NHS Wales admits unverified ‘family concerns’ were used to stop trans surgeries
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests obtained by Welsh queer advocacy group Cwiar Cymru have confirmed that NHS Wales took unverified concerns from patients’ family members into consideration when pausing gender-affirming surgeries in Wales. The NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC), which oversaw the decision, previously stated that the pause was informed by concerns raised by […]
Welsh LGBTQ+ organisations call for urgent action over pause in gender-affirming surgeries
Joint statement from Cwiar Cymru, LGBTQ+ Network North Wales, Pride Cymru, TransActual, Trans Aid Cymru, Trans Partnership Cymru, Trans+ Solidarity Alliance, Umbrella Cymru, UNIQUE Transgender Network and We Exist A coalition of organisations representing and supporting trans people and the wider LGBTQ+ community in Wales is calling on Llais, the citizen body for health and […]
Factsheet: Gender-affirming surgery
Summary Is gender-affirming surgery safe? Evidence shows that gender-affirming surgery is a safe procedure with a low risk of complications (Akhavan et al., 2021). Multiple safeguards are put in place to ensure that no individual receives unnecessary gender-affirming surgery. To be eligible for gender-affirming surgery in the UK, a patient must: All patients must provide […]
NHS Wales cancels all gender-affirming surgeries
We are extremely disappointed that the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee has taken the decision to cancel hundreds of scheduled gender-affirming surgeries and surgical appointments in response to political pressure. Trans healthcare is not a political football. It is a lifesaving necessity that allows individuals to live happier, meaningful lives. It is backed by a […]
The UK Government’s Toothless ‘Conversion Practices Bill’ Fails LGBTI+ People in Wales
Cwiar, the independent watchdog for LGBTI+ rights in Wales, today strongly condemns the UK Government’s newly published Conversion Practices Act 2026 draft bill. Far from delivering the comprehensive, unconditional ban promised to our communities for years, this proposed legislation is fundamentally flawed, dangerously weak, and does absolutely nothing to change the Labour Party’s lackluster record […]
Our response to Wes Streeting’s resignation
Wes Streeting has resigned as Health Secretary following a tenure that caused significant harm to the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of LGBTI+ people across Wales. During his time in office, we saw repeated moves away from evidence-based, patient-centred healthcare — particularly in areas affecting trans and non-binary people. Decisions that should have been guided by […]
The UK government announces it will ban conversion therapy… again
The UK Government has once again promised to ban conversion therapy — more than eight years after first committing to do so. Since 2018, successive governments have treated a ban as an easy political win: something to announce, reaffirm, and signal support for, without ever fully delivering. Meanwhile, the evidence has remained clear. Conversion therapy […]