Jo Ann Lockwood, founder and CEO of See Change Happen, a Diversity and Inclusion Practice specialising in providing Transgender Awareness, has argued that the choice to ban puberty blockers to children under the age of 18 is "hostile to trans people" sparking a furious backlash from GB News host Ann Widdecombe.
Last month the NHS announced children will no longer routinely be prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics as there was "not enough evidence" they are safe or effective.
Puberty blockers work by suppressing the release of hormones that cause puberty and are often prescribed to children questioning their gender as a way of stopping physical changes such as breast development or facial hair.
Speaking to Ann on GB News, Lockwood said: "Well, I joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 16 and was firing an automatic weapon before I was 18.
The debate got very heated
GB News
"We can do a lot of things before we're 18. So I dispute the fact that being under the age of 18 means that we don't necessarily have the competency.
"It is about a person's understanding of the decisions they're making. And I think people as young as 10 or 11 years old have demonstrated competency without a problem."
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Ann said: " You can't come by a drink in the pub until you're 18. Why on earth should you be able to sign up for medical treatment that can be irreversible and that you can actually regret later on?
"What is the harm in making sure that children have reached the age of majority and become adults before they make life-changing, and it is life-changing, decisions of that order of magnitude?"
The transgender activist explained: "I think it's important to recognize that everybody develops their sense of self from a younger age than the age of majority.
"People are allowed to make decisions about their lives at the age of 16.
Ann Widdecombe argued that the effects are "irreversible"
GB News
"We know that young people have a fully competent understanding of who they are when they are even older than that.
"So I think it's important that what we do is we listen to individuals, not make blanket statements, not make policy based on everyone.
"If we're focusing on individuals, then we can provide specialized care, specialized support not only to the individual, but also to their family to avoid distress and poor mental health."
The former Tory MP said: "Where you say there that people under 18 can make decisions about their lives, I think you've missed out one very vital word. Irreversible decisions. This is irreversible."
Health Minister Maria Caulfield said at the time the law was changed: "We have always been clear that children's safety and wellbeing is paramount, so we welcome this landmark decision by the NHS.
"Ending the routine prescription of puberty blockers will help ensure that care is based on evidence, expert clinical opinion and is in the best interests of the child."
