The debate that mustn’t be silenced

Why can’t we have a sensible debate about transgender issues?

even the gentlest attempt to tackle some of the profound questions raised is met with censure. A small, but vociferous, group of activists shut down anyone they don’t agree with.

The latest casualty is Victoria Atkins, the equalities Minister. earlier this week, she had the audacity to say that she is a ‘little cautious’ about the number of teenagers undergoing gender reassignment, and that we need to ‘get down to the reasons why this is happening’.

The attacks on her were instant, bitter and personal.

And yet it was a perfectly reasonable question: why are more youngsters having issues with their gender, and what is the best way of dealing with this?

We still know next to nothing about what causes people to be trans and how best to help them. Sadly, the losers are often those who are struggling with their gender.