Who Trolled Amber? - Introducing: The Tavistock

Episode Date: September 18, 2023

This is the story of the Gender Identity Development Service for children and young people at the Tavistock. The Tavi, as it’s known is the only clinic in England and Wales which has treated children suffering from body dysphoria. Its critics have accused it of fast-tracking young people into changing gender. Its supporters argue it has provided help and support, even a lifeline. Now, the clinic will close. This is the story of what happened.Listen to the full series today. For the premium Tortoise listening experience, curated by our journalists, download the free Tortoise audio app. For early and ad-free access to all our investigative series and daily and weekly shows, subscribe to Tortoise+ on Apple Podcasts.If you’d like to further support slow journalism and help us build a different kind of newsroom, do consider donating to Tortoise at tortoisemedia.com/support-us. Your contributions allow us to investigate, campaign and explore, and to build a newsroom that is responsible and sustainable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the story of the most controversial NHS clinic. A place which treats children and young people who are questioning their gender and sets some of them on a path to a medical transition using puberty blockers and hormones. It's known simply as the Tavistock. It's the story of an institution at the centre of an ideological battle, offering a lifeline to some. It was that relief. I can breathe finally. I've got that first appointment. I'm in the system now.

Accused of overseeing an unprecedented medical scandal by others. I studied history, but one thing I never understood was how the really bad things were allowed to happen. And now I understand how very bad things can happen. It's the story of what happens when culture moves faster than science. At the time, we were genuinely conscientious people trying to do the right thing in a very conflicted world. One that has become so toxic most people stay away. How should we treat children with gender dysphoria? When I was 14, 15 I wish I'd been referred to puberty blockers because it wouldn't make life so difficult for me now in

terms of presenting how I want to. When even talking about it has become shrouded in self-censorship and fear, I'm going to take you inside the Tavistock to find out what really happened. I'm going to open up this story and let in some light rather than add to the noise. Gender identity clinic. How can this be right when you're referring to kids of this age? We hear from the people who've run the clinic. Of course, I'm aware that anything I say will probably be used against me by someone. From its beginnings as a tiny service operating under the radar,

there was no public debate. You know, there was really no interest to a clinic struggling to cope. How much kind of day-to-day was that waiting list playing on your mind? Every day. What was your fear? The fear was that whatever we tried, we had no adequate response to it. It was beyond our abilities. This isn't the story you think it is.

I'm Polly Curtis, and from Tortoise, this is The Tavistock, Inside the Gender Clinic. Thank you.