Dr. Hillary Kass Warns Ban on Trans Therapy for Transgender Youth Could 'Scare Away' Therapists

In today's society, the rights and well-being of transgender youth have become a hot topic of public discussion. A recent report published by Dr. Hilary Cass has attracted a lot of attention. In the report, Dr. Cass suggests that the Scottish government's proposed bill to ban LGBTQ+ conversion therapy could have a negative impact on healthcare professionals who provide treatment to transgender youth.

Conversion therapy, a practice designed to change or suppress an individual's gender identity or sexual orientation, has long been criticized and opposed. In evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Health Committee, Dr. Cass emphasized that while everyone should be protected from the harms of conversion therapy, the legislative process also needs to consider how to protect therapists who are simply doing their job.

Dr. Kass notes that if, during the course of therapy, a young person develops a new understanding or change in their gender identity, this may be misinterpreted as an attempt by the therapist to change their gender identity. In this case, the therapist may feel anxious about practicing in this area for fear of becoming a target of legal trials.

In addition, the Cass Report mentions that many transgender, gender non-conforming or gender-questioning young people are not heterosexual, a point that is often confused when discussing gender identity. The report calls for more mental health support for transgender youth and criticizes existing research on clinical guidance for transgender youth, calling it "poor quality."

Notably, the Cass report also urges "extreme caution" when prescribing puberty blockers to transgender youth, even though the drugs have been used safely in both transgender and cisgender children for years. Following the release of the report, prescriptions for puberty blockers were suspended in England, Wales and Scotland.

Against this backdrop, providing support and assistance to transgender youth and their families has become particularly important. Mermaids, an organization that provides confidential help and support to young people, parents and families, offers services via phone and online chat to provide a safe space for those seeking help with gender identity issues.

The Cass report and the discussion it has generated highlights the fact that while protecting transgender youth, we also need to be concerned about the plight of the professionals who support and treat them. Finding a balance between preventing the harms of conversion therapy without making therapists dedicated to helping transgender youth feel threatened or anxious is a challenge we face today.