LGBT organisation subjected to sustained and often innacurate newspaper stories
Claims from leading UK-wide newspapers that LGBT Youth Scotland is facing a probe by the charity regulator are inaccurate, TFN has found.
English-based titles including The Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail and the Express all ran news articles claiming the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is conducting an inquiry into the “transgender youth charity” over its criticism of a government review that led to a ban on puberty blockers.
But LGBTYS told TFN it was merely in discussion with OSCR regarding its engagement with the elements of the Cass Review which have been accepted by the Scottish Government.
The charity regulator subsequently confirmed this.
LGBTYS has come under huge scrutiny by the media for supporting transgender young people with a succession of negative, often lurid, articles attacking the organisation.
However the organisation has not and never has described itself as a transgender youth charity; it describes itself as Scotland’s national charity for LGBTQ+ young people, aged 13-25.
Dr Cass, a retired consultant pediatrician, was appointed to lead the review in 2020.
Her findings were published in April this year which led to an immediate ban on prescribing puberty blockers to new patients throughout Britain.
The controversial medication - which prevent changes like breast growth, periods, voice-deepening and facial hair growth - has been rounded on by campaigners.
The Cass review itself has been weaponised by elements of the media against third sector bodies supporting transgender people.
A spokesperson for LGBTYS said: “To clarify, this process does not form an investigation into the charity, and we are pleased to be working alongside OSCR in this way. We use our ongoing relationship with OSCR to support the board to ensure our charity governance is as robust as it can be and are grateful for their engagement in this challenging climate.
“While it has been reported that concerns have been raised regarding our position on the Cass Review, LGBT Youth Scotland does not have an organisation stance on this. However, we have used our platform to share a statement from the Trans Right Youth Commission regarding gender identity services, which has been widely misreported as representing the LGBT Youth Scotland’s organisational stance.
“We are delighted to be actively working with partners who are taking forward the relevant aspects of the Cass Review, ensuring that the voices of LGBT young people in Scotland are heard."
A spokesman for OSCR made no mention of an inquiry. They said: “OSCR has received concerns about the charity in the past year. In the instances where regulatory issues have been identified, we are working with the charity so that appropriate follow-up action can be taken by the trustees.”
Last month journalist and broadcaster Rosie Millard resigned as chair of BBC Children in Need after she made public a letter which criticised its chief executive, Simon Antrobus, for awarding £466,000 in grants to LGBTYS.
