The very first dedicated clinic for trans youth and kids who are gender questioning has opened in the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai.
The star Jin Xing (pictured) has been attributed with the growing acceptance of trans people.
According to sources, the clinic will offer much needed evaluations, diagnosis and interventions to help young people understand sexuality and improve family relations. By integrating some clinical departments they would “serve as a bridge between transgender children, parents, doctors and society” said the Global Times who speak for the Chinese government.
LGBTQ+ people have historically faced discrimination in China until recent years where the Communist country has shown growing signs of acceptance. Being gay was once considered to be a “disease” but as legalised in 1997, although gay marriage is still not accepted.
In a country with such a huge population, the amount of LGBTQ+ people must be staggering and trans people (of which there are currently ‘estimated’ to be 4 million in China) have to receive a formal diagnosis before they can have hormone treatments or surgery.
It’s great to see some movement in the right direction in China, especially at a time when things seem to be moving in the WRONG direction elsewhere in the world.