Last Friday, when I woke up, I had a very clear idea of how our newsletter would look. But by the time I was taking a sip of my first tea, that fundamentally changed.
We were hearing from multiple sources, increasing stories of the cancellations of surgeries that Trans+ people had waited years for - and yet were only given hours to notice.
This story begs a lot of questions. We have spent the week asking them. Taking a slow and steady approach. This is hard, because we know just how much clamour there is for more information.
What's also clear to us, though, is that this story started with dubious claims, misrepresented data sets and misinformation. The way to respond is with detailed, fact-checked, accountability journalism.
It took a team of five Trans+ journalists to turn our fast-developing story around last week in just six hours. This week we bring you another exclusive on the situation in Wales - and we're not done digging yet.
If you have a story to tell, that could help - as we set out for the first time today - up to 800 Trans+ people who've had the rug pulled out from under them. We want to hear from you. Just hit reply to this newsletter - if you have a story to tell, we want to investigate it for you.
Jamie Wareham
QueerAF founder
Understand the LGBTQIA+ headlines and keep track of the latest queer content and perspectives. QueerAF is written by Jamie Wareham and a different LGBTQIA+ creative every week.
💬 This week:
- Welsh Gender Service: We reveal that up to 800 patients have been affected by the surgery cancellations, and speak to patients who found out with just hours to go.
- Section 28 2.0: As English schools implement a transphobic regime that bans teachers from "encouraging" people to explore their gender, we look at how other consultations could make the situation even tougher.
- Ace representation: Now Heartstopper is over, and Sex Education feels like a distant memory, what next for asexual and aromantic representation in the media? Rebecca Humphreys-Lamford explores in the Queer Gaze.
Skip the doomscrolling and support queer creatives instead. We are QueerAF – and so are you.
“Devastated”: Up to 800 Trans+ patients affected by Welsh Gender Service surgery cancellations
TL;DR: Questions are being raised over the evidence behind NHS Wales's decision to cancel surgeries for Welsh Gender Service patients, who tell QueerAF of their 'absolute devastation' on having surgeries cancelled at the last minute. One patient was in a hospital bed ready for top surgery when the decision to ban surgeries was implemented. By Ludovic Parsons.
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