Calls for cash-strapped councils to stop funding ‘harmful’ trans groups

Politicians are calling on local authorities to suspend payments to organisations promoting trans ideologies described as harmful by the Cass report.

Groups such as LGBT Youth Scotland receive more than £1 million a year from councils so strapped for cash they are cutting vital services to the elderly and most vulnerable.

Glasgow City Council faces £100 million of cuts over the next three years, including slashing hundreds of health and social care jobs.

The city faces around 150 care job losses as the joint health partnership faces a budget shortfall of around £36m.

But the council sent almost £62,000 to LGBT Youth Scotland in grants.

Edinburgh City Council, which is also facing cuts over a £60 million deficit in their health and social care budget, sent almost £90,000 to the same organisation.

Borders Council sent almost £16,000 according to LGBT Youth Scotland’s accounts, with Falkirk paying £30,000, Dumfries & Galloway paid £25,682, and Dundee City sent the charity £14,061. NHS Scotland paid almost £160,000.

Councils have signed up to take part in the LGBT Youth Scotland charter award scheme which promotes trans ideologies in primary and secondary schools at a cost of £2,000 per school.

Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr is demanding an end to taxpayers’ cash being sent to the organisation.

He said: “The amount of taxpayers’ money being handed to LGBT Youth Scotland by the SNP government is a national scandal.

“The SNP are increasing taxes and axing spending on public services. But at the same time they have protected LGBT Youth Scotland funding.

“The public will be horrified.

“Now we learn they have been allowed to develop lesson content for schools and are selling ‘training’ packages to the local authorities paying them hundreds of thousands of pounds in grants.

“I asked the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Jenny Gilruth, to order an immediate review into the activities of LGBT Youth Scotland in Scotland’s schools, and until that review is completed all public funding of LGBT Youth Scotland must stop.

“There must also be an immediate inquiry into all the activities of LGBT Youth Scotland given what the Cass review has reported on the damage being done to our children and young people by the indiscriminate dissemination of their ideology.”

Last week we revealed even Scotland’s Care Inspectorate had adopted policies developed by the charity, using examples of how a support worker accompanied a teen in care to have breast removal surgery.

A girl in care who suffered sexual abuse at the age of five told how once she was older, she was given chest binders and assured by social workers that she would be happier if she changed gender.

After returning to her mother, the teen said: “Away from the toxic influence of the trans ideologies, I realised I did not need to change gender. I just needed to be myself. I’m gay.

“I was being sent down the road to medical transitioning and it would have destroyed my life. I’m relieved I broke away when I did, but how many other vulnerable young people are being put at risk?”

LGBT Youth Scotland said: “With increasingly polarised public debate, it’s vital all young people feel safe. That is our mission – and it has never been more crucial for the young people we can have a positive impact on.”

Glasgow awarded LGBT Youth Scotland £190,000 over three years from the council’s Community Fund.

The city’s Health and Social Care Partnership said: “LGBT Youth Scotland have a contract for the provision of mental health and support services, which NHSGG&C administers as part of our integration arrangements.

“This includes support for all parts of the LGBT+ community including people who identify as lesbian, gay and bisexual, those questioning their sexual orientation as well as for those who are transgender or questioning their gender identity.”

Edinburgh said the charity were awarded funding for youth work and charter programme delivery in schools. The council said a three year Connected Communities Grant started in April for youth work costing £44,365 a year.

The Scottish Government said: “We gave LGBT Youth Scotland £50,000 as part of the Mental Health LGBT Youth Commission. Individual NHS boards may also provide grants to third sector bodies for specific pieces of work.”