Why Liz Truss’s trans promise matters

It seems odd to be writing about the transgender debate amid the coronavirus crisis, but in some ways, it’s important that normal life, where possible, goes on amid that crisis. That is one good reason for parliament returning to business this week.

That business includes Commons select committee hearings on things other than coronavirus. Today, Liz Truss was at the Women and Equalities Select Committee in her role as minister for equalities, overseeing the Government Equalities Office. That brief includes the trans issue and the – postponed, possibly forever – reform of the Gender Recognition Act.

Truss’s opening remarks to the committee were interesting and worthy of attention because she chose to enter the most contentious aspect of this debate: children.

It is now widely understood that there has been a significant rise in the number of children presenting at NHS clinics dealing with gender issues. Some – not all – of those children will end up on a path that includes puberty-blocking drugs then, later in life, cross-sex hormone treatment and surgery.