London, UK – Canadian activist Chris Elston, widely known as "Billboard Chris," sparked renewed controversy following the London Trans+ Pride Parade, stating on social media that participants have "turned mental illness into a civil rights movement" and are "pushing their sickness onto kids." Elston, who travels internationally advocating against gender-affirming care for minors, concluded his tweet by asserting, "There is no such thing as transgender.
The tweet, posted by Elston on the day of the London Trans+ Pride Parade, reflects his long-standing position against contemporary understandings of gender identity and medical interventions for transgender youth. Elston gained prominence for wearing sandwich boards with messages like "Children cannot consent to puberty blockers," engaging in public discussions, and sharing his views across social media platforms. His activism primarily focuses on what he perceives as the harms of gender ideology, particularly concerning children.
The London Trans+ Pride Parade, held annually, is a significant event advocating for transgender rights and visibility. The 2025 event saw an estimated 100,000 people participate, making it one of the largest trans pride marches globally. Organizers emphasize its role as a protest for equity and positive legislative change, seeking improved healthcare and societal recognition for trans+ individuals. The parade originated in 2019, partly in response to a perceived rise in transphobia.
Elston's claims about "mental illness" and the non-existence of transgender identity contradict the consensus of major medical and psychological organizations. The World Health Organization (WHO) removed "gender identity disorder" from its diagnostic manual in 2019, reclassifying it as "gender incongruence" under sexual health conditions, specifically noting it is not a mental disorder. Similarly, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) recognize gender identity as a personal sense of one's own gender, which may or may not align with the sex assigned at birth, and affirm that being transgender is not a mental illness.
The debate surrounding gender-affirming care for minors remains a contentious issue globally. While organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Endocrine Society support gender-affirming care as medically necessary and evidence-based for transgender and gender-diverse youth, some jurisdictions have moved to restrict such treatments. These guidelines typically involve a multidisciplinary approach, including mental health support, and, when appropriate, medical interventions like puberty blockers or hormones, following comprehensive assessments. Elston's statements underscore the ongoing societal and political polarization surrounding transgender rights and healthcare.