Jackson Rabet (16), who is transitioning from female to male, says that being prevented from undergoing the treatment is a ‘block’ on their life.
At the moment, over-17s who receive a referral to a specialist UK clinic can access the medication.
Jackson said they knew they were transgender as a child, but only came out to their parents three years ago.
‘When I was a kid, it was quite obvious to a lot of my family around me, but when I was younger I didn’t know what it meant to be transgender. That changed when I had a friend talk about it. It was quite an eye-opener and an emotional time. It was a scary thing because though I knew my parents would be lovely, it’s not something every parents wants to hear. My mum didn’t know what it was at first but when she understood, she was just happy.’
Jackson came out as transgender at the age of 13. ‘It’s definitely not easy. It was nerve-wracking and terrifying to go to school. Most of the students were all right but you get the odd few who aren’t.’
Jackson’s GP made a referral to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service CAMHS who, in turn, made a referral to the specialist Tavistock Gender Clinic in London.
‘I had a year of chatting and stuff at CAMHS and they referred me to Tavistock. I had to go through four or five meetings with them and now they’re ready to refer me to an adult clinic. I’ll begin hormone treatment and then surgery but it will take a couple of years because of my age, as well as the waiting lists in the NHS. There’s a waiting list for everything. Not being allowed any hormone treatment because of my age is a block on my life.’
Jackson has launched a petition on the States of Jersey website calling for hormone therapy treatment to be available to under-18s, believing the right age is 16.
‘In America you can get hormone treatment at any age,’ Jackson said.
The Health and Community Services Department said it held contracts with a number of UK NHS trusts that specialised in gender issues, including gender reassignment surgery.
Current NHS guidance is to offer limited hormone therapy options to under-18s who have gone through puberty where there is evidence that the child is experiencing ‘clear distress’ and has a ‘strong desire to live as their gender identity’. Once over the age of 17, teenagers can access adult services including the prescribing of testosterone for a trans man and oestrogen for a trans female.
The advice to patients states: ‘The aim of hormone therapy is to make you more comfortable with yourself, both in terms of physical appearance and how you feel. These hormones start the process of changing your body into one that is more female or more male, depending on your gender identity. They usually need to be taken indefinitely, even if you have genital reconstructive surgery.
‘Hormone therapy may be all the treatment you need to enable you to live with your gender dysphoria. The hormones may improve how you feel and mean that you don’t need to start living in your preferred gender or have surgery.’
Jackson believes the experience was a help with increasing understanding of other people who were going through difficult times in their lives.
‘It’s made me more aware of other people and how other people struggle, not just with their gender. It’s made me quite a bit more empathetic to others. I’m trying to be positive and that’s why I’ve put my own petition online.’
You can view the petition at petitions.gov.je
If it attracts 1,000 signatures within the next five months, the Health Minister will be obliged to offer an official response. If 5,000 people sign.
