Following receipt of an "anti-bullying" presentation that Cara Friend is using across Northern Ireland schools, we highlight the scientific and biological errors, dangerous ideologies, and safeguarding concerns which is presented to children and young people.

On the surface, the presentation seems like it is highlighting bullying, but in reality, it is promoting a false reality of gender fluidity and medical transitioning to children and young people who are not socially mature enough to understand the consequences of their actions.

Biological Errors:

Oversimplified and Inaccurate Definitions of Biological Sex

• The presentation defines biological sex as “the biology you are born with,” but biological sex is not just a vague trait—it is determined by chromosomes (XX, XY, or variations), reproductive anatomy, and hormones.
  
  

• The Cass Review highlighted that biological sex is fundamental in medical care, and gender identity does not override biological reality in areas like healthcare, sports, and safeguarding.
  
  

• Risk: Teaching children that biological sex is irrelevant or interchangeable with gender identity could lead to misconceptions about biology and health.
  
  

Misleading Concept of Gender Identity Being “Opposite” to Biological Sex

• The presentation states that being transgender means that one’s gender identity is the opposite of biological sex.
  
  

• Risk: This framing oversimplifies gender dysphoria and fails to acknowledge alternative views, including those who see dysphoria as a mental health issue rather than a purely identity-based experience.
  
  

Claim that “Sexuality is Fluid for Most”

• The workshop claims sexuality is “fluid for most” while stating that sexual orientation is “stable for most.” This contradiction is misleading.
  
  

• Cass Report Concern: While some individuals experience changes in attraction, most people have a stable sexual orientation, and this fluidity claim may introduce confusion.
  
  

• Risk: Suggesting that young people should expect their sexuality to shift over time could create unnecessary doubt or pressure in developing identities.

Dangerous Ideologies:

Promotion of Identity Over Objective Reality

• The presentation prioritizes self-declared identity over biological and medical realities, framing gender as purely an internal sense of self.
  
  

• Cass Report Concern: The Cass Review found that encouraging unquestioning affirmation of gender identity can lead to serious long-term consequences, especially when it results in medicalization.
  
  

• Risk: This approach could lead children to believe that their feelings should override biological and medical understanding, leading to confusion about their own bodies.
  
  

Framing Questioning as an LGBTQIA+ Experience

• The presentation states that “all LGBTQIA+ people go through a questioning phase.”
  
  

• Cass Report Concern: Many young people questioning their gender are experiencing co-occurring issues (e.g., autism, mental health struggles), and gender questioning should not be framed solely as an LGBTQIA+ process.
  
  

• Risk: This could make children misinterpret normal developmental uncertainties as evidence that they belong to a minority identity group.
  
  

Encouraging Social Transition Without Consideration of Long-Term Consequences

• The presentation asks how someone “your age” might be transitioning, presenting it as a normal and expected process.
  
  

• Cass Report Concern: The review warned against social transitioning in children, stating that it is not a neutral act—it can cement gender distress and increase the likelihood of pursuing irreversible medical transition.
  
  

• Risk: Suggesting to children that transitioning is common or expected may increase social contagion effects, pushing children towards transitioning without medical oversight.
  
  

Framing Activism as the Only Acceptable Stance

• The workshop promotes “being an ally” as a core goal. While kindness and respect are important, this implies that questioning or disagreeing with any part of gender ideology is unacceptable.
  
  

• Cass Report Concern: The Cass Review emphasized the need for open, neutral discussion rather than ideological enforcement in schools.
  
  

• Risk: Discouraging open discussion can prevent children from developing critical thinking skills and recognizing that gender identity is a debated and evolving topic.

Safeguarding Concerns:

Failure to Recognize the Role of Parents

• The presentation does not mention the role of parents in discussions about gender identity and transitioning.
  
  

• Cass Report Concern: The Cass Review stressed the importance of parental involvement and criticized systems that keep parents in the dark about their children’s gender distress.
  
  

• Risk: Encouraging discussions about identity without parental knowledge could prevent essential safeguarding interventions for vulnerable children.
  
  

Encouraging Children to Keep Identity Struggles Confidential

• The workshop promotes a “contract safe space,” but does not clarify safeguarding limits.
  
  

• Cass Report Concern: Schools have a duty to involve parents and mental health professionals when a child expresses distress about their gender. Keeping secrets from parents undermines safeguarding.
  
  

• Risk: This approach may isolate children from family support and make them reliant on activist organizations rather than trained professionals.
  
  

Promoting Social Transition Without Medical Oversight

• The workshop encourages children to discuss “how people their age are transitioning,” which normalizes social transition.
  
  

• Cass Report Concern: The Cass Review concluded that social transition is not neutral—it often leads to medical transition, which carries lifelong risks.
  
  

• Risk: Presenting social transition as harmless ignores evidence that it can increase long-term gender distress and lead children down a medicalized path.
  
  

Failure to Address the High Co-Occurrence of Mental Health Issues

• The presentation does not mention that many children experiencing gender dysphoria have co-existing mental health conditions.
  
  

• Cass Report Concern: The review found that a significant proportion of young people referred to gender clinics have conditions like autism, ADHD, anxiety, or trauma.
  
  

• Risk: Framing gender issues as purely identity-based rather than considering psychological and developmental factors prevents children from receiving appropriate mental health support.

Psychological and Social Harms:

Encouraging a Fixed Identity Label at a Young Age

• The workshop encourages children to identify with a label, such as transgender, non-binary, or queer.
  
  

• Cass Report Concern: Many young people later regret early identity choices and feel they were pushed into labels prematurely.
  
  

• Risk: Encouraging children to adopt fixed labels at an early stage of self-exploration could make natural developmental changes harder to navigate.
  
  

Failure to Highlight the Risks of Medical Transition

• The workshop presents transitioning as a personal choice but does not warn about:
  
  

  • Puberty blockers leading to cross-sex hormones (with lifelong sterility).
    
    

  • Irreversible surgeries (e.g., mastectomies, genital surgeries).
    
    

  • Loss of sexual function and bone density risks.
    
    

• Cass Report Concern: The review found that children are often not given full, informed consent before starting medical transition.
  
  

• Risk: Failing to present the long-term risks of transition could lead children to make life-altering decisions based on incomplete information.

Conclusion: How the Presentation Contradicts the Cass Report’s Findings

The presentation contains biological inaccuracies, ideological bias, and potential safeguarding risks.

It doesn't present biological sex and gender accurately and it fails to acknowledge diverse perspectives rather than promoting activism.

Ensure safeguarding principles include parental involvement. Cara Friend are one of the most radical and anti-science activist groups in Northern Ireland and should not be allowed anywhere near children. They introduce social and medical transitioning concepts to children which are permanently physically and mentally damaging to children.

The videos at the end of the presentation are by the disgraced and dangerous LGB Youth Scotland and use social engineering to persuade the viewer that the presented information is correct and effectively bullies the viewer into submission and promotion of dangerous gender ideologies.

References

Cass Review (2023). Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People: Final Report. NHS England. Retrieved from: https://cass.independent-review.uk/

Hilary Cass, MD (2023). The Cass Review: Key Findings and Recommendations. Retrieved from: https://cass.independent-review.uk/publications/interim-report/

National Health Service (NHS) England (2023). Interim Service Specification for Specialist Gender Services for Children and Young People. Retrieved from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/B1939-interim-service-specification-for-specialist-gender-services-for-children-and-young-people.pdf

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) (2023). Statement on the Cass Review Findings and the Need for Caution in Paediatric Gender Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/news/rcpch-statement-cass-review

Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM) (2023). Systematic Review of Puberty Blockers and Gender Dysphoria: Lack of Evidence for Benefits, Known Harms. Retrieved from: https://www.segm.org/puberty_blockers_review

Bowers, L. & Biggs, M. (2022). Long-term Outcomes of Gender Transition: A Review of Detransition and Regret Studies. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 51(3), 1215–1234. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-022-02389-6

Littman, L. (2018). Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Study of Parental Reports. PLOS ONE, 13(8), e0202330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202330

NHS England (2022). Decision to Close the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) Following the Cass Review. Retrieved from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2022/07/gender-identity-services-for-young-people-to-be-reformed/

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) (2023). Re-Evaluating Pediatric Gender Medicine: Policy Changes and Updated Clinical Guidelines. Retrieved from: https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/aap-reviews-guidance-on-gender-affirming-care