As the government continues to disregard their lives, trans teenagers in the UK have taken matters into their own hands—literally. A group of teen activists have left “bloody handprints” on the headquarters of the NHS in protest of anti-trans government policies.
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On May 11, five teenagers from Trans Kids Deserve Better—the ”UK action network by trans+ youth, for trans+ youth”—descended upon the NHS England HQ in Waterloo Road, London to leave red painted handprints. According to a press release, all activists involved managed to flee the scene unharmed.
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Activists left the handprints to protest the NHS’s consistent delay of healthcare for trans youth—or more recently, outright denial. Even as the NHS continues to experience years-long wait times for a first appointment with a gender ID clinic (a necessary step for diagnosis and access to care), the government under Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting has issued an outright ban on puberty blockers for minors.
“They have blood on their hands, and yet they act with ignorance,” said one activist. “Now they have blood on their building, hopefully they’ll notice this time.”
One message left on the building’s windows read: “Release the trans suicide report.” In March of last year, the National Child Mortality Database completed a report detailing research on suicide rates for trans minors and reccommendations for prevention. But the report has been delayed from release until 2026 “due to ongoing conversations with NHS England.”
“I am taking part in this action because I’m tired of trans voices being silenced,” another activist said. “It makes me sad that the NHS are disrespecting people who have sadly taken their own lives and are no longer with us. They may think this means no one will notice, they are wrong. I want to make a stand for people who can’t because they deserve so much better than being forgotten.”
Last month, Trans Kids Deserve Better staged multiple high profile public protests. On Easter, activists left giant cardboard Easter eggs decorated with a list of demands for trans youth healthcare outside Streeting’s constituency office. They then pelted the office with real eggs. Earlier in the month, while dressed in 80s aerobics outfits (iconic), they scaled the offices of the Telegraph, a right wing news outlet in the UK, and hoisted a banner that read “The Daily SMELLegraph.”
As eye-catching as their “bloody handprints” stunt is, the intention was never permanent damage. “The paint on NHS England’s HQ will wash away with a wet cloth,” the group said, “unlike the suffering the government has caused the trans community. ”
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