Zoe Hughes, a councillor on Exeter City Council, has quit the Labour Party after refusing to “stand by and accept” the party banning puberty blockers for under-18s questioning their gender identity.
Hughes, who will now serve as an Independent, said: “As a queer person, I have often felt alone and marginalised within society. However, I historically have felt that at least the Labour Party had my back.”
In December, Keir Starmer’s Labour government issued an indefinite ban on puberty blockers in the treatment of trans youth, a decision which has left trans youth charity Mermaids “deeply disappointed”.
“Children’s health care must always be evidence-led,” said Wes Streeting, Health Secretary, in a press release. “The independent expert Commission on Human Medicines found that the current prescribing and care pathway for gender dysphoria and incongruence presents an unacceptable safety risk for children and young people.
“We need to act with caution and care when it comes to this vulnerable group of young people and follow the expert advice.”
Hughes, who uses “they” and “them” pronouns, said there would be “increasing self-harm” as a result of the decision on puberty blockers in “an already vulnerable and marginalised group”.
They added: “We have let the LGBT+ community down and I want no part of it – there is no LGB without the T for me, it is that simple.”
