Trans Youth – A discussion on affirmative healthcare

You can watch it here

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“If your child says they are transgender, they probably are.”

A discussion on the subject of gender affirmative healthcare for trans youth.

On March 31st, the Transgender Day of Visibility, GenderGP was absolutely delighted to host a live Q&A with some of the leading experts in the field of trans youth care.

Dr Helen Webberley was joined by the experts behind www.transyouthcare.comDr Johanna Olson-Kennedy, Aydin Olson-Kennedy and ‘live from California’, Darlene Tando.

Together, this formidable panel answered your questions on the subject of healthcare for trans and gender variant youth, discussed where we currently stand in the UK and how this compares to the approach taken by the largest transgender youth clinic in the United States.

We were so excited to provide you direct access to an expert panel of doctors and mental health professionals, whose sole purpose is to better understand how they can help younger gender variant people to navigate their gender dysphoria.

You can watch the live event here:

For more information about our very special guests please see their biographies below.

You can also find out more by listening to the latest episode of the GenderGP podcast (Season 2, Episode 1, parts 1 and 2) which documents our recent trip to the Trans Youth Care conference www.transyouthcare.com in LA. 

JO OLSON-KENNEDY, M.D. MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR TRANSYOUTH HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES

Johanna Olson-Kennedy, M.D., has been providing medical intervention for gender non-conforming and transgender youth and young adults for the past twelve years, and is considered a national expert in this area. Double board certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Dr. Olson-Kennedy is the Medical Director of the Center for Transyouth Health and Development at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the largest transgender youth clinic in the United States.

DR HELEN WEBBERLEY, CEO AND FOUNDER  OF GENDERGP, THE UK’S ONLY HEALTHCARE PLATFORM THAT SUPPORTS TRANS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES

A preeminent authority on gender-nonconforming and transgender healthcare, Dr Helen Webberley is a fierce advocate for the rights of gender variant patients of all ages to get timely and safe access to healthcare when they need it. She believes that the UK’s approach to the medical support and treatment of gender variant patients of all ages is lagging behind international centres of excellence. She set up GenderGP support services in a bid to redress this balance. Dr Webberley is currently suspended from the GMC medical register, and her participation will be from a viewpoint of advocacy.

AYDIN OLSON-KENNEDY, MSW, LCSW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LOS ANGELES GENDER CENTER

Mr. Olson-Kennedy is the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Gender Center where he focuses his work on creating accessible mental care for the gender non-conforming and transgender community, and their families. In addition to his role at the Los Angeles Gender Center and his full time private practice, Aydin speaks internationally to medical and mental health providers, educators, social workers and families on the importance of accessible, informed-consent model of care. His focus is on identifying and acknowledging domains of privilege and broadening clinicians and families understanding of gender dysphoria and its impact on the psychosocial well-being of gender-nonconforming and transgender individuals.

DARLENE TANDO, LCSW

Darlene Tando is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in San Diego. She has been working with transgender clients since 2006, and the majority of her practice is dedicated to working with gender expansive/transgender youth and adults. Darlene believes the individual is the “expert” on one’s own gender identity. For more information about her work in the gender field, please visit her blog at www.darlenetandogenderblog.com.  Darlene also authored the book “The Conscious Parent’s Guide to Gender Identity: A Mindful Approach to Embracing your Child’s Authentic Self.”

HOST: LIZZIE JORDAN, CEO AND FOUNDER OF THINK2SPEAK

Think2Speak is a social enterprise which was set up to help tackle the ‘uncomfortable silences’ often felt by young people when discussing sensitive subjects with the professionals involved in their lives. Lizzie and her team work with people to empower them to have the skills to confidently handle sensitive conversations, to know who to speak to and where to go to access further support. Marketing consultant. Award winning social entrepreneur. Mother. Widow. HIV positive. One person; a myriad of possible labels.

House Rules


This is a safe space. We are starting from a position where we believe children when they say they are questioning their gender. We acknowledge that trans children exist, we agree with appropriate social transition and timely medical intervention. This is not an opportunity for discussion about whether children can be gender variant, this is a discussion about how best to support them and those who care for them. If your questions or comments challenge the existence of gender incongruence in children and young people, and their rights, then you will be removed.

We have a zero tolerance approach towards bullying, degrading or belittling behaviour, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, racism or trolling of any kind, casual or other. If we feel you are breaching our house rules our moderators will remove you from the conversation.

If you are the parent or a family member of a gender variant youth, if you are a gender variant youth yourself, if you are an ally, an interested party or a medical practitioner – or someone who simply wants to learn more – you are very welcome to join us for what promises to be a very exciting, informative and unique conversation.