How the BBC presents and reports on gender ideology is irresponsible. In the words of Tory Peer, Baroness Nicholson: 'At best, this represents a systemic failure of the BBC’s impartiality, editorial standards and journalistic competence. At worst, it is redolent of harmful activism'. We agree with her. Oliver Dowden, the responsible Minister of State must act to curtail further harm.

In late December, the BBC ran a news item about trans-identifying children that was full of inaccuracies and irresponsible reporting. This followed the High Court ruling, initiated by Keira Bell, that will restrict children under 16 from accessing "puberty-blocking" drugs.  The most serious aspect of the story was how it talked about suicide. In response, a group of doctors wrote to the BBC outlining their concerns. They wrote 'on four occasions in the article it surmises that since the Judicial Review, transgender teens are potentially now at increased risk of suicide. This is not only conjecture, but it could also inflate the risk of suicide in a group of very vulnerable young people'. 

James Kirkup wrote about the news item for the Spectator. He described it as 'a horrible failure of journalism'. Kirkup pointed the BBC to advice from the Samaritans about how the media should talk about suicide: 'Steer clear of presenting suicidal behaviour as an understandable response to a crisis or adversity. This can contribute to unhelpful and risky normalising of suicide as an appropriate response to distress.' And: 'Speculation about the ‘trigger’ or cause of a suicide can oversimplify the issue and should be avoided. Suicide is extremely complex and most of the time there is no single event or factor that leads someone to take their own life.'

Following many complaints, the BBC amended its article and inserted an explanatory message. However, as Kirkup wrote 'What that message does not mention is that the changes [made] include removing the central assertion of the original piece. The original text said 'Doctors and parents have told the BBC the ruling could cause distressed trans teens to self-harm or even take their own lives.'Now it says this: 'Doctors and parents have told the BBC the ruling could put already vulnerable trans teens at risk.' In other words, the BBC reported yesterday that a court ruling could cause young people to commit suicide. Today it no longer says that. Such a correction is welcome, of course, but I can’t help thinking that such a fundamental change in the premise of the article warrants at least a clear public acknowledgment, if not outright deletion'.

In the same article the BBC quoted a group called GenderGP: 'The mental health implications of [the ruling] cannot be underestimated, and the risk of self-harm and suicide must be acknowledged'. Following complaints, the BBC felt obliged to let readers know that 'GenderGP is a private company founded by Helen Webberley, who was suspended by the General Medical Council for running an unlicensed transgender clinic'. However this still remains disingenuous. Tory Peer, Baroness Nicholson, has now written to Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, about the BBC's coverage of trans issues. With respect to this same piece she writes 'the BBC article omits that for these activities [Helen Webberley] received a criminal conviction'. The Baroness goes on 'Indeed, in proceedings concerning her removal from the Medical Performers List, the First-Tier Tribunal made the following observation: 'In broad terms we found that Dr Webberley was a very unimpressive witness who demonstrated a marked unwillingness to accept obvious points and to seek to avoid giving straight answers' Even worse, says Nicholson, 'following the ruling in Bell v Tavistock, Helen Webberley has publicly vowed to defy and bypass the High Court’s ruling and in effect, the actions and safeguards put in place by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, stating that GenderGP would be “continuing to prescribe blockers for people who are on blockers, and continuing to prescribe new blockers for anybody who is able to give consent to that treatment” As Nicholson says 'it is entirely foreseeable that many vulnerable individuals as a result of this [BBC] article have now ‘discovered’ GenderGP and are at risk of significant harm.' It's hard to disagree with the Baroness, and not to be horrified by the BBC's lack of judgement.

In her letter to Oliver Dowden, Baroness Nicholson asks 'I would be grateful if you would consider examining recent broadcasts which would seem to improperly impinge upon Child Protection, with special reference to health; and drawing to the BBC’s attention the overwhelming responsibility we all have within our health system of avoiding harm'. She concludes her letter: 'At best, this represents a systemic failure of the BBC’s impartiality, editorial standards and journalistic competence. At worst, it is redolent of harmful activism'. 

But now the BBC appear to be at it again. This time its a documentary aimed at a younger audience. Several days ago BBC3 started to promote 'DIY Trans Teens' due to be shown January 29.The original promotional blurb, said: 'In the UK, many young trans people are taking matters into their own hands, getting unregulated hormones online and starting their transitions themselves'. The programme will be presented by Charlie Craggs, a self-styled trans-activist. For a documentary where you might want a great deal of caution, care, and medical expertise, I am not sure this bodes well. The write-up said 'Charlie meets a doctor who has been suspended in relation to her work with trans patients'. I suspect that's going to be GenderGP again - see Baroness Nicholson's words above...

And then, with staggering irresponsibility, the unsourced and inaccurate suicide narrative: 'With statistics showing that the attempted suicide rate amongst young trans people is almost double that of cis young people, Charlie Craggs asks what more can be done to support trans teenagers during transition'.

TransgenderTrend has closely followed the 'trans suicide myth'.   They write 'Although there is no doubt that children and young people suffering gender dysphoria are an extremely vulnerable group deserving of our support and care, the oft-quoted suicide statistics are from surveys which are not robust and there is no evidence that transition is a ‘cure'.’ Further 'Any risk of suicide is terrifying for parents, every suicide is an awful tragedy and for this reason we feel that exaggerating the risk and constantly using the threat of suicide is unhelpful and irresponsible'. They conclude: 'Michael Biggs analysed the Tavistock GIDS and national suicide figures and found that suicide amongst young children in England and Wales is, thankfully, vanishingly rare and there is no evidence that there is a high rate among trans-identified children'.   

Now the blurb for 'DIY Trans Teens' has disappeared. A BBC spokes-person has said “The documentary is not finished so will be broadcast at a later date. It’s not unusual for there to be late changes to the BBC Three schedule.” Perhaps our initial complaints and concern have already had an impact. Perhaps when this programme does reappear it will be more responsible than its original reckless blurb seemed to imply. We can help make that so by complaining to the BBC, even about the blurb, with its cavalier presentation of suicide and unsourced, innaccurate, and irresponsible statistics. We should not have to tolerate the BBC's shoddy journalism and harmful activism. But this also shouldn't be left to all of us. As Baroness Nicholson has suggested, the responsible Minister of State, Oliver Dowden, must surely act.