Blackpool urged to step up efforts to make town better place to live for trans and gender diverse

A 76-page document confirmed high rates of depression and anxiety fuelled by long NHS waits and discrimination

Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead.

Today we report on the challenges faced by the trans and gender diverse community in Blackpool, looking at a report handed to Blackpool Council which aimed to better understand the health needs of people who do not identify as the same sex they were assigned at birth.

We absolutely know this article won’t be for everyone. YouGov reports that scepticism towards transgender rights have grown across the board since 2022. Reform UK, more popular than ever, have criticised ‘transgender indoctrination’.

But being sceptical of an issue is not the same as telling people they should not be able to live comfortable lives. And as attitudes become more sceptical, and online discourse more aggressive, it becomes harder for people to live as they choose without fear.

That’s what today’s issue looks at.

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Blackpool briefing

🏠 A £90m regeneration scheme for one of Blackpool’s most deprived areas has been slammed as a “mass dispersion” of vulnerable people as hundreds of homes face demolition. Blackpool Council says areas of the town urgently need need better housing and the authority plans to transform a large area of the Revoe ward, off Central Drive. The council plans to use a £90m grant previously awarded by Michael Gove, the former levelling up secretary in Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government, as part of the Homes England agenda. But critics say the scheme will see up to 400 homes being demolished and replaced with just 230 new properties. And it is argued that in many cases, people want to stay in their homes and are fearful where they will go once they are demolished. More on this in a future edition of The Blackpool Lead.

👪 A Blackpool couple have explained why they became foster carers as a new campaign was launched to encourage more people to get involved. The new campaign, Foster for Blackpool, aims to attract local people to come forward and find out more about fostering. Jaime said of the decision to foster: “We wanted to give back to our local community and Blackpool is very much in need plus all the staff we’ve met so far have been lovely. We have a large family. I’m very lucky to be able to stay home and be there for my kids. Every school play, doctor’s appointments, and I wanted to be able to do that for others who may need the love and support. I was a young mum myself and without my family’s support, I wouldn’t be the mum I am today. We love having a fun busy crazy filled house.”

🏗️ Plans have been lodged to build 102 affordable homes on land bordering Poulton and Blackpool. The application has been submitted to Wyre planners on behalf of developers Wain Homes, who want to build the new homes on land off Normoss Road, Marina Avenue and Benedict Drive, which is classed as Poulton. Lancashire County Highways says it has no objection to the proposals.

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Blackpool urged to step up efforts to make town better place to live for trans and gender diverse

A rainbow crossing in Blackpool

By Michael Holmes

Town hall bosses have been urged to step up efforts to make Blackpool a better place to live and work for the trans and gender diverse (TGD) community.

It comes after a 76-page document revealed soaring rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide, fuelled by long NHS waits, discrimination and everyday barriers to basic health care.

The paper, the first trans and gender diverse health needs assessment carried out in the north west, warned that TGD residents avoid gyms, changing rooms and even doctors’ appointments because they do not feel safe or fear they could be “outed”.

Dianne Draper, a consultant in public health at Blackpool Council, said in a recent report to the authority’s Tourism, Economy and Communities Scrutiny Committee: “This project aims to better understand the health needs of people whose gender identity is not the same as the sex they were assigned at birth, referred to in this report as trans and gender diverse, including trans men, trans women, non-binary people, and those who define their gender in another way.

“There is strong international evidence that this population experiences health inequalities, but there is still much that is not known, with research tending to focus on mental health and substance use disorders, and communicable disease.”

Key findings from the health needs assessment, written by Michael Alexander, then working in Blackpool Council’s public health team, and Sonia Johanna Chauhan, from Blackburn with Darwen Council’s public health team, include:

Mental health, suicide and self-harm

Some 54% of 130 TGD people from across Lancashire surveyed for the report said they suffered from a long-term mental health condition, while 84% felt their mental health negatively impacted their day-to-day life.

Sixty-five percent of people have deliberately hurt themselves, with 73% having suicidal thoughts and 43% attempting suicide.

Access to mental health proved an issue, with 13% of people saying they had been unable to see someone in the past 12 months, while 10% did not bother trying because they thought they would be unsuccessful, with long waiting times appearing to be the main barrier.

Access to gender-affirming care

Some 34% of people were on a waiting list for a gender identity service, leaving an unmet need.

Hormone treatments were most frequently obtained through NHS GPs (22%) or bought online (16%).

And 36% of people wanted more information on how to access gender-affirming surgery and support to do so.

Transition needs are met by specialist NHS gender identity services but there are none in Lancashire - with the closest based in Leeds.

“In addition to the cost and difficulty of travelling a significant distance for appropriate care, there is also a long waiting list to be seen,” the report says.

“There is evidence of further problems with gender identity services beyond the long waiting times,” it adds.

“In one example, it was noted that clinics require from patients two years of experience living as their true gender. Some clinics considered that changing one’s name was the starting point of this two-year period, but patients also found that changing their names while on a waiting list would cause them to be dropped from the waiting list due to administrative confusion.”

Screening programmes

A tenth of people believed they had not been given the appropriate invitation to cervical cancer screening, while 11% felt they had not received the appropriate invitation to breast cancer screening.

Documentation of gender in general practice

Though the report highlighted “many positive experiences” with GP practices, it said 42% of people were not registered with the same gender as their gender identity at their doctor’s surgery. “The most common reason for this was not wanting to discuss this with staff,” it said. “The binary nature of electronic recording systems for gender also presented a barrier and was noted to impact subsequent access to healthcare, such as screening programmes, for example.”

Discrimination, harassment and cultural competence

“Widespread” discrimination and harassment were reported, with most people experiencing them at home (62%), work (63%), school, college or university (62%) or in a public place (68%) in the past year. Meanwhile, a quarter felt like they had been refused a job because of their trans status or identity, while some also believed they had been denied accommodation because of it.

The report added: “In terms of healthcare services, instances of discrimination or lack of cultural competence were described: this was most apparent with respect to hospital inpatient services.”

Physical activity

“Challenges in accessing physical activity were evidence, with low levels of confidence in accessing public leisure and fitness facilities/engaging in organised sports or fitness activities,” the report said.

As part of the assessment, a steering group made 17 recommendations in four key areas: building a bigger, safe world for TGD people; celebrating progress and positive stories; designing in inclusion; and creating a confident and inclusive workforce.

Recommendations include launching a PR campaign “sharing good news stories, including at occasions such as Trans Visibility Day”, encouraging gender-inclusive facilities in public areas and workplaces, offering equality and inclusion training and, more broadly, “creating a more open, safer world for TGD people”.

Gyms specifically for TGD people could be opened, as well as swimming and exercise classes.

Draper said: “The recommendations are intentionally broad to allow development of activities and priorities as appropriate at a local level.

“For example, ‘building a bigger, safer world’ could look towards promoting visibility, community connection and safe spaces for LGD people.”