John Lewis ‘irresponsible’ over breast binder advice for children

JOHN LEWIS has been branded “irresponsible” by leading GPs over its breast-binding advice for transgender children.

The retailer recently launched a magazine for more than 70,000 staff which advises parents on how to find breast binders for transgender children.

The publication recommends support from the Mermaids charity, which is under investigation by the Charity Commission amid safeguarding concerns, and praises private clinic Gender GP for prescribing cross-sex hormones.

The John Lewis Partnership, which also owns the Waitrose supermarket, faced boycott calls after it issued the new publication to more than 70,000 staff members on Wednesday.

However, a GP who leads a gender-critical advisory group has spoken out against the magazine. A gender-critical approach is one that does not believe that gender identity is more important than biological sex.

Louise Irvine, the co-chairman of the Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender, said: “Increasing numbers of adolescent girls are binding their breasts to give a flatter, more ‘masculine’ chest appearance.

“There is very little research on this but what research exists shows no good evidence of benefit and a significant number of risks including damage to the breasts, skin, chest wall muscles and ribs; pain; restriction in breathing, leading in particular to lack of participation in sports or exercise.

“It is irresponsible of John Lewis to allow the promotion of breast binding… This could encourage more young girls to engage in this harmful practice.”

The magazine, produced by the “LGBTQIA+ network” and seen by

features a piece on “Raising Trans and Non-Binary Children”, which focuses on a mother, Simone, who says she was not surprised her daughter wanted to transition to be a boy as “he hadn’t worn anything girly since he was eight”.

Responding to the magazine, Dr Jane Hamlin, the president emerita of the Beaumont Society, a charity which supports transgender people, said: “It is understandable – particularly with the heartbreakingly long waiting lists for treatment at a gender clinic – that transgender boys and men might want to bind their breasts as an interim measure. However, it is important that they get advice from a reliable source and choose a method that avoids damage to their growing bodies.

“John Lewis stores enjoy a high reputation, so I hope that they would be able to provide accurate and high-quality advice, before selling one to anyone particularly a young person.”

A spokesman for John Lewis said the reference to breast binding in the magazine was an independent view from an individual and not an official recommendation by the department store.

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