LightNews LightNews
clarevanboh.bsky.social
@clarevanboh.bsky.social
110 followers 200 following 76 posts
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted
jennifilm.nz
PATHA's statement has been published: patha.nz/news
The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) condemns today's decision from Minister of Health Simeon Brown introducing a ban on new prescriptions of GnRH analogues (puberty blockers) for transgender children and young people who are not currently on them. This ideologically driven ban will have a devastating impact on the lives and wellbeing of our transgender and gender diverse young people. We know that children, young people and their whanau will be highly distressed by this decision. We also acknowledge health professionals' frustration at the way their expertise has been ignored and disregarded. "The ban will lead to a deterioration in mental health, increased risk of suicidality and increased dysphoria in gender diverse children and young people, and will put them at a higher risk of experiencing marginalisation and discrimination," says Dr Elizabeth McElrea, GP specialist in gender affirming care and PATHA Vice-President. "The prescribing of puberty blockers is always undertaken with the utmost care and consideration. They have been prescribed safely for decades for transgender children and banning their use will lead to profound distress in this already vulnerable group." This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. While the evidence brief identified some limitations in the academic quality of evidence regarding the risks and benefits of GRH analogues, limitations in evidence quality are common across a number of areas of medicine, especially within paediatric medicine, and do not justify a ban on access. "PATHA supports evidence-based medicine, which consists of three key components: academic evidence, clinical experience, and patient preferences and values," says Dr McElrea. "When the quality of available academic evidence is of lower quality, it's incredibly common for clinicians to lean on guidelines drawn from clinical experience." "Practising medicine, and paediatric medicine (not just within gender affirming healthcare), often necessitates providing care without a high-quality evidence base. The absence of high-quality clinical evidence does not mean providing this care is wrong." "Children benefit from innovative medical treatments that improve their survival and quality of life. Pediatric care would all but cease if physicians denied treatments for which the evidence base is imperfect." (McNamara et al., 2024, p. 15) 'An Evidence-Based Critique of "The Cass Review" on Gender-affirming Care for Adolescent The new restrictions will be in place until the conclusion of clinical trials in the United Kingdom, which are not due until at least 2031. "In no other area of care would life-saving medication be withheld from a vulnerable population for six years. This will have a traumatic impact on a generation of transgender children," says Avery Zavoda, PATHA Executive Committee member. PATHA is strongly against the decision. It is a shocking act of discrimination against transgender children and young people. "That New Zealand First announced this news three hours before the Minister of Health shows the way this care has been politicised, and how politics have been prioritised over the wellbeing of New Zealand children," said Zavoda. "Banning puberty blockers will not prevent children from being transgender, despite the disinformation New Zealand First are promoting," says Jennifer Shields, PATHA President. "It's obvious that this has been a political decision made to appease a coalition partner based on an imported culture war, rather than a medical recommendation reflecting the expertise of NZ clinicians and researchers who have been working in this field for over 25 years." Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences of rainbow young people showed "the proportion of young people who wanted puberty blockers and were able to use them was nearly half the number of young people who wanted these medications but could not access them." These findings made it clear that the prescription context and existing regulations "did not result in the easy access to young people who wanted puberty blockers that some people have claimed existed. In fact, the results demonstrate a seriously constrained prescription context that urgently needs further attention to be more equitable." "We call on the Ministry of Health to publish their consultation report immediately, so that health professionals, trans people, and the wider public can see that this decision has been made by politicians rather than based on clinical experience," says Shields. "We also look forward to the Minister now immediately allowing the updated guidelines for gender affirming healthcare to be published." "We also call on Labour, the Green Party, and Te Paati Mãori to commit to reversing this harmful decision if they are elected into government next year. Our communities need the reassurance that this ban will not last." "PATHA is committed to ensuring all trans children and children experiencing gender dysphoria have access to the best quality care.
November 19, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted
bylinesnetwork.co.uk
✍️ UN reform: last chance to get it right?

The UN is in need of reform: if done right it could revitalise the organisation. A former UN official lays out what’s needed

By Dr Robert Smith

@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
UN reform: last chance to get it right?
The UN is in need of reform: if done right it could revitalise the organisation. A former UN official lays out what’s needed
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
May 19, 2025 at 8:37 PM
clarevanboh.bsky.social
Just achieved a major thing at work ☺️🥳
May 19, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Reposted
anarchozoe.bsky.social
For at least over a decade two discourses have co-existed:

- no one is talking about the men, we need to talk about the men. They're struggling. Why do feminists hate men?

- feminist analysis of how patriarchy deeply harms men and prevents them from living fulfilling lives.
March 19, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Reposted
ceej.online
please stop suggesting I solve my problem by changing my behavior. I do not want to do that
January 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
clarevanboh.bsky.social
Chaotic evil 🤷
chowleen.bsky.social eileen chengyin chow @chowleen.bsky.social · Dec 7
Chaotic good, lawful evil
December 12, 2023 at 11:20 AM
clarevanboh.bsky.social
So grateful to be offshore during NZ election season, there's not a combination of words in the world that could make me vote Luxo so it's nice being able to do my own thing elsewhere
September 19, 2023 at 8:13 AM
Reposted
tinaplunkett.bsky.social
When Carterton almost became perfection 😆
September 16, 2023 at 9:31 AM
clarevanboh.bsky.social
Luv 2 fly Easyjet. Will my flight be cancelled? Will I end up in the wrong country? It's a fun little roll of the dice every time
August 24, 2023 at 5:20 PM
clarevanboh.bsky.social
Help I've got too used to having an afternoon nap
August 3, 2023 at 10:39 AM
clarevanboh.bsky.social
Just made a will AND didn't include a sibling in it, truly entering my grand dame phase. Time to start drinking sherry
August 2, 2023 at 4:40 PM
Reposted
ryanboyd.bsky.social
Yeah I'm into outlaw country music, the real Nashville stuff. I drive a $70,000 F-150 and love the police
August 1, 2023 at 2:28 AM
clarevanboh.bsky.social
One day I'll learn to check the quantities before I start baking. Until then, anyone need a cookie or 12?
July 31, 2023 at 10:49 AM
clarevanboh.bsky.social
I thought I was ready to see Barbie but I WAS NOT READY
July 28, 2023 at 7:24 PM
Reposted
coopercodes.bsky.social
Too gay for twitter, not gay enough for Bluesky
July 28, 2023 at 7:33 AM
clarevanboh.bsky.social
Just about drowned trying to watch Barbie at the outdoor cinema. Made it 2 minutes in before the monsoon came to Geneva ⛈️⛈️⛈️
July 24, 2023 at 8:45 PM
clarevanboh.bsky.social
Guess I'm posting now
July 24, 2023 at 8:43 PM