A United Kingdom High Court has ruled that a ban on prescribing puberty blocking drugs to youth suffering from gender dysphoria in England, Scotland, and Wales is lawful.
The July 29 ruling upheld emergency legislation from May 29, introduced by the previous Conservative government’s health secretary Victoria Atkins, that restricted usage of the drugs in the wake of the NHS England’s Cass Review. The Cass Review revealed that there was poor to no evidence backing the usage of puberty blockers for youth under 18.
Despite being touted by many activists as harmless or reversible, puberty blocking drugs are linked to permanent infertility, bone density loss, and even brain swelling and vision loss when given to youth. NHS England—the public’s healthcare provider—stopped using puberty blockers for the routine treatment of gender dysphoria in youth in March of 2024. The latest ban prevents all private and European prescribers from doling out the drugs to UK youth.
Currently, UK youth can only gain access to puberty blockers as participants in NHS clinical trials, or if they were already taking the drugs prior to the ban. Current UK health secretary Wes Streeting told media that the court ruling upholding the ban is “evidence-led” and welcomed.
"Dr Cass's review found there was insufficient evidence that puberty blockers are safe and effective for children with gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. We must therefore act cautiously and with care when it comes to this vulnerable group of young people,” said Streeting.
After the ban was introduced by the government, a legal challenge was launched by activist groups TransActual UK and The Good Law Project, along with one anonymous youth. The group claimed that the government should have consulted with patient groups, and argued that the ban constituted a misuse of emergency powers. They also argued that the ban would “criminalize” healthcare providers—as it threatens upwards of two years in prison for those unlawfully prescribing the drugs.
After losing their legal challenge, a director at TransActual, Chay Brown, said that the group is “seriously concerned about the safety and welfare of young trans people in the UK.” The group said they plan to appeal the High Court’s decision.
At a London Pride protest on July 27, several attendees held signs to protest the ban on puberty blockers. Signs read: “accessible trans healthcare now” and “puberty blockers save trans kids lives.”
Addressing the ban, famous author and critic of gender ideology JK Rowling praised the latest ruling: “We seem, at last, to be moving back to treatment for vulnerable youth based on evidence-based medicine, as opposed to the unevidenced claims of ideological lobby groups,” she posted on X.
Similarly, X owner Elon Musk commended the news: “Britain has rightfully banned puberty blockers for children for the immense and permanent harm they do,” he wrote. Musk was recently in the news after revealing that he felt “tricked” into putting his own son on puberty blockers by clinicians who lied and said his son would otherwise commit suicide. Musk is now estranged from his son.
Chloe Cole, a well-known American activist and de-transitioned woman, said of the ban: “Massive win! It’s disgusting that the USA is so captured.”
