Trans delegates fly trans flags and banners during Unison health conference attended by Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting

What The Trans?!, a UK-based news outlet for the trans community, has reported that trans delegates at a Unison health conference attended by Wes Streeting MP, have put up trans flags and banners attacking the Health Secretary.

In December, Keir Starmer’s Labour government issued an indefinite ban on puberty blockers in the treatment of trans youth, a decision which left trans youth charity Mermaids “deeply disappointed”.

The previous Conservative government had previously banned the prescription of puberty blockers, which can be used to delay the changes of puberty in transgender and gender-diverse youth who have started puberty, from private doctors, a decision that was extended by Streeting.

Puberty blockers were banned on the NHS in 2023 after the controversial Cass Review urged medics to use “extreme caution” when prescribing them, and are only available to young people in clinical trials, or those taking them for non-transitional reasons, such as early onset puberty.

Writing on the BlueSky social media platform, What The Trans?! said: “Wes Streeting was invited to the event despite LGBT members and other unison groups opposing Wes Streeting’s invitation. We hear that Wes has also faced stiff resistance. Including approached and challenged outside of being on stage at the conference.

“The event was pitched to members as a way to give Wes Streeting some hostile questioning. However, we are waiting to hear how tough a grilling it really was.

“It looks like [protesters] were able to stand there with those flags and banners for the entirety of the 50-minute event. And weren’t thrown out.

“One of the questions asked during the event: ‘I have been a mental health nurse in the NHS for over 30 years. I’m also trans. I’ve seen how gender affirming care has improved over the years, as experts learned a great deal from trans people’s experiences.

“‘Recently this has changed, and I’ve seen a marked difference.

“‘With some of the language you have used about trans people, in particular trans women, I’m concerned it will be impossible for me to work in the NHS for much longer.

Breaking just now:
Trans delegates at a Unison health conference event attended by Wes Streeting, have put up trans flags and banners attacking Wes streeting.

We are trying to get details as soon as we can.

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— What The Trans?! ️‍⚧️ (@whatthetrans.com) 9 April 2025 at 11:19

“‘You have said your plan is to get waiting times down, but trans people wait far too long to get the care they need.

“‘As you know, only three of the six planned children and young people’s gender clinics have opened, and we are now implementing practices which experts are calling harmful and diverging from best practice of other western countries.

“‘What are your plans to reduce the waiting lists, which is your priority, for trans people, especially young trans people, seeking the care they need? And do you respect me and other trans, non binary and gender diverse people who work in the NHS?’

“The answer from Wes was described as a politician’s answer, ‘but the opportunity is there for dialogue.'”