GIRES is a UK wide organisation whose purpose is to improve the lives of trans and gender diverse people of all ages, including those who are non-binary and non-gender.
GIRES is a professionally managed membership charity supported by volunteers that, in collaboration with other groups in its field, hears, helps, empowers and gives a voice to trans and gender diverse individuals, including those who are non-binary and non-gender, as well as their families.
We use evidence from individuals’ lived experiences, combined with scientific research into gender identity development, to educate all those who are able to improve trans and gender diverse individuals’ wellbeing. We contribute to policy development regarding equality and human rights for individuals, especially in healthcare.
We also deliver training, e-learning and information to public and private sector organisations, including supporting trans and gender diverse employees or students.
This statement calls for inclusion in sports to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender identity or sex characteristics, can participate.
Latest Posts
2025-01-22
In light of recent policy changes by Meta and the broader erosion of protections and equity initiatives globally, we want to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to you: our vibrant, diverse, and resilient community.
The changes to Meta’s Community Standards, which now permit harmful rhetoric targeting LGBTQ+ people, women, and other marginalised groups, are deeply troubling. These shifts not only normalise hate but also jeopardise the safety, dignity, and mental wellbeing of countless individuals who rely on online spaces for connection and support.
More broadly, the decline in corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EDI) commitments reflects a dangerous regression, undermining decades of progress towards equality and social justice. This trend compounds the challenges we face in navigating an increasingly polarised world where basic human rights are too often treated as negotiable.
Together, We Persist
These are challenging times, but our history as a community is one of resilience, courage, and transformation. We have faced adversity before and emerged stronger. Today is no different.
Together, we will continue to build bridges, foster understanding, and demand accountability. Together, we will create safer spaces—online and offline—that reflect the values of respect, equality, and love.
Thank you for standing with us, and for being the reason we remain steadfast in this fight.
See the full letter signed by GIRES and other LGBTQ+ organisations
2025-01-07
As part of this review, the review team would like to understand the views and experiences of patients who have attended NHS adult gender clinics in the past 5 years, the family, friends or carers of patients and staff who have worked in the gender clinics in the past 5 years.
GIRES Comments on the Survey
We would encourage you to complete the survey; however, we acknowledge that some of the language in the survey questions around detransition and regret – which we know are rare – has been included to appease people who are campaigning to make it harder for trans people of all ages to transition medically.
We do not see the need to have included family members or friends in the list of people asked to complete the survey, and there should have been a clear distinction between the views of family and friends who are supportive and those who are not when completing the survey. We would therefore ask that you encourage your supportive family and friends to complete the survey to help ensure that the data collected can not be used to restrict access to healthcare based on the views of people who are not supportive.
Link to survey https://nhs.welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/93arah
2024-12-20
The recent decision to indefinitely ban the private prescription of puberty blockers for trans youth in the UK marks a profoundly troubling development in the ongoing struggle for the rights of trans people and access to necessary, life-saving and evidence-based healthcare.
Every single child and young person should be able to get the care that they need to grow up happy and healthy.
Right now, trans youth are being failed. We demand a future for trans young people where they can access the healthcare they need, without having to wait for years or fear their experiences will be dismissed. Banning gender affirming care will only make trans youth less safe.
See here for the full joint Statement
The National LGBT Partnership – shares the following tool recently launched by Mermaids, which can assist people in contacting their MP: https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/healthcare/
2024-12-13
TransActual launches a 2024/25 trans lives survey to capture what it is like to be a trans person in the UK today. This is an important survey, updating their 2021 survey that has been widely used to advocate for trans people.
If you are a trans person in the UK, and have 15-20 minutes of spare time, please consider filling out the survey. Open to all trans adults who live in the UK, of all backgrounds and trans identities.
Responses from the 2021 Trans Lives Survey highlighted how experiences of racism and ableism interact with transphobia. If you’re a Black trans person or trans Person of Colour, and/or disabled, please do take part because the data we collect must be truly representative. The survey closes the end of January 2025.
Take the survey at https://buff.ly/3ZNjAnh
2024-12-03
TRANSforming Futures was a project managed by Stonewall and LGBT Consortium, in partnership with Be:North, CliniQ, Galop, Gendered Intelligence, GIRES, Mermaids, Sparkle, and UK Black Pride.
The project ran for six years as a trans-led programme aiming to support trans-led organisations, groups or projects to benefit trans people in England.
As an initial step, research reports set out evidence around three priority areas and the programme then provided funding and other support to a wide range of related activities operating at a range of scales and scopes.
The project was funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
The evaluation report was written by Simon Shaw (he/him), a freelance consultant specialising in evaluation and learning, programme management and influencing policy and practice.
This film was commissioned by TRANSforming Futures.
2024-11-12
NHS England wanted to know our views on the current service specification:
https://dmscdn.vuelio.co.uk/publicitem/5f52778e-11de-4945-b58b-762f6520f2c1
- What works well and should be retained?
- What could be improved and should be adapted?
- What is no longer needed or is not appropriate and should be removed or replaced?
They have broken the current service specification into sections and asked for views on each section.
2024-10-22
TransActual want to hear from trans people in the UK whose GPs have refused to prescribe their HRT. By collecting this information, we intend to track patterns, identify common themes and take steps to advocate for trans people on a national level. They will not share your personal information or details of your specific situation without permission.
2024-10-08
GIRES has been invited to take part in a consultation, regarding the Department of Health and Social Care’s proposal to make the arrangements set out in the emergency order in regard to puberty blockers permanent. The DoH has stated that if enacted, the effect of these changes would be that no new patients under 18 who are under the care of UK private prescribers and prescribers registered in the EEA or Switzerland will be prescribed these medicines for the purposes of puberty suppression in respect of gender incongruence and/or gender dysphoria, other than those exemptions which have been previously set out.
GIRES has been very clear in our submission about the potential impact and dangers. We have included personal evidence from parents of trans young people of the consequences of the ban already and any future proposal to make it permanent.
GIRES Submission_DoH Proposed changes to the availability of puberty blockers 2024-10-08
Celebrating Infinitely Diverse Gender Expressions
A few of GIRES’ friends colleagues and supporters.
