2025 has opened in the same way that 2024 closed - with the validity of being trans under threat from all sides.  This affects us all, no matter where we are on the transitioning spectrum.  It affects us personally for obvious reasons but it also affects us if we have any fellow feeling for the others in our society whether just in the UK or around the world.  In the same way that we cannot fail to be moved by the women in the US who have been denied life saving healthcare because the doctors have been too concerned about the risks of being accused of performing an abortion that they have had to let the woman die due to complications during pregnancy, the current attacks on transgender people, their healthcare and safety as outlined in Speaker Johnson's speech outlining the new administrations priorities in the USA which reinforce the state level laws restricting or outlawing trans peoples' lives must also affect us.  Closer to home we have seen the roll back on healthcare for transgender youth with a very questionable ban introduced at the 11th hour by the previous government and the deep sense of betrayal felt by many of the LGBTQIA+ society when the Labour government continued the ban until at least 2027.

So what now?  The gender critical organisation For Women Scotland has challenged the Equality Act and the Gender Recognition Act in the Supreme Court of the UK by calling for a redefinition of the meaning of sex to mean biological sex only - if the Supreme Court rules in their favour then a Gender Recognition Certificate would become meaningless and the way would be open for the protections afforded by the Equality Act to be removed.  To some of us that would probably not affect us much, but spare a thought for those whose lives would be affected.  From something as obvious and commonly stated as not being able to use the toilets you feel most comfortable using to being denied a job, or housing, just because you are trans - or healthcare.  As an example many trans women take HRT as part of their transitioning - I do.  One of the side effects of this is the growth of breast tissue which is exactly the same as for cis women and is subject to the same degree of risk of developing cancer and it is essential that these trans women are offered regular mammograms in the same way as for cis women - however, if they are not classed as women, they will not automatically be offered these scans - I know, I only received the invite for a scan once my NHS number had been changed to one that identified me as a woman.

So, if these changes do not directly affect you, then consider yourself lucky but spare a thought for those who are affected by them, the next two posts will cover a couple of these changes and their implications