Equality and diversity characteristics (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

Gender Reassignment

  • Gender identity is a personal internal perception of oneself, and as such, the gender category with which a person identifies may not match the sex they were assigned at birth. In contrast, sex is biologically determined.
  • While the Office for National Statistics (ONS) do not currently collect data on gender identity on any of their social surveys their 2021 Census topic consultation identified a need amongst a number of data users for information about gender identity for policy development and service planning; especially in relation to the provision of health services.
  • In 2009, the Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) published a report that was funded by the Home Office. The report estimated that, in 2007 on a UK level, the prevalence of people who had sought medical care for gender variance was 20 per 100,000, i.e. 10,000 people, of whom 6,000 had undergone transition. 80% were assigned as boys at birth (now trans women) and 20% as girls (now trans men).
  • If the rate of 20 per 100,000 people estimated for the UK is applied to South Tyneside for those aged over 15 it would mean there were around 25 transgendered people in the Borough.