None of this is new – Cleo points out that Gendered Intelligence is “standing on the shoulders of giants,” citing the decades-long advocacy of non-profits like Switchboard, Opening Doors, Mermaids, and more, as inspiration. Yet this work is under-resourced and under-funded – incidentally, Opening Doors ceased operations in February this year, due to insolvency. These are just two of the key reasons that Waiting List Warriors is currently over-subscribed. “This isn’t unique to Gendered Intelligence,” she explains. “Every organisation within the LGBT sector is trying to do a huge amount of work with very, very little. It’s a hard time for funding, and we’re dealing with the legacy of a government that has treated us with contempt. One of the things that’s come out of that is that we can’t do nearly as much as we’d like to, because the resources just aren’t there. Whatever we do, we’re used to doing it on a shoestring.”

The recent election of a Labour government should theoretically be good news for LGBTQ+ charities, but the early signs aren’t great; soon after being appointed as Health Secretary, Wes Streeting upheld and extended a ban on puberty blockers. There have been promising signs of adult trans healthcare reform, with a number of so-called “pilot clinics” being rolled out to address long waiting lists. These clinics usually have extremely specific requirements, but some have been deemed successful enough to be commissioned, like London’s TransPlus.

There are small pockets of hope — Cleo notes a sense of “quiet optimism” in the air — but there is still a dire need for more mental health support, especially within marginalised communities. “What I would really love to see is for these services to be embedded within NHS mental health services,” says Cleo, who calls for “more attention to the community needs of patients.”

Healthcare shouldn’t be a battle, but currently, it is. Groups like Waiting List Warriors can offer a lifeline to those feeling worn down by never-ending waiting lists, as well as a direct link to other trans people with experience of navigating these systems. They’re under-resourced and over-subscribed, but they can — and should — be replicated, because the impact of community support groups can’t be overestimated. “As it stands, the third sector — organisations like Gendered Intelligence — are going to need to keep pitching in,” concludes Cleo, “both to support our communities and to make institutions like the NHS aware that our communities really need that support. Ultimately, I do want to advocate for every trans person to feel empowered to go to their doctor and say: “this is the help that I need.”

This interview is taken from the August 2024 issue of GAY TIMES. Head to Apple News + for more exclusive features and interviews from the issue.