Your Voice Matters: Tell Us How the Cass Review Has Affected You
The Cass Review was written without you. Now it’s your turn to speak.
Earlier this week, I submitted a formal referral to the General Medical Council raising concerns about the professional conduct of Dr Hilary Cass in relation to the Cass Review. The response has been overwhelming, and I want to thank every single person who has shared, commented, and reached out. It is clear that this matters to a great many people.
One thing has come through again and again in the messages I have received: people want to be heard. Transgender people, parents, partners, clinicians, teachers, and allies have all told me that the Cass Review was produced without consulting the people whose lives it would most profoundly affect. The voices of those with lived experience and direct clinical expertise were not included, and the consequences of that omission are being felt every single day.
So I am asking you now: what would you have said?
What is this?
I have created a short form where you can share your experience of the Cass Review and its impact on your life. I want to hear from transgender and gender-diverse people, from parents and family members, from clinicians and healthcare professionals, from teachers and social workers, and from anyone who has been affected by the review’s recommendations and the way they have been used.
The form asks two main questions.
How has the Cass Review affected you, your family, or your patients?
What would you have said if you had been consulted?
There is also space for anything else you want to share.
How will your responses be used?
Your responses may be used in two ways, and you get to choose which, if either, you consent to.
First, I intend to submit a collection of these testimonies to the GMC as supplementary evidence in support of my referral. The GMC needs to understand that the concerns I have raised are not abstract or academic. They have real consequences for real people. Your words can help demonstrate that.
Second, with your permission, I may share excerpts from your responses in my public advocacy work, including articles, social media, and other materials. You can choose whether your name is used, whether only your first name is used, or whether your response is shared completely anonymously.
You do not have to consent to either use. If you simply want to share your experience with me and nothing more, that is absolutely fine. Every response will be read and treated with care and respect.
Who can respond?
Everyone. If the Cass Review has affected your life in any way, I want to hear from you. Whether you are a trans person who has lost access to healthcare, a parent navigating an impossible system, a clinician who has been silenced or sidelined, a teacher who no longer knows how to support a student, or an ally who has watched all of this unfold and wants to say something, this is your opportunity.
You can respond from anywhere in the world. The Cass Review has been used to influence policy and legislation far beyond the UK, and I want to capture that international impact.
Is it safe?
The form does not collect your email address automatically. You can remain completely anonymous if you choose. If you do provide your name or contact details, they will never be shared publicly without your explicit consent. I understand that many people, particularly trans people and clinicians, face real risks in speaking out. This form is designed to give you as much control as possible over how your words are used.
Share your experience
The form takes around five to ten minutes to complete. You do not have to answer every question.
If you know someone who should see this, please share it. The more voices we collect, the stronger the evidence becomes. Every single response matters.
Thank you
I know that sharing these experiences takes courage, particularly in the current climate. I want you to know that every response will be treated with the care and respect it deserves. Your voice was missing from the Cass Review. It does not have to be missing from what comes next.
If you have already filled in the form and want to share your thoughts with the community here, please leave a comment below.