In 2020, Keira Bell — a young British woman with a difficult history and complex identity journey — became the face of our preferred narrative. Her experience, valid and painful, was quickly converted into a one-size-fits-all cautionary tale. We now cite her endlessly, not to honour her story, but to justify universal restrictions on trans healthcare.
Following her judicial review (which she ultimately lost on appeal), the UK government commissioned the Cass Review— a four-year-long bureaucratic buffet from which we selectively quote anything that sounds vaguely sceptical of gender-affirming care. Though its terms of reference were narrow and the final report notably lacked clinical recommendations, we treat it as gospel. Why? Because it says what we want it to say. Sometimes. If you squint.
Here, you’ll find links to all the publications and systematic reviews generated for the Cass Review, plus the NICE reviews from 2020 — the ones that said the evidence was “low certainty” (which we interpret as burn it all down). Don’t ask us why we ignore the broader context, the actual expert responses, or the nuance. We’re too busy using the phrase “remarkably weak evidence” like it’s a mic drop.
Note: The links below don’t support the misinformation we share — oops, we mean mock. These resources critique, debunk, and dismantle the anti-trans narratives circulating under the banner of “evidence-based concern.”
Enjoy responsibly.
The UK’s Cass Review Badly Fails Trans Children
Dr Ruth Pearce looks at how the Cass Review’s biased approach has restricted healthcare access for young transgender people in the UK, causing harm and increasing hostility.
Dr Giddy
Protecting Vital Gender-Affirming Care: Debunking the Flawed Cass Review
Every person deserves to live authentically and access the healthcare they need to thrive. For transgender and gender-diverse individuals, gender-affirming care is essential to their well-being and identity. Yet, a recent UK review threatens to undermine this fundamental right based on misinformation and biases.
FDNHSA
What’s wrong with the Cass Review? A round-up of commentary and evidence
This post provides a round-up of links to written commentary and evidence regarding problems with the Cass Review, plus quotes pulled from each. In light of these, I believe that current attempts to implement many of the Review’s recommendations are both misguided and harmful.
Allan Donkin
The Cass Review: Cis-supremacy in the UK’s approach to healthcare for trans children
Cal Horton
Dr Janet Giddy, First Do No Harm
Biological and psychosocial evidence in the Cass Review: a critical commentary
D. M. Grijseels