Trans Youth leave bloody handprints on NHS HQ in protest

LONDON, WELLINGTON HOUSE, 11 MAY 2025- Armed with paintbrushes, spray bottles, and water-activated red facepaint, 5 young activists from Trans Kids Deserve Better left bloody handprints on the NHS HQ on Waterloo Road, with one writing 'RELEASE THE TRANS YOUTH SUICIDE REPORT'.

A report has been written by the National Child Mortality Database about improving suicide prevention strategies for trans kids. This report was completed in March 2024 - yet when the Good Law Project asked for a copy they were told that it was being withheld until 2026, due to ongoing conversations with NHS England. This equates to 2 years of trans kids being put through increasingly cruel climate, while explicitly hiding a resource with information that could save our lives.

Invoking the visuals used by ACT UP, the activists wore patches on their backs that featured trans flag triangles and read the words 'SILENCE = DEATH', among other slogans including 'RELEASE THE REPORT' and 'TRANS KIDS DESERVE BETTER.' In suppressing this research, the government actively contributes to our deaths.

One activist said 'I am taking part in this action because I'm tired of trans voices being silenced. 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.'

All activists safely fled the scene. The paint on NHS England's HQ will wash away with a wet cloth, unlike the suffering the government has caused the trans community. As one activist said "They have blood on their hands, and yet they act with ignorance. Now they have blood on their building, hopefully they'll notice this time."

To the NHS and our government: stop playing games with our lives. Release the report.

Find footage and photos here.