What The Trans!?

This week, our rather more punctual podcast contains intrepid hosts Flint and Ashleigh going over:

• In the US, Democrats backsliding and joining in with GOP anti-trans rhetoric, in some cases bankrolled by a man whose name sounds like Freelom Jusk.
• Further updates from the NWJCC in sunny Wales. You heard me.
• The London Assembly votes in favour of making BASH BACK a proscribed organisation. We go over the whys and wherefores and what this practically means at this stage. (spoiler alert, not actually all that much but it's still not a good thing.)
• Loser's Corner looks at not a person but a document. Yes, it's our regular mention of the EHRC's Code of Practice and which other organisations are calling it bull***t this week.
• Flint talks to Sapling of Tapling Zines, behind the Moments of Euphoria: An art book of trans joy & love by Tapling Zines — Kickstarter project, which you should go and support really quickly. Moments of Euphoria cover art by Artiodaktyl

References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep165

Another thing you should support really quickly, a fun, queer TTRPG this time: City of Espers - A Psychic-Powered Urban Action TTRPG - BackerKit

This time on our (somewhat delayed, sorry about that) episode, Flint demonstrates their intrepidity while Ashleigh largely stays home. We cover:

• RFK Jr's Department for Health & Human Services spent August pumping out misinformation about trans people.
• A quick interlude from our sound editor turned international correspondent, Amber Deveraux, at Malta Pride.
• The ongoing story/car crash that is NHS Wales' decision to cancel a number of trans related surgical procedures at extremely short notice.
• As our title suggests, Flint was on the ground for the mass lobby at parliament and spoke to a number of people who'd travelled to London to speak to their MP's.

References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep164

On another excitingly sleek episode of everyone's fourth-or-fifth favourite trans news podcast, our plucky hosts Ashleigh and Flint go over:

• Ashleigh describes the challenges she experienced on the day of recording. Don't worry, this segment is (intended to be) funny.
• A three-strike Pond Hoppin', including Medicaid, the WBNA and oh no, not Dolly AND Tim! :(
• Changes happening to adult gender waiting lists.
• A short insert talking about the Welsh Gender Clinics and their cancellations of surgeries, as first reported by us and our comrades at QueerAF: Link below!
• A continental platter of several international organisations expressing concern with the direction of travel in the UK for trans people.
• We round things off with our usual blast of Trans Joy.

References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep163

Understand the LGBTQIA+ news: Exclusive | NHS cancels all gender-affirming surgeries for Welsh patients after Tory complaint - QueerAF

Final reminder for the mass lobby at Parliament on September 9th! Mass Lobby for Trans Equality - 9th September 2026

In this special but surprisingly svelte episode, Ashleigh & Flint go over the ins and outs of the EHRC's Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions & Associations, or the CoP. What it is, what it isn't and how it affects YOU, dear listener. Including:

• Some smaller news stories related to the CoP that you might have missed.
• A breakdown of each of the CoP's sections, with more emphasis on some than others.
• Impact assessments! One from the EHRC saying everything's fine, actually, and a rather more scorching one from the OEO (don't worry we'll explain what that is.)
• Some final thoughts going over what exactly this means for us.
• Regular segments Pond Hopping, Loser's Corner and Trans Joy are included.

References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep162

On this surprisingly light episode - don't worry, the EHRC stuff is coming next time - our hosts Flint and Ashleigh go over:

• How to clap back at Trump with some goddam class, courtesy of Dylan Mulvaney.
• ANOTHER study shows that HRT is effective for trans youth, this time from the Netherlands.
• Some notes on potential changes to the way patient data is recorded within the NHS.
• London Trans Pride! Our team were on the ground with around 150,000 other people, featuring interviews with author, screenwriter and actress Juno Dawson, Dee Whitnell of @s3xtheorywithdee and @transkidsdeservetogrowup and Sophie from @defundtransphobes.
• Unions boycotting the Labour Women's Conference for their trans-excluding policies.
• And for our Meat this time, we go over Andy Burnham's new cabinet picks and their past actions (or inactions) regarding trans rights.

References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep161

On this episode - which is a bit of a mixed bag, tone-wise - our intrepid hosts Flint and Ashleigh go over:

• How, when a story pops up claiming that "The UN supports anti-trans viewpoints!" it's really just the work of one person, Reem Alsalem, and her gender critical crusade.
• The recent death of UK politician Anne Widdecombe and how people expressing their opinions about her online do not deserve to have their lives upended by news organisations.
• Amnesty International UK's recent crossed swords with organisations named in a recent report of theirs.
• And in a deliberate decision to keep things light for once, the team delve into the weird and wonderful world of tabletop roleplaying games, or TTRPG's. What they are, why they're awesome, and why they're so popular with trans people.

References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep160

Gender Census: Gender Census 2026

On this, it must be said, heavier than usual episode, our hosts Ashleigh and Flint go over:

• Tough news from the US Supreme Court and their recent regressive ruling on Title IX, allowing state's sports bans for trans players (mostly trans women).
• The UK's new draft conversion therapy ban and the loopholes large enough to drive a bus through.
• More changes within the PATHWAYS puberty blocker trial.
• Scottish Prisons now being told to house trans women on the male estate and vice versa, thanks to a case brought by For Women Scotland.
• For our Meat this fortnight, we look at the story of one family deeply affected by the puberty blocker ban and anonymously interview one parent about the experience of having a trans child in this landscape and the help that was offered to them by WellBN.

References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep159

On this slightly-lighter-than-usual episode, our hosts Flint and Ashleigh talk through:

• A new direct care clinic for the trans community will open in New York City, but is it all that was promised by mayor Zohran Mamdani?
• A quick run through of some developments around the EHRC, including some serious questioning by the Women & Equalities Committee.
• The sterling work done by the local government committee within UNISON.
• Stories of snowflakes upset that people disagree with them, in Loser's Corner!
• And a nice chill one in our meat this time, with a nice long chat with nonbinary actor Luyanda Lewis-Nyawo, as featured in Baldur's Gate III, Wednesday and most recently, the new Russell T. Davies drama, Tip Toe.

References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep158

On this week's episode, hosts Flint and Ashleigh go over

• Some of the reactions to the EHRC's new code of practise NOTE: There will be a special episode all about the EHRC and their "guidance" coming later, so this week's episode does not do an intense deep dive.
• New health secretary James Murray has changed his mind on trans women being women. Completely coincidentally, we've changed our minds on James Murray.
• Concerns raised by clinicians about the new Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy policy and how it falls drastically short of being ethical or scientifically sound.
• Regular segments Pond Hoppin', Loser's Corner and some much-needed Trans Joy
• For our main segment, we have an interview with Melissa from Loving Me, the only UK-wide trans & nonbinary domestic violence refuge & support service that is run entirely by trans & nonbinary people.

References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep157

This week, on an absolute unit of an episode, hosts Ashleigh and Flint talk about:

• Good news from the Colorado supreme court!
• The guidance released by the EHRC is discussed in brief, with more to come next week.
• Wes Streeting is no longer Health Secretary! What does this mean for trans healthcare? Spoiler alert: Probably not much.
• The BMA's long-awaited response to the Cass review.
• Our usual segments Action Alley and Trans Joy.
• Finally, an extensive interview with US author Riki Wilchins about her life, her research and her upcoming new book, Let's (Not) Talk About (Transgender) Sex: The Erotic Erasure of Trans Desire & Sexuality, which will be released on Thursday May 28th.

References: https://whatthetrans.com/ep156