Demonstration in Berlin Regarding Transgender Medicine: "Not a Child's Fault to Be Born in the Incorrect Body"
In the heart of Berlin, a heated debate unfolded outside the Theodor-Wenzel-Werk Clinic on Wednesday, as two opposing groups gathered just meters apart. The protesters, organized by the association 'Frauenheldinnen', were there to criticize the prescription of hormones to minors, particularly puberty blockers and hormone treatments for children and adolescents with gender incongruence.
Across the street, a smaller group of counter-protesters, including at least one holding a rainbow flag, rallied in support of transgender healthcare. Among them was a patient from the clinic who found the protests against transmedicine near her treatment location offensive.
The atmosphere during the protest was a mix of defensiveness and a willingness to engage in conversation. Protesters held signs reading phrases such as 'No child is trapped in the wrong body' and 'It's okay to be gay', with the intention of conveying that early medical treatment could suppress queer identities. Counter-protesters, on the other hand, held signs reading 'Go away' directed at the trans-critics.
The gathering was in response to a symposium discussing the 'guideline-based treatment of transgender individuals' at the clinic. The new guideline for the treatment of youth with gender dysphoria in Germany, which came into effect in June 2025, allows puberty blockers and hormones under strict conditions, and operations are only possible in exceptional cases for minors.
Critics of this guideline warn of uncertain evidence, while supporters argue that without medical options, affected individuals would be hindered in their development and exposed to additional suffering. A woman counter-protesting at the gathering waved a rainbow flag, expressing her support for transgender rights.
Some protesters reacted hostilely to media questions, while others gave open answers. Two of the protesters stated that they knew queer youth but did not know anyone who was undergoing hormonal treatment. A protesting woman, who is a teacher, feels isolated in her collegium due to her critical view of transmedicine.
The number of cases is trending upward, but no central register or current official data are available. In contrast, authorities in England, Finland, and Sweden have significantly restricted the use of puberty blockers for minors due to weak scientific evidence and a focus on psychosocial support. In these countries, the medications can only be prescribed in research projects.
As the protest came to a close, music from the band '5uffragette' started playing, with the line 'A wolf is not a sheep / And a fox is not a hen' echoing over the square, symbolising the ongoing debate and division on the issue of transgender healthcare.
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