Hannah Barnes – “Time to Think – The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock’s Gender Service for Children”

This is a very long read, but – so far as I am concerned – an important one. It isn’t just a review of the book, but a widening-out of its discussions to ask what place does trans have in our society, whether we are trans-inflected or not? – although I would say that I believe there is trans in all of us and we are all in transition. The book is debateable but the debate is worth having if we aren’t limited to its terms. For those who are new to the subject the review states the basics,- “The subject of “Time To Think” by Hannah Barnes is, broadly, the response of health services to young people’s difficulties with their gender over a given period, the late 20th and early 21st Century, and with particular reference to a gender service in Britain. The book is the product of years of research and investigation. It is not an easy read. It has the disadvantage of being published while the developments it relates are still ongoing and already has acquired an additional chapter of updating. There may be more updating to come.… I am not going to summarize “Time To Think”. A friend asked me “What are its conclusions?” Accepting the already-mentioned problem that the story itself has not reached a conclusion, I can offer a personal summary of its various positions and a review of some of the key issues it raises. Otherwise I would advise you to read it for yourself. All I might do here is to offer perspective, as somebody who hasn’t had direct contact with this particular health service, but is acutely and personally conscious of the trans life.” All responses are welcome – to tr,easuredproject@gmail.com – as are invitations to join public discussions about these issues.