The NSPCC are planning to hold a debate on 25th of October entitled 'Is Society Letting Trans Children Down?' (https://www.twitter.com/nspcc_press/status/785853596394979328

Instead of inviting trans young people to speak on the subject, they have invited Kellie Maloney, a trans adult, with celebrity status for her successes in boxing, and Sarah Ditum, a cis adult, who actively campaigns against supporting trans children with anything but conversion therapy.

Suicide attempts and poor mental health are endemic amongst trans children and young people, particularly in those who don't receive support from the significant adults in their lives (http://www.transstudent.org/youthsupport This debate will increase the risk of those young people already struggling with feeling disbelieved and innately 'wrong'.

This debate isn't on how to help them. This debate is inviting someone who thinks they need conversion therapy (proven to be deeply harmful to LGB & T people) to argue their case against someone whose only qualification is being a member of the group in question. Maloney has no specific expertise in trans young people, and also has a history of domestic violence (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3133217/I-remember-fear-face-Kellie-Maloney-reveals-inner-torment-living-secret-double-life-led-nearly-strangle-ex-wife-holiday.html DV being harmful to children).

Both of the participants are completely unsuitable for the debate. This debate will not further the cause of preventing cruelty to children, but is in fact cruelty to trans children through its very existence.

The NSPCC should immediately cancel the debate, and engage with trans young people directly on how best it can support them.