Letter from academics concerned about The Cass Review

8 months ago 13

As a network of expert feminist academics and stakeholder groups who work on gender diversity, we are dismayed at the recommendations of the Cass Review (2024) for NHS provision of gender identity services for children and young people. The Feminist and Gender Equality Network urges the NHS not to act on these recommendations. We suggest that the Cass Review contains unsound methodology, unacceptable bias, and unsupported conclusions. As academics and experts in the field, we regard The Cass Review as potentially harmful to trans children. As academics with a wealth of research experience between us, we can confidently say that The Cass Review is an inadequate piece of research. Its methodology is unsatisfactory and unreliable. It disregards the wealth of expertise at national and international levels on best practice guidelines to support young trans people. It does not include a proper systematic literature review since it disregards most research evidence because it fails to reach the impossibly high bar of a double-blind trial. In fact, trans healthcare is inappropriate for a double-blind trial since you cannot give hormones to one group of people and not to another. This practice would be unethical. Indeed, much medical practice is not based on this kind of evidence. The Cass Review provides very little evidence for its proposals. The evidence it does draw upon is, in the main, anecdotal. In effect the Cass proposals are largely un-evidenced and seem to be based on anti-trans rhetoric rather than medical or scientific knowledge. The failure to systematically include trans peoples’ voices while liberally presenting anti-trans campaigners’ rhetoric - including those accused of supporting ‘conversion therapy’ - reveals a level of bias that is unacceptable. We regard The Cass Review as methodologically unsound, that it appears biased (despite its reasonable-sounding language), dangerous, and rights-stripping in its proposals. If implemented, its recommendations will cause great harm to trans and non-binary young people. This report should be rejected. Trans children and young children deserve so much better. Please sign by including your name and institutional affiliation below   Signed, Dr Natacha Kennedy, Goldsmiths, University of London Beatrix Groves, Training & Campaigns Coordinator, Difference North East Dr S. J. Pattison, retired Dr Sahra Taylor, City, University of London Dr Hester Duffy, University of Warwick PhD Scholar and associate fellow lecturer, Kayden J Schumacher, Coventry University Dr Charlotte Morris, University of Portsmouth Dr Sarah Godfrey, University of East Anglia Dr Rosie McGuire, University College London Dr Hannah Gibson, Autonomous University of Barcelona Mrs Hazel Gant, University of Portsmouth Dr Sid Mohandas, Middlesex University Max Kirk, Sheffield Hallam University Stephanie Mindel LLB (Hons) LLM, University of West London (Retired) Dr Liz Ellis, independent community health researcher Dr Rachel Sumner, Cardiff Metropolitan University Emma Procter, Independent Researcher Dr Eleri Anona Watson, University of Oxford Dr Alice Pember, University of Warwick Prof Jamie Angus-Whiteoak (Emeritus) University of Salford Dr Brian Kavanagh, University of Essex Online Dr Hannah Yelin, Oxford Brookes University Dr Naoise Murphy, Maynooth University Dr Dawn Woolley, Leeds Arts University Dr Lo Marshall, UCL Dr Charlotte Beyer, University of Gloucestershire Dominique Bailey, Human Being With Morals T. Pilgrim University of Surrey Dr Grace Scrimgeour, University of Bristol Dr Gina Gwenffrewi, University of Edinburgh Assoc. Prof Shelley Berry, Eastern Illinois University Martin Crowe Dr Katie Hunt, University of Lincoln Dr Dori Grijseels, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research Dr, Carol Steele, University of Salford  Dr. Quinnehtukqut McLamore, University of Missouri at Columbia  Professor Megan Povey, University of Leeds  Sarah Thompson-Cook, Manchester Metropolitan University Instructor, David Whitehouse, American Public University System Pierre Cloutier de Repentigny, Carleton University  Dr Hannah Gibson, Autonomous University of Barcelona Dr Kate Davison, University of Edinburgh Rachel Saunders, University of Nottingham Max Kirk, Sheffield Hallam University Stephanie Mindel LLB (Hons) LLM, University of West London (Retired) Dr Alex Powell, Oxford Brookes University Ms Xu Yang, University of Georgia Dr Kamila Kamaruddin, RCGP Dr S. J. Pattison, retired AProf Rachel Heath, University of Newcastle Australia Dr Sarah Charles, Nottingham Trent University Dr Monique Botha, University of Stirling Rebecca Jiggens, PhD student, University of Leeds Professor Emerita Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, University of Toronto Dr Adeline Berry, University of Huddersfield Dr Christopher Hanby, Goldsmiths College Dr Seán Henry, Edge Hill University Dr David Allsopp, University of Cambridge Prof Elisabeth Lund Engebretsen, University of Stavanger Dr. Francesca Romana Ammaturo, London Metropolitan University Dr Jay Vickers, University of Salford Beth Roberts, University of Surrey Dr Lucie Fremlova Raf Benato, City, University of London Mrs Lesley Dougan, Liverpool John Moores University Prof David Andress, University of Portsmouth Dr Tereza Hendl, University of Augsburg and the LMU of Munich  Michael Phillips (PhD Candidate), University of Brighton Dr Kyja Noack-Lundberg, University of Hull  Robyn Lawson, M.S., Virginia Tech Dr. Kaylee Koss, Lecturer in Quantitative & Qualitative Methods, University of Europe for Applied Sciences Prof. Grace Lavery, University of California—Berkeley Dr Xine Yao, University College London   Dr John McCallum, Nottingham Trent University Dr Jo Edge, University of Edinburgh Dr Matilda Fitzmaurice, Lancaster University  Dr Max Morris, Oxford Brookes University Dr Kai Wikeley, University of Leeds Dr. Siobhan Guerrero Mc Manus, UNAM Dr Aimee Bailey, De Montfort University Prof Kirstin Ringelberg, Elon University Dr Paul Simpson, University of Manchester Dr Mark Pendleton, University of Sheffield Dr Hillary Pimlott, Wilfrid Laurier University Dr Angelos Bollas, Maynouth University Dr Glyn Everett, University of the West of England Emma Rebecca Wallace, Ulster University Dr Diego Garcia Rodriguez, University of Nottingham Dr Kari Koskinen Dr Christopher Lloyd, University of Hertfordshire Dr Eagan Dean, Rutgers University Prof Sally Hines, University of Sheffield Dr Chris Millora, Goldsmiths, University of London Prof Gavin Brown, University of Sheffield Dr Robert Bohan, University of Dublin Dr SJ Pattison, Rtd. Dr Natalie Jester, University of Gloucestershire Dr Jennifer Drabble, formerly of Sheffield Hallam University Dr Mae Caroll, University of Melbourne Dr Sneha Krishnan, University of Oxford April Preston MA, University of Manchester Dr Nat Thorne Dr Celestine Kunkeler, University of Oslo Dr Deniele Metilli, University College London Dr Chris Parkes, King's College London Assistant Professor Irene Zempi, Nottingham Trent University Dr Rhian Elinor Keyse, Birkbeck, University of London Dr Ewan Harrison, University of Manchester Dr Royce Mahawatte, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London Prof Claire Dunlop, University of Exeter Dr Diego Garcia Rodriguez, University of Nottingham Prof Sunny Singh, London Metropolitan University Anupama Ranawana, University of St Andrews Braedyn Ezra Simon, Freie Universität Berlin Feona Attwood, Editor, Journal of Gender Studies Dr Fran Amery, University of Bath Abbey Brunault MSc, King's College London Elizabeth Currie BA (Hons) The Open University Dr Briony Hannell, University of Sheffield Mx Jess Randall, University of Liverpool Prof Anson MacKay, University College London Dr Alice Corble, University of Sussex Dr Owen Walsh, University of Aberdeen Dr Elizabeth Anderson, University of Aberdeen Dr Lena Wånggren, University of Edinburgh Dr Benjamin Weil, University College London Dr Meg-john Barker, Independent Scholar Dr Charlotte Lydia Riley, University of Southampton Georgia Rivers, University of Sheffield Dr Onni Gust, University of Nottingham Dr Sally Pezaro, Coventry University Dr Ece Kocabicak, The Open University Dr Alon Lischinsky, Oxford Brookes University Dr Jaya Jacobo, Coventry University Prof Annelise Weckesser, Birmingham City University Dr Cal Horton, Research Fellow, Oxford Brookes Business School Agnieszka Wodzinska, University of Edinburgh and Glasgow School of Art Dr Andy Kaladelfos, University of New South Wales Dr Hamish McIntosh, University of Melbourne Prof Priyamvada Gopal, Cambridge University Dr Alice Nuttall, Oxford Brookes University Mx Nick Cherryman, University of Warwick Dr Roseanna Kettle, University of York Prof Kate Maxwell, UiT Arctic University of Norway Dr Vanja Hamzic, SOAS University of London Prof Megan Povey, University of Leeds Dr Helen Coulshed, Kings College London Dr Aisha Belkadi, SOAS University of London Dr Billy Holzberg, Kings College London Pippa Sterk, PhD Candidate at King's College London Dr Aura Lehtonen, University of Greenwich Dr Jai Mackenzie, Birmingham Newman University Naomi Smart, PhD Student, King's College, London Professor Rebecca Boden, Tampere University (retired) Dr Aliénor Lemieux-Cumberlege, University of Edinburgh Dr Soe Tjen Marching, SOAS University of London Dr Sidonia Lucia Kula, SOAS University of London Prof Gabriel Reedy, King's College London Dr Elizabeth Elliott, University of Aberdeen Dr Caroline Gonda, St Catharine's College, Cambridge Dr Naomi Holford, Open University Jonny Hunt, Senior Lecturer, University of Bedfordshire Dr Sohni Chakrabarti, University of St Andrews Gemma Williams, Research Fellow, Birmingham City University Athanasia Francis, PhD Researcher, University of Liverpool Dr Sian Hawthorne, SOAS University of London Dr Kiron Ward, University of St Andrews Dr. Martin Young, Birkbeck, University of London Dr Alyosxa Tudor, SOAS, University of London Dr Alex Lee, Goldsmiths, University of London Dr Tania de St Croix, King's College, University of London Dr Parvathi Menon, SOAS University of London Dr Cat Wayland, University of Edinburgh Tanvi Kanchan, PhD Candidate, SOAS, University of London Barbara Schenkel, SOAS, University of London Prof Julia Sallabank, SOAS University of London Laura Reyes Pollak MA, University of Hamburg Dr Maia Holtermann Entwistle, Queen Mary University of London Mia Parkes, University of Birmingham Dr Alicia Spencer-Hall, University College London Jodie Hughes, PhD Candidate, Roehampton University Meggie Copsey-Blake, King’s College London Prof Ashley Thompson, SOAS University of London Dr Carole Jones, University of Edinburgh Ekabali Ghosh, PhD student, SOAS, University of London Dr Laura Gazzoli, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Dr I Moon, Warwick University Dr Leanne Bibby, Teesside University Polina Zelmanova, University of Warwick Prof Lizzie Seal, University of Sussex Dr Abeera Khan, SOAS, University of London Dr Jason O'Toole, University College Dublin Beatriz Santos Barreto, University of Cambridge Munzar Sharif, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, University of East London Dr Sana Rizvi, Liverpool John Moores University Dr Abs S Ashley, University of Bristol Harry Ainscough, PhD Student, McGill University Alexis Davin, University of Bristol Prof Navtej Purewal, SOAS, University of London Prof Laurence Cox, National University of Ireland Maynooth Prof Goldie Osuri, University of Warwick Dr Sian Hawthorne, SOAS University of London Dr Anja Komatar, University of Leeds Dr. Ruth Marshall, University of Toronto Professor Emerita Farah Mendlesohn, Anglia Ruskin University Dr Rachel Sykes, university of Birmingham Dr Emma Campbell, Ulster University Dr. J Wallace Skelton, Assistant Prof of Queer Studies in Education, University of Regina Dr Tone Walford, UCL Dr Jos Twist, Hertfordshire University Dr. Dana Mahr, Karlsruhe Institute for Technology Dr. Amaya Deakins, Forest Institute of Professional Psychology Prof Stephen Whittle OBE, The Manchester Law School Dr Bethan Jones, University of South Wales Dr Danielle King, Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust Kevin Tan, SOAS, University of London Dr Kerryn Drysdale, University of New South Wales, Australia Prof Claire Rasmussen, University of Delaware Dr Bridget Haire, UNSW Australia Dr Melissa Stepney, University of Oxford Dr Ben Spatz, University of Huddersfield Shreeta Lakhani, SOAS, University of London Dr Anthony K J Smith, University of New South Wales, Australia Dr David Scott, Abertay University Dr Harry R. McCarthy, University of Exeter Dr Ruth Pearce, University of Glasgow Dr Naomi Hetherington, University of Sheffield Dr Tacey O'Neil, The Open University Ms River Cronin, University of Cambridge Ms Jane Haynes Agoro, SOAS, University of London Dr Mathew Rickard, Université de Picardie Jules Verne Dr Chandni Dwarkasing, SOAS University of London Dr Maria La Falce, SOAS University of London Dr David J Hayes, University of Sheffield Dr Francis Ray White, University of Westminster Dr Alex Fitzpatrick, University of Leeds Prof. Khursheed Wadia, University of Warwick Lorne Power, University of Sussex Dr Kerem Nisancioglu, SOAS, University of London Dr Sophie Duncan-Shepherd, University of Edinburgh Dr Phoenix Andrews, University of Aberdeen Scarlett de Courcier, PhD candidate, University of Southampton Prof Robert Andrew Smith, University of Leeds Dr Ashlee Christoffersen, York University/University of Edinburgh Melissa P. Martin, Cardiff University Prof Lauren Hall-Lew, University of Edinburgh George Taxidis, Goldsmiths, University of London Prof Surya Monro, Loughborough University Marissa Dainton, Canterbury Christ Church University Dr Katie Nicoll Baines, University of Edinburgh Dr Tamsin Jones, Newcastle University Dr Maria do Mar Pereira, University of Warwick Dr Hannah Piercy, University of Bern Dr Sophie Chamas, Lecturer in Gender Studies, SOAS, University of London Dr Sarah Knowles, University of York Dr Senija Causevic, SOAS, University of London Dr Sophie Quinney, NHS Dr Ingrid Young, University of Edinburgh Dr. Anne Augustine, University of Strathclyde Dr Audrey Linden, UCL Dr Alessandra Mezzadri, SOAS, University of London Christian Harrison, University of Leeds Dr Lucy Hinnie, independent scholar Brian Finlay, University of Strathclyde Dr Charlotte Bosseaux, University of Edinburgh LJ Potter, University of Central Lancashire Hannah Ayres, University of Warwick Sarah Flynn, University of Hertfordshire Dr Chris Mowat, University of Sheffield Dr Robyn Orfitelli, University of Sheffield Prof Laura Hammond, SOAS, University of London


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