The Feel Happy [With My Gender] Fix Report

THE

FEEL HAPPY WITH MY

FIX

Young People ‘Fixing’ Transgender Issues:

A Generation In Transition

The Feel Happy [With My Gender] Fix Young People ‘Fixing’ Transgender Issues: A Generation in Transition

Contents 04 Foreword 05 Executive Summary 09 Introduction 10 Findings and Recommendations 10 School 12 Home 14 Media 16 Health 18 Work 20 Conclusion 24 References 26 Survey Results

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

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Foreword Nearly 10 years ago my life fell apart for the worst. I was young, miserable, scared and alone; the only thing that was scaring me more was the thought I’d have to live the rest of my life in the wrong body – being called the wrong name and just being out of place my whole life.

Jayson McSwiggan (Trans Male) The Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix provided young people who identify as transgender, gender fluid and non-binary with the opportunity to share their views and experiences about issues that are affecting their lives...issues like access to healthcare, exclusion of trans identity from school curriculums and discrimination in the workplace. What made the ‘Feel Happy’ event so unique was that the professionals and ‘experts’ didn’t control or try to influence what was said – it was us, the young people, who set the agenda and discussion was guided by our views and lived experiences.

This was a chance for professionals across the education, health, media and employment sectors to listen to us as we have first-hand experiences of life as young trans people. After all, we’re the experts on our own lives. Personally, I particularly wanted to share my experiences and make my voice heard to help younger generations who might not be so confident.

The young people who took part in the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix are all known as Fixers; all of them have signed up to use their pasts to fix the future for themselves and others; and call for change on issues that matter to them.

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But I was so wrong. Things do change, people are accepting, the help is there and you are worth it. Life may have stumbles along the way but sometimes we just need to turn those challenges into positive change to move society in the right direction. Being a Fixer encourages you to keep your head up and focus on who and what matters in the world around you.

I chose to become a Fixer in 2015, following my own coming out experience when I was younger, to show young LGBT people that there is support out there when you come out – whether you are gay, lesbian, bi, trans or non-binary.

During the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix, I heard young trans people who have experienced social exclusion and isolation – in particular, the lack of proper training for school staff about gender identity and its inclusion in the school curriculum. I think it’s really important to educate staff around gender identity and to include it in the teaching of sex ed.

This isn’t just about us either; we’d like to see more support for our parents and other family members when they are faced with a child coming out.

I’d particularly like to see more professionals in health, education and the wider public sector engaging and working with young trans people to better understand their lives. Professionals in education, health, media and work should listen to the voices of the Fixers in the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix report and help bring about the changes we are calling for.

- Jayson McSwiggan (Trans Male)

Executive Summary Young people with experience of gender identity issues feel socially isolated and say there is a palpable sense of ‘cope on your own’ when it comes to their interactions with decision makers and institutions.

They want to bridge the chasms they have identified and create change ‘without hostility’. They ask you to read their suggestions which, they say, will help them and future generations.

Since its founding in 2008, Fixers has been committed to its mission of empowering young people to effect change in the lives of others, in their communities, society and the wider culture. In keeping with Fixers’ ‘voice as value’ approach to youth engagement the voices of young people - from across the gender identity spectrum - will feature strongly at the forefront and throughout this report; it will aim to place the voices of transgender, gender-fluid, non-binary and self-identifying young people at the heart of the public policy discourse through a voice-based, collaborative process of formulating policy solutions to problems faced by young people in their everyday lives. These recommendations come from the experts who know better than most how to make life better for young transgender, genderfluid and non-binary people - the Fixers themselves.

During the autumn and winter of 2016 Fixers held numerous workshops in LGBT youth clubs, schools and other community hubs right across the UK. Facilitated by our Young Person Coordinators (YPCs), 157 young people (known as Fixers) anonymously participated in group discussions and surveys focusing on five broad subject areas relating to their

lives; school, focusing on gender identity issues experienced by young people in secondary, further and higher education; health, listening to the patient experiences of trans youth navigated health and gender reassignment services; home, regarding relationships with family, friends and the wider community; media, focusing on how young people see transgender, gender-fluid and non-binary individuals are portrayed across mainstream and social media; and work, regarding the experiences of trans youth in employment.

Following on from these regional workshops, the recommendations created by the Fixers contributed to a national Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix conference held at ITV London Television Centre at the end of November 2016. This conference provided the opportunity to young trans people to make their voices heard in front of an audience of health practitioners, education professionals, third sector groups, policy makers, media figures and gender identity campaigners. The following report, which brings together the voices and recommendations of the Fixers from across the UK, outlines the findings from our Feel Happy workshops with key recommendations for policy makers. All names have been changed.

You can find out more about the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix, and the resources created during the conference, via our microsite here: www.fixers.org.uk/transgender The following offers an overview of the main findings and recommendations of the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix.

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School “Rather than the teachers teaching you stuff about it, you have to teach it to them, and they still don’t understand. I doubt that they learn about LGBT issues during teacher training, so that could be put in place.” - Andrew (Trans Male) FINDINGS: The education system fails to adequately understand gender identity issues and the concerns of transgender, gender-fluid and non-binary young people at school, college or university. From the lack of gender neutral bathrooms allocated in schools to teachers and school support staff being improperly trained in awareness of gender identity issues effecting young trans people, Fixers have spoken with consistency and clarity about the solutions necessary to address the concerns of trans youth in education - the following recommendations are their ideas to improve the lived experiences of trans youth in the education system.

RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Expansion and improvement of teacher training on gender identity issues. Starting with the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and throughout their career in education with continual professional development, teachers should receive up-to-date training on gender identity issues and how to support young people who are transitioning gender, non-

binary or self-identifying as a different gender during their time within the education system.

2. The increase in the provision of gender neutral bathroom facilities in schools, colleges and universities is viewed as essential for transgender students to effectively navigate the education system without being made to feel excluded and isolated. Having the requirement enshrined in law, that education providers must make reasonable efforts to allocate gender neutral bathroom facilities, would go a long way to improving the educational experiences of trans youth, they say.

3. The teaching and portrayal of transgender, gender-fluid and non-binary individuals in classrooms is also of great concern to young trans people. Reforming the school curriculum, particularly with regards to Sex Education, to ensure there is an up-to-date and non-discriminatory teaching about the trans community in the classroom would go a long way to ensuring tolerance and respect for the trans community is instilled in younger generations.

Home “Family members might say, ‘we’ve got more important things to worry about in this family than your name and the pronouns we use to address you.’ They don’t realise the impact of their reaction on you and how it can impact on your mental health.”

- Charlie (Trans Male) FINDINGS: Fixers are concerned about the lack of support available to parents and other family members of trans gender young people. To strengthen the support networks around young trans people, Fixers debated and discussed numerous solutions aimed at doing precisely that.

From expanding provision of NHS and local authority support groups and more education services available to parents of trans children, to encouraging people to use correct pronouns in everyday life; the following recommendations which they agreed upon aim to change the wider

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culture in society, as well strengthening support networks already in place, to advance the place of trans youth in society.

RECOMMENDATIONS: 4. To help parents and family members access support more easily, Fixers recommended that funding for NHS and local authority provision of support groups be increased to ensure every local community has access to these services.

5. The internet and social media, as a tool to provide a space for parents and families to engage with other families equally

committed to support their trans family members, was seen by Fixers as vital for supporting families who don’t have physical access to support groups in their local community. Fixers recommended more needs to be done by NGOs and charities to expand online support forums.

6. Every effort needs to be made by Government, charities and advocacy groups to ensure a broad understanding and shift in cultural attitudes across society about the correct use of pronouns; incorrect pronouns used in conversation were seen by Fixers as an attempt to isolate and delegitimise trans people.

Media “The media is vital in changing attitudes. The media can get the message across that we’re all human. We need people in the media who are willing to help educate without malice on either side. I think it is hugely important in helping us.” - Jay (Trans Male) FINDINGS: The Fixers felt especially passionate about issues revolving around how transgender people and self-identifying individuals are portrayed in the media. Across both traditional forms of media (TV, radio, newspapers) and new forms of social media, Fixers expressed dissatisfaction with how the media approaches gender identity - both in the abstract and on an individual level - with concerns about sensationalising issues and needlessly inserting sexualised elements to media coverage of a non-sexual identity issue.

Fixers urged the adoption by media outlets and broadcasters of several recommendations aimed at ensuring the trans community is fairly portrayed in the media.

RECOMMENDATIONS: 7. The issue of the media lacking awareness of or not understanding gender identity issues is raised frequently by Fixers; they saw media reports of gender identity as lacking expert knowledge or, in some cases, as disseminating false information as fact.

The Fixers recommended that media organisations and professional bodies do more to educate journalists on such matters and seek more dialogue with the trans community.

8. Concerns about media portrayals of transgender, gender-fluid and nonbinary individuals - particularly the sensationalising of related stories and the portrayal of a strictly gender-based issue as a sexualised one - were also raised.

The Fixers recommended that journalistic professional bodies issue stricter guidance on how members should report gender identity issues.

9. Fixers believe that the lack of transgender or gender-fluid individuals in the media is a major roadblock to the advancement of trans rights and more tolerance in society. The Fixers recommended that more needs to be done to encourage positive role models to be visible in the media, not only to raise awareness but also to encourage young trans people to feel confident in their own identities.

HEALTH “When I first went to my GP, it had already taken years of battling with myself and it took a lot of courage for me to go, just to be told by the doctor that he’d never heard of it, that I was making it up, that I had split personality disorder; I came away quite upset. I printed off a whole load of information and went back to try to educate my GP.” - Chris (Trans Male) FINDINGS: The issue of health and the experiences of transgender people with health services generated a great deal of discussion and debate about a host of problems.

The Fixers raised concerns about issues ranging from the lack of understanding of gender identity from local GPs to the treatment of trans people by the health

system being seen as uncaring and lacking compassion. The recommendations from the Fixers seek to improve healthcare access and patient experience for transgender people - especially younger trans individuals who often lack the confidence to request the services they need.

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RECOMMENDATIONS: 10. Fixers raised concerns that local GPs are failing to meet the needs of their trans patients by failing to be sufficiently knowledgeable about gender identity and gender reassignment as a medical procedure. Fixers highlighted the need for GPs and other health practitioners to receive more training on gender identity issues to improve patient experiences in this area.

11. Access to gender reassignment services and support groups, funded by the NHS, was cited as a key area for

improvement by Fixers. They recommend more funding for and expansion of services for individuals undergoing gender transition or in need of more information.

12. The issue raised by the Fixers that has potentially the most impact upon the way health services and practitioners approach gender identity issues is the concern that they are ‘patholigised’ by medical professionals and, therefore, seen as a problem to be cured. Fixers recommended that gender identity should not be treated as a solely medical condition.

Work “I worked at a supermarket and they wanted me to wear a female uniform which would have made me feel uncomfortable.” - Jay (Trans Male) FINDINGS: In workshops and surveys, Fixers raised issues about trans people in the workplace informed by personal experience and those in their peer group. Issues ranged from employers failing to have correct HR guidance in place for employees to concerns that tax and employment forms only provided a binary check box on matters relating to gender identification.

The Fixers’ recommendations seek to address these concerns and improve work life for the trans community by making workplaces safe, tolerant and welcoming places for trans people.

RECOMMENDATIONS: 13. The approach to gender identity issues by employers was viewed by the Fixers as out-dated and unresponsive to the modern workplace. The Fixers felt that employers lacked sufficient knowledge about gender identity issues and failed to accommodate employees who had transitioned, were transitioning or identified as a different/no gender. The recommendation from Fixers was for updated HR practices across the private sector.

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14. Issues relating to privacy at work were also raised by Fixers during the workshops.

Fixers felt that official tax and employment documentation forced especially nonbinary individuals to disclose their gender identity even when they felt uncomfortable doing so. The recommendation to resolve this issue is for employees to be given the option of non-disclosure when checking boxes on forms.

15. Fixers also raised concerns about obstacles and barriers faced by members of the trans community to entering employment. Chief amongst these barriers was the discrimination against trans people from potential employers when applying for jobs. To tackle discrimination by employers, the Fixers recommend that equalities protections in public sector employment and procurement be expanded to include private sector employers.

Introduction Gender identity is fast becoming the next civil and human rights issue of the 21st century. From Caitlyn Jenner to Amazon’s Transparent, from the growing public debate in the US about the right for transgender persons to use the bathroom of their self-identified gender to increasingly tolerant views among the millennial generation and younger toward the trans community; what is clear is that, certainly in Western society, the public discourse on gender identity is rapidly changing.

Indeed, as one LGBTQ activist has noted “increased cultural prominence has led to more acceptance than ever, yes, but also to an uncloaking of an ongoing strain of antitrans prejudice and hatred”. It makes this report a timely contribution to an ongoing debate during an important juncture.

As was recently stated, in the very first House of Commons debate on transgender equality to be witnessed in the UK Parliament, the issue of equality for the trans community plays a ‘pivotal role… in creating a fairer society’. There have been immense strides towards greater tolerance and acceptance of LGBT lifestyles over the last 15 years or so; there is, however, a perception amongst many that trans people are under-represented in the LGBT community, frequently misrepresented in public discourse and discriminated against.

Indeed, as has been written by Emma Inch the issue of the ‘pathologisation’ of gender identity (a subject that our Fixers address later in this report) is part of a broader medicalisation of social issues by medical professionals that sees gender as ‘gender binary’ stereotypes. This report will be of great interest to health practitioners and service commissioners seeking to learn from the voices of young trans people speaking to issues in their field of research.

To contribute to the established knowledge, research and ongoing public discourse on gender identity, the national social action charity Fixers, has brought together young trans people in the 16-25 age group in the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix project to give voice to the views of young trans people and illustrate their lived experiences as members of the trans community through five subject areas - school, home, media, health and work. Fixers is not a single-issue charity, therefore we do not claim to be experts on any single given subject area here in this report. However, what Fixers does offer - to academics, campaigners and policy makers interested in gender identity issues - is to provide young people with a platform to get their voices heard and to contribute to the wider discourse.

The key aim of the research and resources in the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix is to insert the wisdom and knowledge of Fixers into public policy debate through their voices and lived experiences. From these come the key recommendations that Fixers themselves have created, from their own unique insights, that aim to inform policy-making and practice to help support other young trans people across the UK.

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

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If you don’t know about trans issues you won’t know how to approach someone who comes out as trans - if you don’t know, you don’t know… there’s a lack of education, schools would rather dismiss the situation than deal with it.

- James (Trans Male)

Schools, further education colleges and universities have an enormous impact on the development of young people as they transition from childhood to adulthood, learning and socialising. From the beginning of their education, young people who identify as transgender, gender-fluid, non-binary etc. encounter a range of experiences which shape their attitudes towards education, their own identities and their futures as adults. Indeed, a great wealth of evidence exists that transgender young people are at higher risk of mental health problems and social isolation within the school environment.

The public policy debate on this issue has focused almost entirely on matters of bullying in the wider context of LGBT issues. Indeed, in 2014 the Department for Education (DfE) unveiled £2 million worth of funding to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HTB) bullying in schools. The need for this is illustrated by the findings of our gender identity survey which shows 48% have experienced HBT bullying/discrimination in an education environment; further to this, the Fixers outlined a wider array of concerns within the education environment that is going

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largely unheeded and unaddressed by policy-makers.

Indeed, Fixers felt that teachers and school support staff lacked the necessary knowledge and adequate level of training in gender identity issues, with 72% identifying the issue worsening their school experience. As the Fixers said in one regional workshop: “It’s not easy being in education when you are looking for support and no one knows what you’re talking about. But I had one teacher who was really clued up.

He talked to other members of staff about homophobia and transphobia. He told them that they wouldn’t ignore a racist comment, so they shouldn’t ignore a transphobic comment.”- Emma (Trans Female) “Rather than the teachers teaching you stuff about it, you have to teach it to them, and they still don’t understand. I doubt that they learn about LGBT issues during teacher training, so that could be put in place.”- Andrew (Trans Male) “It’s about teaching the teachers - because we’re the only ones that can.”- Kyle (Male)

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Findings and Recommendations

The voices of the Fixers in our workshops speak to a growing concern among trans students, particularly in secondary and further education, that educators lack the proper training to accommodate the needs of trans students, combat transphobic bullying and promote tolerance of trans people in the classroom. The Fixers call for more teacher training and continued professional development which echoes the recent calls for more training on trans issues by ATL and is seen by Fixers as essential to ensuring educators understand them as individuals.

On issues of gender neutral bathrooms, Fixers expressed a desire to see appropriate bathroom facilities for transgender, gender-fluid and non-binary students. Fixers raised concerns that the lack of gender neutral bathrooms left them feeling isolated in the education environment but also was detrimental to non-trans students where they have to share facilities with trans students who don’t identity as the same gender as they do.

“One school was so unaccepting the person ended up refusing to go to the toilet at school as they wouldn’t set aside a designated toilet for trans people… gender neutral bathrooms would be the perfect solution, there is a huge anxiety about the use of bathrooms amongst transgender people in schools.”-Jessie (Non-Binary) “When I came out as trans, the school said to use the disabled loo.”- Jay (Trans Male) “Gender neutral toilets are safer for everyone.”- James (Trans Male) “The school said we can’t let you use the male toilets, you either have to use the female toilets or the disabled ones.’ I am not a girl, I don’t identify as a girl and I am not disabled. So I ended up not going to the toilet and holding it all day.”- Rachel (gender fluid) The Fixers in the workshops called for local education authorities, multiple academy chains and other education providers to make provision for gender neutral bathroom facilities throughout the education system at secondary, further and higher education levels. While some might view issues about gender neutral toilets as trivial, Fixers have highlighted concerns that education providers are, in the words of James (Trans

Male) asking trans students to “hide away and not be seen”. Such attitudes only serve to further isolate trans youth and exclude them from the school environment.

Fixers also voiced ideas for improvement within the curriculum itself. Many Fixers felt that in many areas of the curriculum (biology, Sex Ed etc.) there was a severe lack of trans representation and teaching about gender identity issues. This, they felt, led to misconceptions about trans people becoming commonplace in the classroom, increased prejudice and a feeling of exclusion from school life.

“No one is taught what trans means, not even the basics – that if you are transgender you don’t identify with your birth gender. If people are taught about trans issues, even the basics, it will help T people identify their feelings rather than just being confused and not knowing/ understanding what they are feeling.”Charlie (Trans Male) “There should be mandatory education on sexual health and LGBT identities. We have it for religion and moral education.

By mandatory education on sexual health and LGBT identities you challenge the misconceptions. People ignore that I’m female and think I’m a man in a dress.

They have the idea that gender is assigned at birth and that’s harmful because you are invalidating their identity and it has an adverse impact on mental health”- Emma (Trans Female) “Sex Ed is very hetero-centric”- Michael (Trans Male) The Fixers, in both the workshops and survey, spoke to a strongly held view that the education curriculum – in particular sex education – excludes trans voices and lived experiences from the classroom. The term “hetero-centric”, used to describe sex education classes by one Fixers, seemed to sum up the opinions on this subject of this trans age cohort.

1. Gender identity to be included in teacher training and continued professional development 2. More provision of gender neutral bathrooms 3. Inclusion of gender identity in the school curriculum

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 11 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

The relationships young trans people form in their lives - whether with parents, family, carers, friends, peers or colleagues - are, like for any of us, an integral part of navigating everyday life and building levels, of, what Robert Putnam called, ‘social capital’, necessary for overcoming times of stress, hardship and loss through informal support networks which act as a safety net. These social networks are of great importance for young trans people due to the lack of support in educational settings observed previously and, as we shall see, due to the social isolation they and their families experience.

The Fixers involved in this study reported that their home lives and social relationships were broadly positive with supportive friends - 80% of Fixers surveyed said that their friends and peers were ‘more accepting and tolerant’ of transgender people; whereas, with family members like parents, 75% of Fixers responded that parents were uncomfortable talking about gender identity issues. These results speak

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to a stark generational divide experienced by young trans people that can make home and social life acutely difficult for them.

The results of this study demonstrate trans youth feel that there is a great deal of stigmatism faced by families of trans people, that there is little support available to those families and that incorrect use of pronouns is leaving many young people feeling socially isolated.

In the Feel Happy workshops, the issue of support groups for families was raised repeatedly by young people who expressed concerns that parents and close relatives of young trans people lack support networks within their communities from which to seek advice and share experiences with other families in similar situations. Fixers recommended that more funding be made available so that NHS Trusts and local authorities can expand current service provision and ensure families can have access to support groups in their area.

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Often there is no support or information for families when they receive the news that someone close is transitioning. It can be very isolating and I think there should be a network of support for families. There’s information for trans people but not for their relatives. Also, their experience of it is completely different to our experience. Especially with people they love. My mum said she experienced a sense of loss. I don’t completely understand that; but they’re her emotions and I wish she had somewhere to go.

- Greg (Trans Male)

“They [families] can get caught up in their own emotions about their child coming out as trans. It would be helpful to give them an info pack with terminology etc. that they can then look at in their own time.”- Vicky (Pan-Female) “It would help if there were support groups for families. I am sure there are groups, but they need to be more visible. An opportunity for some like my mum to speak to other parents. She can speak to me, but I am trans, not a parent of a trans person.

Just hearing someone who has experience the same as you can be a massive help.”

- Jess (Trans Female) Another area where young trans people have concerns is the level of online support available to young trans people.

The Fixers, who as their 16-25-year-old age group might indicate, were typical of their generation in being highly computer literate and well versed with social media.

However, they were also heavily dependent on social media and the online world for emotional/peer support with 49% expressing concern that there was ‘little or no’ support available where they lived. This led many Fixers to recommend to charities and public sector bodies that they do more to increase their online/social media presence to reach out to more trans young people.

“There needs to be more opportunities and support. I didn’t know about this [LGBT youth group] group for ages as I live in a quite rural area outside Taunton.

The internet is all you’ve got.”- Gemma (Female) “Parents and young people also need more easily accessible online resources and help to make them feel less alone, most of the websites don’t offer much in the way of information and it takes so long to get in to see anyone.”- Ben (Trans Male) For many of the Fixers, the incorrect use of pronouns in society leaves them feeling isolated and discriminated against. In the workshops, Fixers highlighted instances

where incorrect pronouns were used and the effect this had on them as a trans individual. To address this issue, the Fixers expressed a strong belief that change in cultural attitudes to resolve this issue needed to be affected by government, charities and advocacy groups across society to bring about a sea change in culture.

“Isolation for me was inside my own house. Most of my friends were LGBT so they have been supportive. The reasons you get isolated in your own family are more complicated. A lot of people don’t realise how important it is to have gender recognition from pronouns in your own family. Family members might say, ‘we’ve got more important things to worry about in this family than your name and the pronouns we use to address you.’ They don’t realise the impact of their reaction on you and how it can impact on your mental health. It’s so important to recognise another person’s gender. I want people to be open to learn from people of different generations.” – Charlie (Trans Male) “Sometimes using the wrong words is just in error, but when it’s repeatedly forgetting correct pronouns it can be a problem.”James (Trans Male) “My sister used it against me- she would use my birth name and deliberately use the wrong pronouns.”- Nicholas (Trans Male) 4. More funding for family support groups so that families and parents of trans people can get the support they need in their local community 5. Expand the online presence of charities, public sector organisations and trans support groups to reach more young people with support and advice 6. Government and NGOs to do more to ensure that correct pronouns are used to affect a sea change in cultural attitudes towards trans people

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 13 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

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There seems to be this negative narrative where our lives are so sad and things are so hard, but we also do amazing things so why can’t we talk about that and all the things we can do? The media treat us like we’re really weak and, like, they feel sorry for us.

- Greg (Trans Male)

Social media has rapidly emerged as the main form of communication, news and information source for young people over the last 15 years. Indeed, the growth of social media usage among younger age cohorts has arguably also had an impact on the way social media allows young people, in particular trans youth, to identify on social media platforms; Facebook allows users to self-identify their gender via a list of 71 different options. In this environment, and with the increasing importance of social media to young people’s everyday lives, this report highlights how young trans people are concerned about how gender identity issues are represented in this medium.

Further, the Fixers expressed concerns that traditional media portrayed the trans community in a sensationalised manner, where trans individuals are stigmatised and gender identity issues are unnecessarily sexualised. In fact, 61% of Fixers who participated in our survey expressed concerns that the media failed to portray young people who identify as transgender, gender-fluid or non-binary in a positive way; with 58% of Fixers saying that the media portrays the trans community in a negative way.

The following recommendations come from the Fixers and aim to improve how trans people are portrayed in the media but also to send positive messages to young trans 14

people who otherwise might feel socially isolated and alone.

One area of concern for the Fixers was the lack of general awareness and understanding of gender identity issues.

Fixers identified media reporting of gender identity as lacking expert knowledge or, in some cases, as disseminating false information as fact.

“The media is vital in changing attitudes.

The media can get the message across that we’re all human. We need people in the media who are willing to help educate without malice on either side. I think it is hugely important in helping us.”- Craig (Trans Male) “There could be a better portrayal through information. The physical transition is often the very last thing to happen in a transition.

When someone states their gender, that should be that. When I say I am a woman, everything is fine; but if I say I’m a man, I am questioned.”- Vicky (Pan-Female) The Fixers recommended that media organisations and professional bodies do more to educate journalists on such matters and seek more dialogue with the trans community; whether through closer consultation with organisations such as GIRES or through the creation of a specific advocacy body to consult with and hold to account media coverage of the trans community.

Another area Fixers felt there needed to be greater improvement was the way in which media outlets, especially traditional media such as tabloid newspapers, portray trans people. The Fixers expressed concerns that media portrayals were sensationalist and highly negative towards trans people creating portrayals that fuels prejudice in wider society.

“When you have a trans character, but they get the wrong gender person to play them… they should either get a trans person to play the character or an actor of the gender that the character identifies.

You have trans women in the media, but the representation is harmful and trans men and non-binary people have no representation at all.”- Daniel (Trans Male)

“It is very difficult to rid society of sensationalist terms, stereotypes and misconceptions when certain media outlets are using them so widely. I think as a community we could do more to band together to do more about this.”- Emma (Trans Female)

“Orange is the New Black is a positive portrayal. We see her in transition from her place in her family to prison and her shift, as well as the people trying to destroy her due to her trans choice. It shows the personal side and the social side. Also, in a show called Sense 8, there is an accurate positive portrayal in a character called Naomi.”- George (Trans Male)

“The media likes to put people in boxes… they have a gender conditioned portrayal of trans people.”- Kyle (Male) “The media are only interested in two genders - male and female- and they only see gender changing in one direction male to female.”- Greg (Trans Male) To address the concerns of young trans people about negative or hostile media coverage of gender identity issues, Fixers wanted to see more efforts made to combat such prejudiced media output.

More robust action by press regulators, such as the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), would be one way in which Fixers felt would go a long way to improving reporting of gender identity issues in the media.

One other issue raised by Fixers in the workshops and the survey was the lack of representation in the media of trans people - either of transgender, gender-fluid, nonbinary etc. identities - and the debilitating impact this had on young trans people looking for role models, reassurance and support. While social and online media (like Netflix) was viewed as representative of trans people; in the survey of Fixers, 88% of those surveyed expressed the desire that there should be more positive role models in the media and 59% said that they knew of no trans media figures. As the voices of Fixers will show, young trans people are calling for more inclusiveness towards the trans community in the media by recruiting more transgender, gender-fluid and nonbinary figures to feature in television, radio and online media.

“There are positive examples of trans people on social media, but it’s about finding them.”- Greg (Trans Male) The Fixers positive views of new media platforms – such as Netflix, Amazon Prime or Twitter – contrast with their negative opinions of traditional news outlets such as print journalism. The relatively open, non-conforming and innovative nature of this new media arguably makes it a natural environment for trans media figures or the trans community in general.

Traditional media platforms are already facing competition from more nimble, online competitors who are appealing to ever greater numbers of younger age groups; the distrust and sense of exclusion from traditional media by young trans people means that traditional media faces losing this youth demographic, on top of the broader youth demographic to nontraditional competitors.

7. Journalists and media outlets to engage more with trans community and experts to learn more about gender identity issues and improve reportage 8. Press regulators and media outlets to better regulate how the media portrays trans people to ensure prejudice and sensationalist media coverage does not occur 9. More trans people to feature in media to provide more positive role models for young trans people

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 15 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

“

I had terrible experiences with my GP as they weren’t educated about gender identity at all. I found it really awkward going to see my GP as a result, so I asked my youth worker to talk to my GP for me. More education of people in the health profession is definitely needed.

- Jack (Trans Male)

For young people transitioning to a different gender than the one assigned at birth, or a young person identifying as a different gender to that of their birth gender or a teenager questioning their identity; the advice and support from health professionals is an important part of their lives as a trans person. While not every member of the trans community requires the use of gender identity medical services, it is still the case that many gender-fluid and non-binary Fixers said they used advice and support groups provided by the NHS with 45% claiming that advice and support services provided by their local CCG or NHS Trust were inadequate.

For its part, the NHS has responded to demands for service improvement from the trans community by issuing new interim service guidelines with commitments to ensuring services ‘appropriate to the person’s individual needs and situation’.

Indeed, health professional bodies have spoken of the patient-centred approach to gender dysphoria improving on attitudes and approaches of medical practitioners in previous decades. Although, as we shall see from the voices of Fixers, young trans people reject the ‘widespread’ misunderstanding that gender is a binary issue and trans people are suffering from a medical disorder.

16

Most of the young people involved in the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix had experience, either personally or within their peer group, of navigating the health system as a trans individual. They had all experienced the NHS at its most local level and stated, by 44% of those surveyed, that their GP had not been helpful when it came to trans health issues. Further to this, 47% of Fixers claimed their GP did not understand gender identity issues and only 17% said they could rely on their GP for support and advice. These numbers are important as the role of GPs as an initial point of contact for young people, seeking to commence gender reassignment surgery or support services, means that they play a significant part in any patient experience for members of the trans community.

Indeed, this is perhaps why the Fixers who participated in the Feel Happy workshops and survey raised concerns about their own experiences with GPs regarding gender identity issues and called for GPs to be better trained, educated and equipped to assist young trans people.

“Generally, I think there needs to be a lot more education [of GPs]. When I first went to my GP, it had already taken years of battling with myself and it took a lot of courage for me to go, just to be told by the doctor that he’d never heard of it, that I was making it up, that I had split personality disorder; I came away quite upset. I printed off a whole load of information and went back to try to educate my GP. When I went to the gender identity clinic, it wasn’t much better. Specialised people not knowing what they are talking about...”- Chris (Trans Female) “My GP was brilliant. I said I didn’t know how to start the conversation so I’d written a letter which I asked him to read. He went off and educated himself - he went the extra mile for me.”- James (Trans Male) Another finding of this report, which chimes with much of the present debate on gender reassignment services, is that Fixers have experienced a “postcode lottery” when it comes to service provision and recommend that more funding be allocated for the expansion of Gender Identity Clinics (GICs) and counselling services.

“The majority of GPs are reluctant to do anything unless you have medication from GICs even though GPs can give you bridging hormones. But because waiting lists are so long and there’s so few GICs, it means I can’t get the correct treatment that I need. It’s often a postcode lottery when it comes to what treatment you can get.”

- Jess (Trans Female) Finally, our research suggests that many young trans people have objections to gender identity issues and gender reassignment being treated as a medical concern - thus ‘pathologising’ trans people by treating how they identify as a purely medical condition rather than a social issue. The Fixers in the workshops expressed a powerful conviction that medical professionals needed to stop treating them as broken or dysfunctional patients and start supporting them as rational individuals asserting themselves in their new gender identity.

“GPs tend to have a personal opinion on transgender people and they assume you have mental health problems and that anything you are suffering from is somehow linked to you being transgender.”- Michael (Trans Male)

“The health services don’t treat you as an individual - to them you’re just a number.”

- James (Trans Male) “GPs blame normal health problems on being transgender.”- Katie (Trans Female) “We [trans people] shouldn’t be lumped together with LGBT because trans isn’t a sexuality. This makes people think it’s the same.”- Chris (Trans Male) “Being ‘diagnosed’ as trans bothers me it’s an identity! Being diagnosed makes it seem like a mental health problem.”- Greg (Trans Male) “My experiences with health services have been hit and miss. I went to the GP to ask for hormones because I didn’t have a clue what to do. The GP said, ‘in 15/16 years of practicing I’ve never met or dealt with a trans person’. It was belittling and annoying that the GP had no idea what to do, had no idea how to help me because I’d gone to them for support. My GP referred me to CAMHS - it’s often what GPs do, they think trans means a mental health issue. In the end I self-referred to a gender identity clinic.”- Emma (Trans Female) From the voices of Fixers there is a clear sense that young trans people view NHS services, both at a local and a national level, as unresponsive to their needs and distant in terms of how medical practitioners engage and empathise with their trans patients. As James (Trans Male) alluded to earlier, health practitioners are seen as viewing trans people “just as a number”; a possible solution was expressed by Chris (Trans Male) when they said: “…it should be a working relationship and a two-way street rather than someone trying to tick boxes”. If health practitioners are to address these concerns, then approaching gender identity with less pathology and more empathy might go a long way to overcoming the deep-seated distrust felt by trans youth.

10. More training for GPs and health professionals in gender identity issues 11. Increasing access and availability of support and advice for trans people on the NHS 12. Changing the approach of medical professionals to gender identity- from a purely medical issue to a broader social issue

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 17 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

18

- Charlie (Trans Male)

Like many other young people in the UK, young trans people face hurdles and challenges when it comes to gaining employment and navigating the workplace.

In recent years there has been a concerted effort, starting with the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the Equalities Act 2010, to ensure that minorities - whether religious, ethnic, sexual or gender - are protected from discrimination and guaranteed certain safeguards at work. But there does remain, as our report findings will demonstrate, a palpable sense amongst young trans people that workplace discrimination and ignorance of gender identity issues remain prevalent with employers.

The Fixers who participated in the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix identified HR policies, particularly in the private sector, as in need of updating to meet the challenges of a modern, changing and diverse workforce. Although many Fixers, some 36%, said their employers had a positive attitude towards trans employees and 40% identified their employers as being supportive of them during their transition/coming out during their time of employment; 54% of Fixers still claimed that their place of work lacked up-todate HR policies to accommodate trans employees and provide diversity training for employees.

Indeed, the Government’s plan for action for transgender equality states, ‘transgender people can still face persistent discrimination in the workplace’ and the Government Equalities Office (GEO) says, regarding employer attitudes towards trans employees, ‘there is sometimes a lack of awareness and understanding in relation to gender identity’. These statements reflect the views expressed by the Fixers in our Feel Happy workshops and survey that more needs to be done to ensure trans people can play a full part in society including the workplace.

“My employers don’t understand it [gender identity]… HMRC can’t get my gender right on any official forms they send me. It’s someone in an office somewhere deciding who I am.”- Chris (Trans Male) “The place I work is a co-operative, so we’re all like managers. So we get to decide workplace HR policy.”- Greg (Trans Male) “I worked at a supermarket and they wanted me to wear a female uniform which would have made me feel uncomfortable.”

– Jay (Trans Male)

“

“

I’ve had no discrimination at work. I work at a nursery and they were great and told the kids who understand. They use the right pro-nouns - I got lucky! I do find if I go to another department I get odd looks, they never say anything and people do get confused. I don’t deal with parents that much but one parent has been good and has encouraged her kids to use the right pro-nouns and my name.

The Fixers believe that by involving trans employees in discussion and consultation about their workplace, employers can learn a great deal from their voices and lived experiences which can help form up-to-date HR practices. From cooperative models of workplace practices to the broadly positive attitudes modern employers have towards trans employees, Fixers have demonstrated potential avenues toward ensuring the world of work includes trans people rather than isolating them.

Another finding from this report is that young trans people have identified issues of privacy and the right to non-disclosure about issues relating to their gender. Some 58% of Fixers stated that their work life would have been improved if their way of identifying their gender had been taken into account through company HR policy. Fixers identified allowing transgender, genderfluid and non-binary employees to opt out of answering question on forms as a key recommendation for improving work life for trans people. The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has made commitments to review gender identification and privacy issues in recent years, however, the findings of this report show that young trans people feel legislation needs to go further in this area by providing a legal right to opt out of gender identification on forms.

“When I fill in an application form they ask you to tick male, female or transgender; but trans shouldn’t be a separate gender.

I want to tick the male box, but then does that mean I’ve willingly lied and can lose my job?”- Chris (Trans Male) “Employers don’t pay attention to registration forms with gender. They don’t use the info they get to make things better. You should be able to put your own pronouns on the forms. I feel I have to push the fact that I am a guy. Being trans you have to force pronouns on people.

It’s awkward, but they don’t pay attention unless you do. Bosses are playing with your mental health.”- Kevin (Trans Male) Finally, Fixers identified ongoing workplace discrimination against trans people as a major concern. The Fixers felt that

discrimination against trans people whether through workplace bullying, unwillingness of employers to use correct pronouns or toleration of transphobic attitudes - was one of the last acceptable forms of LGBT discrimination. To address this issue, Fixers recommended that more is done to ensure that non-discrimination and equality legislation safeguards trans rights in the workplace.

“In one workplace the people I worked with refused to use ‘he’ and messaged my partner on Facebook asking her really personal questions. I felt like I had to leave after about a month. There’s safeguarding but I didn’t know where to raise it and whether I was properly protected. I didn’t feel confident enough to say what happened.”- Greg (Trans Male) “Companies may have non-discrimination policies in place, but they need to be enforced. Employees won’t be fired for being transgender, but they will always find another way to fire them.”- Jess (Trans Female) A broadly positive view of public sector organisations’ approach to trans equality in the workplace was expressed, as some Fixers attested in our workshops: “I had a placement in Diverse Cymru as part of my psychology degree. They already had a trans person working there.

Employees in the organisation were well trained. I introduced myself as George; although I needed to supply my passport which had my biological sex on it, my supervisor had no problem with that.”

- George (Trans Male) “I left my last job due to really hostile and negative attitudes towards trans people.

The place where I work now is really accepting and they don’t treat me like an alien.”- James (Trans Male) “I worked for Lush, it was a very accepting workplace. I came out to my boss as trans, she was very accepting. She taught the whole team about correct pronouns etc.”

- Craig (Trans Male)

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 19 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

The findings of this report indicate that young trans people, while citing positive experiences with some employers, still feel acutely vulnerable to discrimination and prejudice in the workplace - either from employers or fellow employees.

Fixers recommend that current equalities legislation be updated to take into account the vulnerability of trans people in the private sector economy. At present, equalities legislation mandates that public sector organisations ‘consider the needs of all individuals in their day to day work’, including the shaping of policy, service delivery and their own employees.

However, this mandate exempts private sector organisations and individuals from

ensuring the equality duty is implemented across the workplace. The findings of this report indicate that Fixers are in favour of legislation expanding the Equality Duty to private sector employers to guarantee all sectors of employment are accessible to trans people and other minorities.

13. Updated HR and employment policies to better accommodate trans employees 14. A right to opt-out of disclosing your identity on tax and employment forms 15. The extension of equalities legislation to private sector workplaces to ensure trans people are protected from discrimination

Conclusion This report and the research underpinning it sought to shed light on the most important issues facing young members of the trans community (in all its multiple identities), with a focus on the key areas of their everyday lives - school, home, media, health and work. In each of these focus group sessions the participants, known throughout as Fixers, were asked by the group facilitator about their lives in each of the five aforementioned subject areas. The answers and corresponding recommendations for change were thought provoking and offered genuine insight into the hopes, aspirations, fears and concerns of trans youth in 21st century Britain.

The Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix detailed how young trans people viewed the education system - from secondary, to further, to higher education - and how that system related to them. The Fixers cited the poor levels of understanding of gender identity issues amongst teachers and

20

school support staff as a primary concern; they felt that educators did not understand basic facts about trans people and this created a barrier to communication and collaboration in the classroom. This lack of understanding of trans issues amongst teachers and support staff also fed into Fixers’ concerns about the lack of gender identity issues in the national curriculum and the lack of gender neutral bathroom provision in education facilities (although further and higher education were noted for their more inclusive approach to trans issues) - each of these issues speak to a larger issue of social isolation for young trans people across the education system.

The key recommendation for policy makers was for more inclusion of gender identity awareness in teacher training, the curriculum and in school policies. As Rob, a Fixer said in a Cornwall workshop, said: “educating teachers leads on to them understanding.”

When it came to the home environment, Fixers highlighted the impact on family life and the lack of accessible support and advice for families. Once again, the issue of social isolation - this time in terms of trans people’s families - was highlighted

by Fixers and the need for better support systems to correct this were recommended.

Whether it was support groups based in their local community or on the online world, the Fixers’ recommendations spoke to a perceived sense of being left by experts and professionals to ‘cope on your own’ with what can be a difficult and at times emotionally stressful transitionboth for trans people themselves and their families. As one Fixer, Emma, said: “There are very few places offering any kind of support to trans people or their families – people just need to talk to someone”.

From support groups to the educating of people in correct pronoun usage, Fixer recommendations in this area point to a much wider feeling that trans people are not considered part of the larger community and mechanisms need to be put in place to bridge the gap between the trans community and society.

The media and the environment it creates, both in its traditional forms and in the relatively new social media, has proven to a subject of great concern for the Fixers.

Fixers identified a sense that traditional media was hostile towards the trans community and that media reporting of gender identity issues was sensationalist in a way that was perceived as discriminatory.

The recommendations from Fixers focused on improving understanding about gender identity issues in journalists’ professional circles through more co-operation and

consultation with the trans community; further to this, Fixers recommended that media regulators, social media companies and professional bodies should issue stronger guidelines to ensure media reporting of trans people is respectful, fair and tolerant. Combined with the recommendations that more trans figures should feature in the media, the findings of this report highlight a sense of disconnect from institutions like the media among young trans people. Fixers like Chris (Trans Male) summed up the level of mistrust of the media felt by young trans people, when they said: “the media exploits trans people because it’s a hot topic… people just get fed a whole lot of misinformation [about trans people]. Trans people can’t trust the media to represent us”. The media should take note of this and respond appropriately or face continued distrust from this age cohort.

The evidence presented by this report in terms of the health service also points to a deep-seated distrust of institutions and professionals - in this case GPs and health practitioners in the field of gender transitioning. Fixers raised concerns that GPs lacked an adequate level of understanding of gender identity and

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 21 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

thus, at the most local level, the NHS is perceived to be failing young trans people.

The perceived knowledge deficit among local health practitioners combined with the limited amount of gender identity clinic service provision means that Fixers felt that gender identity issues were severely underfunded and not a priority for decision-makers. The recommendations for improving health services for trans people fitted into the broader findings of this report in that they consisted of more education for practitioners, more support/advice services and the de-medicalisation of gender identity; each of these recommendations stem from a feeling, voiced by James (Trans Male) that institutions do not understand or misrepresent what it is to be a trans person. As James put it: “health services don’t treat you as an individual – to them you’re just a number.”

The Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix also highlighted several issues trans people have with the world of work. While many Fixers reported many positive relationships with employers and fellow employees this was not a universal experience of the Fixers who participated in our workshops or survey. Issues such as out-dated HR policies and workplace prejudice were highlighted by Fixers in their experiences of being a trans person in employment; their recommendations called for the updating of HR policies to better accommodate trans employees, the right for trans people to opt-out of disclosing their gender on official tax and employment forms and

22

also for equalities legislation to extend the ‘Equality Duty’ to private sector employers.

Interestingly, the views of Fixers indicate that public sector employers, arguably because of the Equality Duty, have made workplaces more open to trans people while private employers, with notable exceptions, are yet to catch up in terms of HR policies, workplace culture and recruitment of trans employees. The recommendations from Fixers indicate that stronger equality legislation for private sector workplaces would go a long way to improving working conditions and employer-employee relations for trans people.

The Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix findings underpin two main themes that have come to the fore when we have listened to the voices of young trans people. Firstly, the findings point to a chasm between institutions/decision makers and young trans people. The Fixers have shown that in terms of basic understanding of their daily lives, showing empathy to trans people and providing support to young people transitioning gender; there is a palpable sense that officialdom is unrepresentative of them as a community, ignores their concerns and sometimes works against them. Secondly, this report has found that young trans people feel socially isolated and cut off from wider society, thus requiring the implementation of more support networks that they may not receive at home, at school or in the workplace.

Both of these themes point towards the key conclusion from this report, which is that young trans people are in danger of becoming ‘the great ignored’ within the present youth cohort. Each of the 15 recommendations to policy makers highlight how Fixers want to see changes implemented that will allow them as trans people to overcome prejudice, barriers to personal fulfilment and ignorance throughout society. To overcome this will require greater understanding and empathy on the part of decision makers, health

practitioners, educator and employers; whether through changes in institutional practices or through enactment of legislation, the Fixers in this report have outlined the path towards achieving this.

Only by listening to the voices of young trans people will we be able to avert this worrying trend towards isolation and achieve a more tolerant society. As one of the Fixers said during the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix: “we need to create change without hostility”.

Fixers would like to extend its sincere thanks to ITV for hosting our Feel Happy event at London Television Centre and also to Wellcome Trust, which funds the Feel Happy Fix series. Thanks also to our researchers, Jenny Slater and Dr Eleanor Formby of Sheffield Hallam University – their leading of the the London workshops proved to be an integral element to the Feel Happy [with My Gender] Fix. This report has been compiled by Chris Podszus, Fixers Policy, Public Affairs and Research Officer.

Thank you also to our two presenters, broadcasters India Willoughby and Stephanie Hirst who hosted the event.

India Willoughby

Stephanie Hirst

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 23 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

References > First came the trans tipping point- now we’ve got the backlash, Tiq Milan, Guardian, April 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/21/transgender-rightsbacklash-anti-lgbt-legislation [retrieved: 07/12/16] > Transgender Equality debate, Hansard, 01/12/16 https://hansard.parliament.uk/ Commons/2016-12-01/debates/D4F283FB-2C02-4C8C-8C7E-BEAB889D1425/ TransgenderEquality [retrieved: 05/12/16] > Inch, Emma. Changing Minds: The Psycho-Pathologization of Trans People, International Journal of Mental Health, 45: 193-204, 2016 > Clark et al. The Health and Well-being of Transgender High School Students: Results from the New Zealand Adolescent Health Survey, Journal of Adolescent Health 55 (2014) 93-99 [accessed: 10/12/16] > Williams, J. Nicky Morgan on LGBT bullying: “I know the job isn’t done yet”, Pink News, 10/07/15 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/07/10/nicky-morgan-on-lgbt-bullying-i-knowthat-the-job-isnt-done-yet/ [accessed: 09/12/16] > Organisations urged to come forward with ideas to stamp out homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, Department for Education 29/10/16 https://www.gov.uk/ government/news/2-million-fund-to-tackle-homophobic-bullying-in-schools [accessed: 09/12/16] > Teachers Call for Gender Identity Support and Training, ATL, 06/04/16 https://www.atl. org.uk/latest/press-release/teachers-call-gender-identity-support-and-training [accessed: 10/02/17] > Burns, J. Single-sex schools must adapt for transgender pupils, BBC News http://www. bbc.co.uk/news/education-35941979 [accessed: 10/12/16] > Putnam, R. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, Simon & Schuster, 2001 > Williams, R. Facebook’s 71 gender options come to UK users, Telegraph, 27/06/14 http:// www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/10930654/Facebooks-71-gender-optionscome-to-UK-users.html [accessed: 10/12/16] > Spangler, T. Younger Viewers watch 2.5 more Internet Video than TV (Study), Variety, 29/03/16 http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/millennial-gen-z-youtube-netflix-videosocial-tv-study-1201740829/ [accessed: 12/01/17] > Interim Gender Dysphoria Protocol and Service Guideline 2013/14, NHS England, Oct 2013. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/int-gend-proto.pdf [accessed: 13/12/16] > ibid p.8

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> Good practice guidelines for the assessment and treatment of adults with gender dysphoria, College Report CR181, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Oct 2015 http://www. rcpsych.ac.uk/files/pdfversion/CR181_Nov15.pdf [accessed: 10/12/16] > Inch, Emma. Changing Minds: The Psycho-Pathologization of Trans People, International Journal of Mental Health, 45: 193-204, 2016 p.197 > Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action, HM Government, Dec 2011. P.8 > The recruitment and retention of transgender staff: Guidance for Employers, Government Equalities Office, Nov 2015. P.4 > Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action, Government Equalities Office, December 2011 p.12 > Equality Act 2010: Public Sector Equality Duty, what do I need to know? A quick start guide for public sector organisations, Government Equalities Office, June 2011

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 25 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

Survey Results 72% of Fixers said their teachers and school support staff didn’t understand them or gender identity issues 5

Answered: 146 Skipped: 11

4 3 2 1 0

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Question: Thinking about your experiences at school, college and university; how much do you agree or disagree with the following? For each statement, please tick the appropriate box.

26

1 Strongly disagree

2 Somewhat disagree

3 Neither agree nor disagree

4 Somewhat agree

A. Teachers and school support staff understood issues facing transgender, gender fluid and nonbinary pupils.

24.48% 35

47.55% 68

9.09% 13

16.78% 24

2.10% 3

143

2.24

B. My fellow students understood issues facing transgender, gender fluid and non-binary pupils.

23.61% 34

30.56% 44

19.44% 28

26.39% 38

0.00% 0

144

2.49

C. Teachers and school support staff were supportive of transgender, gender fluid and nonbinary pupils.

14.18% 20

26.95% 38

30.50% 43

24.82% 35

3.55% 5

141

2.77

D. Staff at my school and/or college had up-todate training on gender identity issues.

47.14% 66

22.86% 32

19.29% 27

9.29% 13

1.43% 2

140

1.95

E. Transphobic and negative attitudes towards transgender students were commonplace.

9.29% 13

11.43% 16

30.71% 43

27.14% 38

21.43% 30

140

3.40

F. I felt accepted in my identity by teachers and support staff.

9.29% 13

24.29% 34

32.14% 45

24.29% 34

10.00% 14

140

3.01

G. I felt accepted in my identity by fellow students.

14.08% 20

18.31% 26

19.72% 28

32.39% 46

15.49% 22

142

3.17

5 Strongly agree

Total

Weighted Average

Answered: 131 Skipped: 26

A B C D E F 0%

10% 20% 30%

40% 50% 60%

70%

80% 90% 100%

Question: With regards to my gender identity, I would have been happier at school if... (you can choose more than one answer) Responses

A. I got more one-to-one support from teachers.

44.27% 58

B. My parents/carers and teachers talked more about how best to support me.

41.22% 54

C. Other pupils were more accepting of me.

56.49% 74

D. Staff were more accepting of me.

55.73% 73

E. There was more awareness of and teaching about gender identity issues in school.

89.31% 117

F. Staff and support staff were trained more about gender identity issues.

81.68% 107

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 27 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

Survey Results

Home

76% of Fixers said older generations, including their parents, were uncomfortable talking about gender identity 5

Answered: 142 Skipped: 15

4 3 2 1 0

A

B

C

D

E

F

Question: Thinking about your family life, relationships with friends and partners, how much do you agree or disagree with the following? For each statement, please tick the appropriate box.

28

1 Strongly disagree

2 Somewhat disagree

3 Neither agree nor disagree

4 Somewhat agree

A. Older generations, including my parents, are uncomfortable talking about gender identity issues.

33.10% 47

42.96% 61

6.34% 9

8.45% 12

9.15% 13

142

2.18

B. My friends and people my age are more comfortable talking about gender identity issues.

39.29% 55

40.71% 57

6.43% 9

9.29% 13

4.29% 6

140

1.99

C. My friends and people my age are more accepting and tolerant of transgender, gender fluid and non-binary people.

32.86% 46

47.14% 66

10.00% 14

2.86% 4

7.14% 10

140

2.04

D. Where I live there is little or no support for transgender, gender fluid or non-binary individuals.

21.01% 29

27.54% 38

17.39% 24

23.91% 33

10.14% 14

138

2.75

E. As a person who identifies as a transgender/ gender fluid/non- binary person, I feel isolated in the area that I live.

20.31% 26

32.81% 42

19.53% 25

17.19% 22

10.16% 13

128

2.64

F. Stigma towards transgender relationships in society have made it difficult for me to form romantic relationships.

20.31% 26

28.91% 37

26.56% 34

14.06% 18

10.16% 13

128

2.65

5 Strongly agree

Total

Weighted Average

Answered: 115 Skipped: 42

A B C D E F 0%

10% 20% 30%

40% 50% 60%

70%

80% 90% 100%

Question: With regards to my gender identity, I would have been happier at home or with my friends if... (you can choose more than one answer) Responses A. Parents and family were more supportive of my gender identity.

68.70% 79

B. Parents and family were more accepting of my gender identity.

71.30% 82

C. Parents talked to me about gender identity issues in a more understanding way.

65.22% 75

D. My friends were more aware about gender identity issues.

44.35% 51

E. I had more access to peer support groups in my local area.

48.70% 56

F. Family and friends didn’t make assumptions about me based on how I identify as a person.

73.04% 84

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 29 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

Media Survey Results 61% of Fixers expressed concern that the media failed to portray young transgender people in a positive way 5

Answered: 131 Skipped: 26

4 3 2 1 0

A

B

C

D

E

Question: Thinking about the portrayal of gender identity issues in the media, how much do you agree or disagree with the following? For each statement, please tick the appropriate box.

30

1 Strongly disagree

2 Somewhat disagree

3 Neither agree nor disagree

4 Somewhat agree

A. The media presents young people who identify as transgender, gender fluid or nonbinary in a positive way.

2.31% 3

16.92% 22

20.00% 26

37.69% 49

23.08% 30

130

3.62

B. The media presents young people who identify as transgender, gender fluid or nonbinary in a negative way.

12.98% 17

45.04% 59

27.48% 36

11.45% 15

3.05% 4

131

2.47

C. Social media can often be a very hostile place for trans people.

45.67% 58

36.22% 46

15.75% 20

0.79% 1

1.57% 2

127

1.76

D. More needs to be done by social media companies to tackle online expression of transphobic attitudes and abuse.

61.72% 79

25.78% 33

10.16% 13

0.78% 1

1.56% 2

128

1.55

E. There needs to be more positive portrayals of positive role models for young transgender, gender fluid and non-binary people.

75.78% 97

12.50% 16

7.81% 10

0.78% 1

3.13% 4

128

1.43

5 Strongly agree

Total

Weighted Average

Answered: 128 Skipped: 29

A

B C D 0%

10% 20% 30%

40% 50% 60%

70%

80% 90% 100%

Question: How many positive transgender/gender fluid/non-binary role models did you/do you have growing up? (Please choose one answer).

Responses A. 0.

58.59% 75

B. 1.

14.84% 19

C. 2-3.

15.63% 20

D. More than 3.

44.35% 14

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 31 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

Health Survey Results 47% of Fixers said their GP didn’t understand them or gender identity issues and only 17% felt they could rely on their GP for support 5

Answered: 112 Skipped: 45

4 3 2 1 0

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Question: Thinking about your experiences with health services, how much do you agree or disagree with the following? For each statement, please tick the appropriate box.

32

1 Strongly disagree

2 Somewhat disagree

3 Neither agree nor disagree

4 Somewhat agree

A. My GP was supportive and helpful when it came to trans health issues.

13.59% 14

9.71% 10

33.01% 34

28.16% 29

15.53% 16

103

3.22

B. My GP was aware of and understood trans health issues which made it easy to be referred to a specialist when needed.

10.68% 11

14.56% 15

27.18% 28

16.50% 17

31.07% 32

103

3.43

C. I could rely on my GP for support and advice about gender identity issues and any questions I had.

7.55% 8

10.38% 11

32.08% 34

18.87% 20

31.13% 33

106

3.56

D. The local NHS Trust and CCG in my area had good levels of service provision for gender identity health and support services.

3.77% 4

12.26% 13

37.74% 40

21.70% 23

24.53% 26

106

3.51

E. NHS sexual health services give adequate support and advice to transgender, gender fluid and non-binary people.

3.60% 4

11.71% 13

39.64% 44

19.82% 22

25.23% 28

111

3.51

F. Transgender, gender fluid and non-binary young people are given proper mental health support by health services in my area.

4.46% 5

8.93% 10

33.04% 37

18.75% 21

34.82% 39

112

3.71

G. My local GP and health services refer transgender, gender fluid and non-binary young people to appropriate peer support groups.

5.50% 6

11.93% 13

42.20% 46

15.60% 17

24.77% 27

109

3.42

5 Strongly agree

Total

Weighted Average

Survey Results

Work

54% of Fixers said their workplace lacked up-to-date HR policies regarding gender transitioning employees 5

Answered: 87 Skipped: 70

4 3 2 1 0

A

B

C

D

E

F

Question: Thinking about your experiences in the workplace, how much do you agree or disagree with the following? For each statement, please tick the appropriate box.

1 Strongly disagree

2 Somewhat disagree

3 Neither agree nor disagree

4 Somewhat agree

A. My employers had a positive and tolerant attitude towards transgender, gender fluid and non-binary employees.

9.20% 8

16.09% 14

39.08% 34

21.84% 19

13.79% 12

87

3.15

B. My employers/managers were supportive of transgender, gender fluid and non-binary employees.

12.79% 11

10.47% 9

37.21% 32

18.60% 16

20.93% 18

86

3.24

C. Management and employees had upto-date training on LGBTQ issues and antidiscrimination legislation.

28.57% 24

23.81% 20

28.57% 24

11.90% 10

7.14% 6

84

2.45

D. There was a positive and welcoming attitude towards transgender, gender fluid and nonbinary employees in the workplace.

12.79% 11

17.44% 15

31.40% 27

22.09% 19

16.28% 14

86

3.12

E. There was a zero-tolerance approach to transphobic and gender identity forms of discrimination in the workplace.

16.87% 14

9.64% 8

43.37% 36

12.05% 10

18.07% 15

83

3.05

F. I felt my gender identity was accepted in the workplace

12.05% 10

10.84% 9

33.73% 28

20.48% 17

22.89% 19

83

3.31

5 Strongly agree

Total

Weighted Average

THE FEEL HAPPY [WITH MY GENDER] FIX 33 YOUNG PEOPLE ‘FIXING’ TRANSGENDER ISSUES: A GENERATION IN TRANSITION

Answered: 62 Skipped: 95

A B C D E F 0%

10% 20% 30%

40% 50% 60%

70%

80% 90% 100%

Question: With regards to my gender identity, I would have been happier at work if... (you can choose more than one answer) Responses

34

A. Employers and managers were more supportive of me in my gender identity.

40.32% 25

B. Company HR policy made greater efforts to take into account gender identity issues.

58.06% 36

C. There was a more accepting attitude towards me in my identity in the work place.

37.10% 23

D. Staff were more accepting of me.

40.32% 25

E. There was more training available to staff about gender identity issues at work.

74.19% 46

F. Colleagues didn’t make assumptions about me based on how I identify as a person.

62.90% 39

The Feel Happy [With My Gender] Fix Organised By...

FixersUK

.org.uk

Supported by...

Part of the Feel Happy Fix series brought to you by

The Public Service Broadcasting Trust.