Ireland named worst country for transgender healthcare in EU

According to new research, Ireland has ranked lowest in the European Union when it comes to transgender healthcare.

This first edition of TGEU’s Trans Health Map represents the availability and accessibility of trans-specific healthcare in the 27 member states of the European Union.

The map shows the overall status of trans specific healthcare in each member state based on information collected on 6 factors:

(a) Type of transgender healthcare and coverage available in the country
(b) Requirement for a psychiatric diagnosis before hormonal treatment or surgery
(c) Waiting time for first appointment with a trans healthcare professional
(d) Groups excluded or made to wait longer to access trans specific healthcare
(e) Youngest age for puberty blockers, and
(f) Youngest age for hormones.

I'm super happy to announce that the Trans Health Map I've been working on for TGEU went live today. Check it out @ https://t.co/gFodYxSfFA pic.twitter.com/H3s7RNb2VM

— ノア (@noahadams) October 31, 2022

"In Ireland, the system is bogged down by waiting times of over 7 years to see a healthcare professional," TGEU wrote in its report. "Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have had alarming impacts on access to essential medication and hormones for trans people."

According to Trans Pride Dublin, transgender healthcare in Ireland is "only getting worse with a six year (or longer) waiting list for Loughlinstown, no care for minors and forcing trans adults through an invasive and humiliating assessment".

"International best practices and promotes backwards ideas about trans people and gender. The doctors are more interested in hearing about our trauma and porn habits than providing adequate care. We call for a fit for purpose, consent based trans healthcare through our GPs," Trans and Intersex Pride Dublin tweeted at the news.

According to the survey by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, 34% of trans people from across all member states of the European Union reported having faced discrimination by healthcare workers based on their gender identity.

Trans identities are no longer pathologised and being trans is not a psychiatric condition. Trans specific healthcare in the EU member states need to urgently reflect this and must transition to processes based entirely on informed consent, and ensure that it is equitable and accessible by individuals who are further marginalised by racism, poverty, sexism, ableism, xenophobia, ageism, and other forms of oppression.

Coming in last and absolutely shocking no one is Ireland! Trans healthcare in Ireland is only getting worse with a 6+ year waiting list for Loughlinstown, no care for under 18s and forcing trans adults through an invasive and humiliating assessment. The NGS goes against https://t.co/Vk9aTVJx0b

— Trans & Intersex Pride Dublin 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 (@DubTrans) October 31, 2022

Activists recently criticised Ireland’s law criminalising hate and violence against trans people, saying it’s ultimately “too little too late”.

The Irish Cabinet approved new legislation that will repeal the previous incitement to hatred laws and is intended to make prosecutions for hate crimes as well as hate speech easier. The bill will add gender – including gender identity and expression – as well as disability – to a list of protected characteristics covered and was reportedly based on best international practices.

Any person convicted of purposefully inciting hatred or violence against a trans person could face up to five years in prison, according to the new legislation.

“We’re the only country in the EU without any hate crime legislation, and this bill is weak,” Trans and Intersex Pride Dublin told PinkNews. “There are many loopholes that need to be repealed.”

Trans and Intersex Pride Dublin have seen “far-right people spewing speech that’s essentially inciting violence” against the community but was concerned such individuals will be “protected in this bill due to a ‘contribution to literary, artistic, political, scientific or academic debates’,” which is exempt from the bill.

“With the rise in LGBTQ+ attacks in Ireland and with the rise in the far-right in Ireland, we need to repeal these loopholes and we need protection for individuals in the community,” the group said.

Trans people will continue facing the “same marginalisation in Irish society”, even if the loopholes were to be closed.

“We still have inadequate gender-affirming care, we still have a state intertwined with the church and we continue to have an increase in attacks on the LGBTQ+ community – both politically and physically,” it said. “This bill will not fix these issues.”

Transgender Equality Network Ireland are currently carrying out a donation drive, which has been contributed to by Irish musicians CMAT and Pillow Queens, plus Mother Dublin.

TENI wants trans people to thrive. Help our work to support our community and to change hearts and minds. Click and donate on the link below. If you’re not in a position to donate, please share! https://t.co/TKUhxDOZty #DonationDrive pic.twitter.com/zakgpHm8n6

— TENI (@TENI_Tweets) October 24, 2022