A-Infos (en) France, UCL AL #368 - Antipatriarchy - Space for Trans Minors Toulouse (EM2T): "There is a refusal to listen to the child directly" (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

In recent years, the rights of trans people have been brought to the 
forefront of political debate by the far right, whose rhetoric against 
minors is widely adopted in the name of "sacred childhood." Alternative 
libertaire met with Espace mineurs trans Toulouse to discuss the support 
provided to trans minors in this reactionary context. ---- Can you 
introduce your organization to our readers, what are its objectives and 
methods of action?

EM2T: We are an association that has existed for 3 years (previously it 
was a collective) that provides support to trans and non-binary minors 
and their loved ones (family or other adult representatives). We focus 
on comprehensive support with monthly drop-in sessions. We first try to 
address various needs: health, education, administrative and legal 
issues, as well as family ties. But we also want to contribute to the 
well-being of young people: providing them with a welcoming space where 
they can relax, play, and so on.

Espace Mineur·es Trans Toulouse (EM2T) is an association that supports 
trans, non-binary, and questioning minors, as well as their families, in 
Toulouse and the surrounding area.
Your drop-in sessions are open to trans, non-binary, and questioning 
minors, but also to their families: what does this work with families 
entail?

The overall support includes administrative tasks, such as changing a 
name, as well as addressing the school environment and supporting 
families in their interactions with institutions, because this is where 
violence is particularly prevalent. We also provide mediation and 
parenting support. In some cases, it's the adult who contacts us, 
wanting to support the child or try to better understand the situation 
and get help. In other cases, it's the young person who contacts us, 
wanting to meet peers and needing help to be better understood and 
supported by their family.

The association is mixed; the volunteers are trans and cisgender, which 
provides different perspectives for discussions with parents. Some 
parents participate in the association after having benefited from it, 
and that's a real asset.

Most mothers take the initiative, doing the work of training themselves 
and becoming "experts," but we're seeing more and more fathers coming. 
We also believe it's important to welcome everyone, for example, the 
siblings of the child involved, because the association is a resource.

The Fransgenre association[1]recently reported that despite offering 22 
training sessions for healthcare professionals in 2025, not a single 
endocrinologist had attended, and 85% of those contacted refused to 
treat transgender people. How do the medical profession's reluctance to 
train on this subject impact transgender and non-binary minors?

In short, the situation is much more difficult for minors. For example, 
in Toulouse, outside of hospitals, no endocrinologist seems willing to 
take on any case.

We are facing a major obstacle: the reactionary and far-right rhetoric 
that resonates in the media and exerts influence. Healthcare 
professionals who could have been allies are now less willing to act. 
The proposed law banning healthcare for transgender minors gave France 
the impression of a glimpse into the reality of the medical profession. 
Even if we already saw how they behave with children, it's tenfold when 
they're trans.

In Paris, the law seems to be better respected thanks to 15 years of 
activism and allies in the hospital system[2], but it's expensive for 
families from other regions to travel to Paris to benefit from it.

Sign that reads "Protect trans kids."

Ted Eytan: You recently organized a study day at a university. How can 
we develop access to information and raise awareness among a wider 
audience today?

We work at the INSPÉ (National Higher Institute for Teacher Training and 
Education) as part of the training for future teachers; this is an 
important first step. Because one of the first places where young people 
begin their social transition and experience violence is school. 
Therefore, it's crucial to raise awareness among the adults who work 
there. To intervene directly in schools, accreditation is required, but 
the term "trans minors" acts as a deterrent, due to fear of reactions. 
However, we need to broaden our reach (youth and cultural centers, 
community centers, etc.), and we're not yet working with healthcare 
professionals. Civil registrars at town halls are also not trained, not 
even in the basics of providing respectful service without adult bias. 
People aren't necessarily consciously transphobic, but children are 
often not recognized simply because they are children. Therefore, the 
study days and conferences we give provide opportunities to inform and 
engage with the public. Inter-organizational collaboration is also 
absolutely essential: children's rights groups, feminist groups, and 
other organizations that support and amplify our message...

More generally, what demands do you have to improve the living 
conditions of trans and non-binary minors?

We must fight against adultism. We must recognize the voices of these 
individuals, including those who experience intersecting forms of 
oppression, their right to self-determination, and their right to 
participate in decision-making processes that affect them.

We demand easier access to healthcare covered by health insurance, 
including psychological support, puberty blockers, and hormone 
replacement therapy, according to the individual needs of young people. 
We also call for mandatory training for healthcare professionals.

We demand strict measures to combat discrimination, harassment, and 
violence in schools, public spaces, and homes. This includes 
awareness-raising and training for teachers, school administrators, and 
parents; protocols including the correct use of chosen names and 
pronouns; the integration of educational content on gender diversity 
into school curricula; and more peaceful access to leisure and sports 
activities. We are also simply calling for the enforcement of existing 
laws regarding administrative changes and the simplification of 
procedures for minors.

What about the specific situation in Toulouse?

Requests to change a child's first name are systematically refused by 
the city hall and are often not even reviewed. Then, prosecutors refuse, 
justifying the refusal by claiming the child is "too young," even though 
no law sets a minimum age for this! The family court judge also provides 
this reason for refusal. We are witnessing a resurgence of the 
pathologization of transition, particularly dysphoria. There is a 
refusal to listen to the child directly. This situation needs to be 
brought to light.

Access to healthcare in general is deteriorating in a context of 
austerity and medical deserts.

Interview conducted by UCL Toulouse

Submit

[1]Information, self-support, and advocacy association for transgender 
people - Fransgenre.fr.

[2]This led to the creation of Trajectoires jeunes trans (TJT), an 
information and guidance platform for transgender or gender-questioning 
children, adolescents, and young adults, their families, and their 
healthcare providers.

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Espace-pour-les-mineur-es-trans-Toulouse-EM2T-Il-y-a-un-refus-d-entendre-l
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