Today’s entry in the GC Gaslight Chronicles:
From KUT 90.5 Austin’s NPR Station (USA)
By Andrew Weber
March 28, 2022
What does gender-affirming care for transgender children involve? Let’s … [PROVIDE] some misinformation.
A warning: This story … [is an unpaid advertisement for] The Trevor Project.
Texas officials are actively trying to investigate families seeking gender-affirming care for their transgender children after officials labeled it child abuse. …
What is gender dysphoria?
Put simply, it’s when a person doesn’t feel comfortable in their own body and they don't identify with their sex … read the full gaslighting here
GC News editorial comment: To find out who The Trevor Project is and how much responsibility they actively encourage children to take the path to transitioning, read this recent article from The 11th Hour Blog and this “Open Letter to the Mental Health and Gender Therapy Community.” NPR is in lockstep with nearly all the mainstream media outlets in the U.S. in presenting only a rosy picture of young people “transitioning,” often at enormous cost to their bodies, their futures, and their mental health, and unspeakable pain to their parents.
Starmer won’t talk about sex and gender. That’s a problem
From The Spectator (UK)
By James Kirkup
March 28, 2022
Sir Keir Starmer doesn’t want to talk about penises. He’s going to have to do it anyway, and he’s not going to be alone. The Labour leader was interviewed by LBC’s Nick Ferrari on Monday, becoming the latest journalist to test Starmer on questions of sex and gender. Ferrari asked, can a woman have a penis?
Starmer’s verbatim response, offered with a pained expression and sorrowful intonation:
“Nick, I’m not… I don’t think we can conduct this debate with… you know… I just... I don’t think, erm, discussing this issue in this issue helps anyone in the long run. What I want to see is a reform of the law as it is, but I am also an advocate of safe spaces for women.
“I want to have a discussion that is… Anyone who genuinely wants to find a way through this, I want to discuss that with. I do find that too many people in my view retreat or hold a position that is intolerant of others. I don’t like intolerance, I like open discussion.”
Me too. Which is why I think Starmer, like other politicians, has to talk about penises.
Before I explain why, I should say I understand Starmer’s reticence. Not many people relish a public debate about genitals. In the last few years, I’ve written lots of articles that contain the word ‘penis’ and rarely felt comfortable about it. But it’s necessary, because in the end, much of the current public debate about sex, gender, law and policy comes down to penises. … read full article
BBC is forced to change wording of an online article on endometriosis that stated it affects 'people who are assigned female at birth' after 'hundreds' of complaints over treating 'woman as a dirty word'
BBC were slammed for article about endometriosis without using word women
Article claimed 'one in 10 people assigned female at birth' suffer with condition
Language changed after furious backlash from women's rights campaigners
Conservative MP Nickie Aiken said she was 'born, not assigned a woman at birth'
From Daily Mail (UK)
By Monica Greep
March 28, 2022
The BBC has faced criticism from women's rights campaigners after claiming that one in ten 'people who are assigned female at birth' suffer with endometriosis.
An online article raising awareness of the condition came under fire for language which critics said 'obscured data on this already misunderstood and overlooked women's health issue.'
The backlash was led by bestselling pregnancy author Milli Hill on Twitter, and after 'hundreds' of complaints the article has been changed to state that endometriosis is a 'condition that affects one in 10 women of any age in the UK'.
Milli, from Somerset, faced a furious backlash in 2020 after challenging the use of the term 'birthing people' while speaking about obstetric violence - medical interventions performed during childbirth without a woman's consent.
Nickie Aiken, Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, also weighed in, stating she was 'born with, not assigned' her gender.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'This is a news article about two women with endometriosis so we updated the wording to reflect that and make it clearer for audiences.' … read full article
Transgender woman instructed on science following revelation of first ‘period’ discomfort
From BPR Business & Politics (USA)
By Kevin Haggerty
March 28, 2022
Following purges on Twitter for social media users who made controversial statements like, “a man is a man,” one “trans woman” left platform participants speaking up about their disbelief with scientific facts after @iamdeeluu claimed to be experiencing the anatomically impossible.
On Friday morning, the apparent resident of New York City contended that, without possessing any female reproductive organs, he was experiencing the pain and discomfort brought on by menstruation for the very first time.
“Ok,” @iamdeeluu tweeted, “I’m a trans woman who’s experiencing her first period cramps and WHAT THE F*CK????? I have literally never felt pain like this.”
Ok I’m a trans woman who’s experiencing her first period cramps and WHAT THE FUCK????? I have literally never felt pain like this. Why do we let people live like this??????????
— death and DEEstruction ☄️(she/they) (@iamdeeluu) March 25, 2022
“Why do we let people live like this?” @iamdeeluu added with excessive question marks in the tweet that has since earned more than 91,000 likes and been shared more than 12,000 times in a combination of retweets and quote tweets. Unapproved replies were disabled by the poster who has a modest following of over 2,600.
The scant audience was overcome by the impossibility of the claim thrusting it into the viral limelight where debunking and discrediting ensued.
Brittany Hughes of the Media Research Center simply stated, “No you’re not,” to the claim and allowed a scientific explanation of the causes of menstrual cramping to do the rest of the talking for her.
No you’re not. pic.twitter.com/6ZamNb2YEj
— Brittany Hughes (@RealBrittHughes) March 26, 2022
“During your menstrual period, your uterus,” which @iamdeeluu does not have, “contracts to help expel its lining. Hormonelike substances (prostaglandins) involved in pain and inflammation trigger the uterine muscle contractions,” the post explained.
“Higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with more-severe menstrual cramps,” it read in conclusion. … read full article
Schools Resources
From Transgender Trend (UK)
We have developed comprehensive schools resources and guidance for teachers and parents, in consultation with teachers, child protection and welfare professionals and lawyers. Our aim is to arm schools with all the relevant facts so that teachers feel more informed and confident in creating a safe school for all pupils, including non-conforming children and those who identify as ‘transgender.’
Our schools resources are based on the ‘watchful waiting’ approach towards children and young people with gender dysphoria. This is the established clinical approach, which may include counselling, family therapy etc for children who are severely distressed. Activists promote an ‘affirmation’ and social transition approach which is experimental. It means that if a boy says he is a girl everyone must affirm him as a girl. This approach covers up any underlying problems that have led to a child’s identification as transgender and is therefore in our view a risky approach. (more)
What happens when we talk about single sex services and the law
From Sex Matters (UK)
March 28, 2022
On March 24 Sex Matters Director Rebecca Bull presented at the A Woman’s Place is in Manchester event, on single sex services and the law, in a session chaired by Sex Matters Director Dr Emma Hilton. She spoke alongside Cathy Devine, Judith Green and Maggy Moyo.
Here is Rebecca’s presentation, which is based on our report: Principles for clarity and respect. [presentation can be viewed here.]
The meeting was met by 150 trans activists who marched to the venue carrying placards that read ‘Some women have penises’ and ‘If you are transphobic – do one’. They gathered outside shouting threatening and derogatory slogans such as “fuck TERFs”, “TERFs get off our fucking turf” and “Woman’s Place is a place of hate”.
… read full post (and DONATE to Sex Matters!)
Behind the Curtain: The Reality of Gender Transition in a Family
From Parents with Inconvenient Truths about Trans (PITT) (USA)
March 28, 2022
I have heard it said repeatedly, ad nauseam:"As long as they are happy and being their true self…" This is what well-intentioned friends and acquaintances say when I drop the trans bomb in their laps—that my son, suddenly, out of nowhere, at the age of 24, announced he is a woman, and not a man. That was almost 3 years ago and life has been, well... a journey is the best way to describe it. I am writing the story of this journey down for one reason only: So others can understand the depth and breadth of how transition affects a family. I do not want your sympathy. I only want the same compassion you allow those undergoing a transition. Or parents who have lost a child.
Our story is basically the same as other parents' stories of their child's transition whether it started when the child was 8, 18 or 28, whether the child is male or female. Whether you immediately affirmed, questioned or were critical of the decision. Whether you held their hand when they came out of their double mastectomy surgery or you cried all day wondering from 2000 miles away if they survived their facial feminization surgery. I know this first hand because I am involved with parent support groups and hear these stories. I hear parents doing the mental and emotional gymnastics required in their situations, to support their child, while also trying to protect and defend them. … read full article (and SUBSCRIBE to PITT!)
Australian rugby league to get its FIRST transgender player who is set to compete in the women's competition
Transgender rugby league player lodges application to play in the NRLW
Her request to compete is being considered by the top brass of the NRL
Issue has divided fans some arguing 'it's not fair' and others saying 'let her play'
From Daily Mail (UK)
By Levi Parsons
March 28, 2022
A transgender athlete is on the cusp of playing in the women's National Rugby League with her application currently being considered by the NRL's top brass.
Although teams in the NRLW are preparing for the finals, a new competition is set to start up in August with about 150 players raring to go.
At least one of them was born anatomically male prompting discussions about the rules about her joining a squad for pre-season trials, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Others claimed the potential size and strength disparity would make it 'unfair' and even dangerous.
'Don't do it. We want our daughters to play sport on a level playing field,' one person wrote. … read full article
This day in Herstory: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, born March 28, 1986, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress, known professionally as Lady Gaga. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenager, singing at open mic nights and acting in school plays. (more)