Northern Ireland has permanently banned puberty blockers for individuals under 18, closing potential loopholes that could have allowed transgender youth to access the medication through the region, officials confirmed yesterday.
According to The Jornal, the decision was unanimously agreed upon by the Stormont executive, which includes representatives from Sinn Fein, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and Alliance ministers.
Emma Little-Pengelly, the Stormont deputy leader, stated that the ban was “informed by medical and scientific advice” and emphasized that “the protection and safety of our young people must be paramount.”
The move extends the UK government’s earlier ban, which was initially introduced by the Conservative government and subsequently maintained by Keir Starmer’s Labour government. Under the current regulations, puberty blockers are now only available to under-18s who were already taking the medication and in specific NHS clinical trials.
Trans advocacy groups have been critical of the ban, arguing that puberty blockers are an important treatment option for some transgender youth.
The executive’s decision effectively prevents Northern Ireland from becoming a potential “back door” for transgender youth in Britain seeking to access puberty-blocking medication.
According to the decision, the ban is now permanent, further solidifying the restrictions on puberty blockers for young people experiencing gender dysphoria or gender incongruence.