Trans pleasure has fallen substantially in Scotland, a report has found.
Growing up as a transgender person in Scotland isn’t what it used to be, according to an eye-opening report into the joy of transgender children.
A survey of more than 1,200 LGBTQ+ young people in the area aged 13 to 25 revealed that transgender people’s overall joy has decreased by a whopping 50% in a decade.
Members were asked, “What satisfaction do you have with your life in Scotland as an LGBTQ+ young person?” The percentage of transgender respondents feeling “Happy” or “Very happy” dropped from 59 percent in 2012 to just 28 percent in 2022.
According to the report, one in three transgender individuals (31%) believed their hometown was a safe enough place to socialize in.
These results are included in a report released by LGBT Youth Scotland, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of gay Scottish children.
The report also includes “a range of suggestions” to address the structural and societal problems that transgender people face, in addition to disclosing eye-opening statistics from their study findings.
According to one new survey respondent, these problems are among those related to “the lack of full societal acceptance.”
“I am very proud of who I am to be part of the LGBTQ+ society,” they said. “However, it does come at the expense of feeling secure in public.”
Hate crimes against transgender individuals have been steadily rising in Scotland, according to a report from the Crown Office on hate crimes, with at least 55 incidents reported between 2022 and 2023. Another 86 reports were made in 2021-22.
Only 12% of British transgender children may feel safe reporting a hate crime to the police, according to LGBT Youth Scotland.
The nonprofit’s chief executive, Dr. Mhairi Crawford, said that the results were “unfortunately” not a surprise to those “deeply involved with LGBTQ+ young people.”
In a statement, Crawford stated that “this report makes a compelling case for urgent action to protect the rights and well-being of transgender young people in Scotland.”
“We urge the Scottish Government and other government entities to take this report seriously. Calls for transgender youth protection and support have been ignored in Scotland, where they are much needed. We urgently need a shift to ensure that our young people’s future is better.”
It also recommends that Police Scotland make an official apology for homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, as well as guidance to police services to conduct “impact reviews” to better understand how to protect transgender people.
Additionally, it makes recommendations for the NHS, urging it to update its national guidance to ensure that all people on the exceedingly long waiting lists have a “clear timeframe” for treatment.
According to the review, the current waiting period can be anywhere from two to five years.
