Trans kids stage die-in ourside of Scottish Parliament

Edinburgh, 21 February 2026, 1pm, a group of trans youth stage a die-in outside the Scottish Parliament building in protest of extremely long gender clinic waiting times.

The kids lay, “dead”, outside the building for 30 minutes. The protest aimed to bring attention to the unacceptably long wait times at Scottish gender identity clinics- because we will be dead by the time we get our first appointment. Currently, at Scotland's largest gender identity clinic -Sandyford- the estimated wait time for a first appointment is 224 years. Sandyford is also the only gender identity clinic (GIC) that offers gender affirming care for under-18s.

Trans kids stage die-in outside parliament

Nicnevin (they/them) said, "The government talks about reducing waiting times and opening walk-in clinics, this clearly doesn't extend to the waiting times for gender identity services. The average waiting times for Sandyford is 224 years. We will be dead by then".

For many trans+ people in Scotland, the waiting lists for treatment are an ultimatum- either enter the private sector, which for many is financially impossible, or risk never receiving treatment. We demand the government fund more gender identity clinics across Scotland to allow thousands of people to access the care they deserve.

Despite the sobering nature of the issue they hope to highlight, the kids’ playfulness prevailed, with miniature trans skeleton toys and elderly wigs, showcasing their resilience and rage.

"We will be dead by then"