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What Are Bridging Prescriptions for HRT?
Bridging prescriptions are temporary prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) issued to ensure continuity of care while awaiting access to a specialist gender clinic. These prescriptions are vital for trans+ individuals experiencing delays in accessing gender-affirming care, such as long waiting lists or interruptions when changing healthcare providers.
Why Are Bridging Prescriptions Important for Trans+ Healthcare?
Many trans+ adults rely on HRT to support their gender transition and maintain their mental and physical well-being. Interruptions in HRT can cause significant distress, including:
- Hormonal withdrawal symptoms.
- Negative impacts on mental health, such as increased anxiety or dysphoria.
- Delays in achieving transition-related goals.
Bridging prescriptions act as a lifeline, helping trans+ individuals maintain consistent care during gaps in their treatment plan.
Who Can Issue a Bridging Prescription?
In the UK, bridging prescriptions can be issued by:
- General Practitioners (GPs): If they follow guidance from the NHS Interim Gender Dysphoria Protocol and General Medical Council (GMC).
- Gender Identity Clinics (GICs): Usually the primary source of ongoing HRT prescriptions.
- Private Providers: For those seeking care outside of NHS waiting lists.
How to Access a Bridging Prescription
1. Gather Your Medical Records:
- Compile your HRT history, including details of prior prescriptions and providers.
- If waiting for a GIC appointment, save any clinic correspondence regarding delays.
2. Talk to Your GP:
- Explain why you need a bridging prescription.
- Share the mental and physical effects of interrupted HRT.
3. Provide Supporting Documents:
- Share resources like the NHS Interim Gender Dysphoria Protocol or relevant guidance from the GMC to help educate your GP about bridging prescriptions.
4. Explore Private Options:
- If your GP is unable to provide a prescription, consider reaching out to private providers for a temporary solution if this is possible for you.
The Role of Advocacy in Bridging Prescriptions
Advocacy is essential for improving access to bridging prescriptions and gender-affirming care. By raising awareness and working with healthcare professionals, trans+ individuals can help shape a more inclusive healthcare system.
Take Action: Your Rights to Gender-Affirming Care
- You have the right to safe and continuous HRT access.
- Bridging prescriptions are a valid interim solution while awaiting long-term care.
- Don’t hesitate to reach out for help—organisations like Not A Phase are here to support you.
To view The Love Tank’s full Guide to Bridging Prescriptions, click here.
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- Trans+Resources
How to Change Your Name and Gender Marker on Your Driver’s License Without a Gender Recognition Certificate: A 5-Step Guide
Introduction
Are you looking to update your name and gender on your driver’s license? Here’s a straightforward guide to help you navigate the process, even without a GRC!
Step 1 – Update Your Name by Deed Poll
As with passport changes, start by obtaining a deed poll to legally change your name. Refer to our guide on How to Change Your Name via Deed Poll for more details.
Step 2 – Inform the DVLA
To change the name and gender marker on your driver’s license, you’ll need to contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Complete and submit form D1 for car licenses or D2 for HGV and bus licenses.
Step 3 – Gather Supporting Documents
Alongside your application, include documents like:
- Your deed poll proving the name change.
- A letter from a GP or consultant confirming your intention to live permanently in your gender identity.
Step 4 – Send Your Application to the DVLA
Mail the application with your documents to the DVLA. It’s a good idea to make copies of everything and keep a record of your application.
Step 5 – Wait for Your Updated License
Processing time can vary but typically takes 2-3 weeks. Once approved, you’ll receive your new driver’s license.
Important Notices
This change only applies to your driver’s license and does not update other records.
Call to Action
Contact us for further support or to share this guide with others!
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- Trans+Resources
How to Change Your Gender and Name on Your Passport Without a Gender Recognition Certificate: A 5-Step Guide
Introduction
Are you looking to change your gender marker and name on your passport but unsure about the process? With the help of Mishcon de Reya LLP, we’ve put together this simple 5-step guide. The best part? You don’t need a Gender Recognition Certificate to do it!
Whether you’re updating your name or your gender marker, follow these steps to navigate the process with ease.
Step 1 – Change Your Name via Deed Poll
A deed poll is a legal document that proves you’ve changed your name. It allows you to change any part of your name, including adding or removing names or changing spelling.
How to Get a Deed Poll
There are two types of deed polls you can get. Check with your bank or GP first to see which type they will accept as proof of your new name:
Unenrolled Deed Poll
You can create an unenrolled deed poll yourself if you’re over 16. This is often the quicker option.
Enrolled Deed Poll
An enrolled deed poll involves submitting your new name to public record. You can apply for this through the Royal Courts of Justice. As of now, the cost is £49.32.
You can find full information about the deed poll process here.
Step 2 – Update Your Name with Your GP
Once you’ve changed your name, you’ll need to update your medical records with your GP. This step is essential because you’ll need a letter from your doctor to apply for your new passport.
What the Doctor’s Letter Should Include:
- Confirmation that the doctor or medical consultant knows you well enough to make a diagnosis.
- A statement that you are registered at the practice in your new name.
- An assertion that in their medical opinion, your transition is likely to be permanent.
Step 3 – Provide Official Evidence of Your New Name
To complete your passport application, you’ll need to provide official evidence that you’re using your new name. This could include:
- A recent payslip
- A letter from your local council or utility provider
- Make sure the documents are dated within the last few months before submitting your passport application.
Step 4 – Apply for Your New Passport
Now that you’ve gathered your documents, it’s time to apply for a new passport.
For Those Who Already Have a British Passport;
You can apply to renew your passport online or by post. Visit the passport renewal page for details.
First-Time Applicants
If you don’t have a British passport yet, apply for your first passport using this link.
In both cases, ensure that you select the correct gender marker when completing the form.
Step 5 – Wait for Your New Passport
Once your application is submitted, the wait begins. Processing times typically range around three weeks, but they may vary. You can find updated processing times here.
Important Notes:
Changing the gender marker on your passport does not provide legal recognition of your gender change. It’s purely for passport purposes.
Your gender will not automatically be updated on other documents such as your birth certificate. That’s a separate legal process.
We hope this guide makes the process clearer! Please share it with anyone who might need help navigating these steps. Special thanks to Mishcon de Reya LLP for their assistance in putting together this resource.
If you have more questions about the legal aspects of changing your name or gender on official documents, feel free to contact us for more advice! Share this guide with anyone else who might find it helpful.
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The mother of Brianna Ghey, the 16 year old trans girl who was murdered earlier this year, has today launched a new mental health and wellbeing campaign aimed at giving children the skills to be able to deal with their negative emotions better.
Esther Ghey has joined forces with the Warrington Guardian to ensure that young people are given the tools to be able to cope with negative emotions in a health way – which she believes will lead to less mental health issues and a more empathetic society. Working with the Peace in Mind charity campaign they are raising funds for the Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP).
The money raised will enable staff in Warrington’s schools to receive training and guidance that will help equip them to understand the support students need, with the hope that this will in turn assist children build more resilience and better coping mechanisms.
Esther spoke of the campaign, saying:“The traumatic impact that this had on my family was so enormous, that I decided to help make a difference to our society to reduce the risk of this happening again to another young person.”
Mindfulness techniques in schools will allow children to process and deal with negative emotions in a healthy way – preventing mental health problems from developing in later life.
“The crime that was inflicted on Brianna is not a one off. Senseless acts of violence are happening far too often.
“I believe, to prevent this from reoccurring we need to weave empathy, compassion, and resilience throughout our society.”
The short-term goal of the campaign is to train teachers in the Warrington area in these skills and evaluate the impact it is having – with the hope that this scheme can be rolled out nationwide if successful.
You can find out more details about the campaign and donate here.
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On Friday 26th May, British Cycling announced a new policy that effectively banned trans women from competing in the female category at elite levels. This follows their suspension of their ‘Transgender and Non-Binary Participation Policy’ to conduct a review into these processes for trans+ athletes.
Announced today, the updated policy from British Cycling includes two different categories; ‘Female’ and ‘Open’. The ‘Female’ category excludes anyone who was not assigned female at birth from competing, whilst transgender women, men and non-binary individuals will only be eligible to compete in the ‘Open’ category, alongside anyone who was assigned male at birth.
These new categories come with a multitude of issues, one of the big ones being that trans men who are yet to start their hormone replacement journey, are forced to compete in the ‘Female’ category. These changes to the categories also mean that trans athletes cannot compete in any women’s races, such as British cyclist, Emily Bridges.
Emily, who was last year banned from competing in the National Omnium Championships, is the highest-profile trans women in UK cycling and has criticised the British Cycling’s decision on a statement shared to her instagram profile;
View this post on Instagram
Emily, who came out in 2020, has previously stated that her wish is to simply compete for Wales in the Commonwealth in the women’s categories. Emily has previously spoken about the challenges that come alongside being a visible figurehead whilst the toxic debate regarding trans-inclusion in sport is being stoked by the media and society as a whole.
Not A Phase Chief Exec, Dani St. James, said today of the decision “As we have proven over the last three years of running our fitness and wellness programme, Misfits, physical activity and the sense of comradery that comes with team participation can significantly improve the mental health of our community. It is incredibly saddening to see a governing body take such an active stance against us at a time where allyship is needed more than ever. We stand strong with Emily and all of those that have been affected by this decision, trans+ people are being used as a distraction tactic in the UK from failing systems and failing leadership, there has never been a greater need for those that support us to speak up.”
Our Misfits fitness classes are aimed at trying to lower the barriers that trans+ adults face in entering and feeling comfortable in typical gym and workout spaces. It’s decisions like the one taken today that can severely affect these individual’s perception of themselves and furthers the narrative that they believe they do not belong in these spaces. A lot of the work we’ve done over the past 4 years has been trying to build up our Misfits confidence and promoting the idea that everyone has the right to feel confident, empowered and safe, whilst breaking the barriers down between trans+ people and the traditional gym or exercise environments.
Blanket bans of trans+ individuals and forcing them into categories that they do not align with or agree with is incredibly damaging to the community as a whole. Trans+ people deserve to enjoy sport and compete in the categories that their gender identity aligns with and we need our allies to stand up and defend those in the trans community!
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This week, across the UK, we’ve launched our new ‘THIS IS NOT A PHASE’ campaign with billboards, posters and a short film that is live on our website. The campaign is to create awareness and uplift the lives of trans+ people.
So often trans+ people are portrayed as people to be feared or hated in mainstream media, they not only exist in everyday life but in fact thrive, living as ‘normal’ and joyful a life as everyone else. You can catch our national billboards across London, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff!
The THIS IS NOT A PHASE campaign will focus on positivity and joy, profiling eight trans+ people, going about their day to day lives in a bid to counter the damaging narrative currently being blamed for an increase in hate levelled at the community.
Shot by renowned photographer Jordan Rossi (Rankin Creative), the campaign will run for 6 weeks, finishing on March 31st, which is Transgender Day of Visibility and will be visible in town centres throughout the UK, on billboards, tubes and buses.
The stars of the campaign are also featured in the THIS IS NOT A PHASE video, available to view below. The stars of the video include Haina Qarithe AL-Saud, a British Middle Eastern Actor, and Miller Nelson, founder of Trans Hull, a climbing club for the trans+ communities of Hull and the surrounding areas.
Danielle St James, Chief Exec of Not A Phase explained: “The current narrative being pushed out by some in the UK is one of trans+ people being different, wrong and even dangerous. This is stoking fear and hatred which is having a devastating impact on our community, with verbal and physical abuse becoming increasingly common.
“This is not the first time we have seen how this narrative plays out. It mirrors the way in which gay people were treated in the 80s and, as was the case with our LGB siblings, it is a portrayal that couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, trans people have always been part of society, they are your bus drivers, your police officers, your lawyers, your dog walkers, your cabin crew…just normal people, getting on with living their normal lives as contributing members of society. Our campaign aims to highlight this fact.”
In the coming weeks, we aim to take our campaign into as many spaces as possible in the run up to Trans Day of Visibility on March 31st, when we’ll be hosting a very special event in central London to mark the occasion. If you’d like to get involved in any way, or help us to spread the word, contact us as hello@notaphase.org
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- Uncategorized
UK Government vote to block the Scottish GRA Reform Bill in constitutional first!
The UK Government has this week voted to block the Scottish Gender Recognition Act (GRA) bill, which would have allowed individuals in Scotland to self-identify their gender. The bill would have made it easier for transgender and non-binary individuals to legally change their gender on official documents, such as passports and birth certificates.
The Scottish National Party (SNP), which introduced the bill, said that it would bring Scotland in line with other countries such as Ireland and Denmark, which already have similar laws. However, the UK Government, which has the power to veto legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament, voted against the bill, stating that it would have a negative impact on women’s rights. They also claim that it would undermine the rights of women and girls, and would make it harder to protect them from discrimination.
On the other hand, supporters of the bill argue that it would allow transgender and non-binary individuals to live their lives in a way that aligns with their gender identity, which is a basic human right. They also argue that the bill includes measures to protect the rights of women and girls, and that there is no evidence to suggest that transgender individuals pose a threat to them.
The decision to block the bill has caused a great deal of controversy, with many in Scotland expressing disappointment and frustration. The SNP has vowed to continue fighting for the rights of transgender and non-binary individuals, and has called on the UK Government to reconsider its decision. The SNP says that 25 to 35 people a year in Scotland are currently certified under the GRA, which they expect to rise to around 250 certificates issued in a year. The government is arguing that the GRA reform would contradict the Equalities Act, which applies to the entire UK. However, those in favour of the bill claim that the GRA reform does not affect the Equalities Act, highlighting that the Government is using trans people as ‘political football’.
As reported last week, The 2021 CENSUS data showed that trans people make up only 0.5% of our population, and trans men and women who can benefit from the Gender Recognition Reform Bill are only around 0.2%, which makes the claim that the GRA would contradict the Equalities Act and potentially harm the rights of women and girls even more absurd.
What Can You Do To Help?
– EMAIL YOUR LOCAL MP ABOUT THESE ISSUES
– ATTEND LOCAL DEMONSTRATIONS & PROTESTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE
– TALK TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WHY ITS IMPORTANT TO YOU
– DONATE TO TRANS+ FRIENDLY CHARITIES TO HELP SUPPORT THIER LIVES
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The Census is a survey of the population and housing in the United Kingdom that is conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The Census is conducted every ten years and provides important information about the characteristics and circumstances of the people and households in the country. The data collected by the Census is used to inform government policy, allocate funding to local authorities and communities, and support research and planning.
The 2021 Census in the United Kingdom included a question on gender identity for the first time. The census question on gender identity was a voluntary question asked of those aged 16 years and over. The question asked “Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?”.
However, it is important to note that the Census is a voluntary survey and individuals are not required to answer any questions they do not feel comfortable answering. All responses to the Census are confidential and are used only for statistical purposes.
The ONS have finally released the information regarding gender identity from the 2021 Census, which includes the following;
- Over 47.5 million (94% of the population aged 16 years and older) answered this question, with 93.5% (45.4 million) answering ‘Yes’ and 0.5% (262,000) answering ‘No.
- Within the ‘No’ group respondents;
- 48,000 (0.10%) identified as a trans man.
- 48,000 (0.10%) identified as a trans woman.
- 30,000 (0.06%) identified as non-binary.
- 18,000 (0.04%) wrote in a different gender identity.
- 118,000 (0.24%) answered ‘No’ but did not put a write-in response to this question.
The ONS also looked at how this data varied across both England and Wales and found the following;
- The percentage of the population who reported a different gender identity to their sex assigned at birth was slightly higher in England (0.55%) than it was in Wales (0.40%).
- Within England, the region with the highest percentage was London (0.91%) and the region with the lowest percentage was the South West (0.42%).
- Compared with the rest of England and Wales, London had a higher percentage of those identifying as a trans man (0.16%), trans woman (0.16%) and those who answered ‘No’ but did not include a write-in answer (0.46%).
- Out of the top 10 local authorities for percentage of people responding ‘No’, 8 were in London, with Newham (1.51%) and Brent (1.31%) coming out on top.
- The two non-London local authorities included in the top 10 were Oxford (1.25%) and Norwich (1.07%).
- In Wales, Cardiff (0.71%) and Ceredigion (0.70%) were the two authorities with the highest percentages.
When looking at the split of specific gender identities in relation to the individual’s local authority, we can see the following;
- The highest percentage of the population identifying as trans men was in Brent (0.28%) and Newham (0.25%).
- Whilst Barking and Dagenham (0.25%) had the highest percentage of individuals who identified as trans women.
- In Wales, Cardiff had the highest percentage of individuals identifying as trans men (0.12%) and as trans women (0.13%).
- However, interestingly, the five local authorities with the highest population of those identifying as non-binary were all outside of London.
- Brighton & Hove had the highest percentage at 0.35%, followed by Norwich (0,33% and Cambridge (0.26%). Rounding out the top 5, in fifth place, was Ceredigion, in Wales, at 0.23%.
The question on gender identity was new for the Census 2021, which was added to provide the first official data on the size of the transgender population in England and Wales. The data will help to provide better quality information for monitoring purposes, support anti-discrimination duties under the Equality Act 2010 & aid allocation for resources and policy development.
Keep your eyes peeled for some more news breakdowns throughout the year, as the ONS begin to release more information regarding the sexual orientation and gender identity analysis, including information on other contributing factors!