equalities minister, which took up ten folders. More fun & games from the Sandie Peggie tribunal. Regular segments Loser's Corner and Pond Hoppin'. An interview with Brittany, a member of TACC, about the work they do and how YOU can pitch in to help them. References:

We've done something different for this episode! Flint is joined by special guest @jasmeenswildheart (they/she) to tell us about the practice of Queering and ecology. This includes: How cities are more natural than you think, How we can better divest from harmful systems, The myth of Overpopulation and blue chip documentaries, And much more!