Sunday, July 24, 2022
"Increasingly libraries and schools are hosting drag queens, exposing children to overtly sexualized caricatures of womanhood. Doing so normalizes the objectification and sexualization of woman."
This day in Herstory: Amelia Mary Earhart, born July 24, 1897 (disappeared July 2, 1937; declared dead January 5, 1939), was an American aviation pioneer and writer. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many other records, was one of the first aviators to promote commercial air travel, wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences, and was instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots. (more)
Pick a side – left, right, or out
By Lee Patterson, GC News Editor
July 24, 2022
Note: I wrote this article on June 11, 2022, shortly after watching Matt Walsh’s documentary What Is a Woman? I didn’t put it in GC News right away, then life continued continuing … you probably know how that goes. Anyhow, I decided to include it today. Enjoy!
Since I started GC News about 6 months ago, my goal has been to provide a daily roundup of GC news and opinions, so that readers can easily stay informed. My main criterion for including an article has been whether or not it is likely to interest people who share a few basic GC perspectives, namely that biological sex is real, binary, and immutable; that women, children, and LGB people are all being harmed by gender identity ideology; and that the sex-based rights of women must be protected from an ancient and also resurgent assault.
My aims are not political, except to promote the interests and wellbeing of women and children from the urgent danger of genderism. Everyone involved in this struggle knows that people from across the political spectrum are vocal in expressing their opinions, on all sides of the issue. Several other significant political debates overlap with GC concerns, e.g., abortion, prostitution, surrogacy, women’s political and economic power, free speech, family values, religious freedom, fairness in professional sports, and so on. Needless to say, I could easily err by including articles too loosely connected to central GC concerns. So, I’ve elected to put my personal political views aside, in the interests of providing broad coverage of the evolving GC world. But the ways that world is evolving has become a pivotal factor.
In particular, the past few months have seen GC perspectives increasingly defended on the political right. The most recent and obvious example is the Matt Walsh documentary What is a Woman? Regardless of how much you think the film helped the GC cause, you cannot ignore the fact that Matt Walsh and The Daily Wire (which produced the documentary) are clearly and emphatically on the political right. Here’s the first sentence of Walsh’s Daily Wire author profile: “Matt Walsh is a writer, speaker, author, and one of the religious Right’s most influential young voices. He is known for boldly tackling the tough subjects and speaking out on faith and culture in a way that connects with his generation and beyond.”
My own political views are decidedly left-of-center. I embrace the western democratic liberal tradition, whose locus classicus is On Liberty, by John Steward Mill. I celebrate Enlightenment values such as free inquiry and prioritizing science over religion. I’m a skeptic and an atheist (albeit one with a healthy respect for the limits of human understanding). I detest the right’s rampant denial of science, starting with prioritizing the physics presented in “holy” books over that which has taken human machines to Mars. But I digress. My point is that my views are frequently at odds with the foundational world views that inform many of the articles I include in GC News. This fact has occasioned several not inconsiderable bouts of cognitive dissonance.
As the right seems to be increasingly co-opting the broad contours of GC discourse (in no small part because the territory was served up to them on a silver platter by the left), it has become obvious that, by presenting a platform publicly identified with right-wing views, GC News risks being tarred with the same brush. I’ve come to feel that I have to “pick a side” and make my own views obvious.
At the same time, the unfortunate truth is that there is almost no coverage of the GC perspective in the mainstream media, especially outlets that favor the left. That makes it nearly impossible to do a daily news roundup of relevant GC stories that does not lean heavily on right-aligned publications such as Fox News, The National Review, The Telegraph, and The Spectator. Frankly, I don’t know of any resolution to this problem that fully respects the primary mission of GC News.
One thing is clear. Going forward, GC News wears its liberal colors proudly. We will attempt to distinguish the implicit bias in articles we include from our own perspectives. In many cases, articles from a strongly right-wing political perspective won’t make the cut.
But the left is also wrong. In the U.S., the Democrats have clearly identified themselves with gender ideology, leaving many of the lifelong party faithful feeling politically homeless. The Democratic commitment to an anti-science, anti-woman, and anti-gay platform goes against many of the party’s most basic ideals. I am decidedly opposed to the popular “progressive” agenda, which prioritizes identity over reality.
I believe I’m on the “right side of history.” But I’m clearly not on the Right side of politics. Nor am I on the Left. I think the only side left for me is the outside.
US - Violent Child Rapist, Murderer Now a Featured ‘Feminist, LGBTQ Advocate’
From REDUXX (USA)
By Anna Slatz
July 24, 2022
A trans-identified male who raped two 9-year-old girls before torturing and murdering his developmentally disabled cellmate has been “offering” his “expertise” to policymakers on the issue of transgender inmate rights.
On June 3, Patricia Elaine Trimble, penned an article for the Prison Journalism Project (PJP), a non-profit organization that claims its aim is to empower “incarcerated journalists” by providing them a platform. Trimble, a regular contributor for PJP, wrote about preparing a presentation for a class at a Missouri University after having been contacted by a Professor of Criminology there. ... read full article
US - The Sexual Experiment at the Ivy Leagues
With courses such as ‘Queer Dance’ and events featuring the drag queen ‘LaWhore Vagistan,’ campus life today is steeped in gender and sexuality.
From National Review (USA)
By Abigail Anthony
July 24, 2022
Until very recently, most people were unaware that asserting that only women can menstruate and become pregnant could be controversial, or that pronouns could be incendiary. Yet today, gender ideology dominates the news cycle. Netflix employees protested Dave Chappelle’s comedy special with “transphobic” jokes. Avid Harry Potter fans boycotted J. K. Rowling’s work because of her supposedly “trans-exclusionary radical feminist” views. It’s not merely a culture war. The State Department recognized International Pronouns Day. Recently, President Biden signed an executive order to “advance LGBTQI+ equality,” which in part promotes “expanded access to gender-affirming care,” even for minors. ... read full article
US - J.K. Rowling vs. certain progressive moralists
From Daily Kos (USA)
By EvanJellicoe
July 24, 2022
Yesterday morning I decided, for no particular reason, to do some Googling about when the term “cancel culture” began to become popular. No ulterior motive; just curiosity. But in the course of my reading, I was reminded of the J.K. Rowling controversy, so I reviewed that. And it reminded me that people of apparently Progressive leanings sometimes can be just as guilty of moralizing, over-simplifying, and over-reacting as Christian Fundamentalists can. Because one thing they both have in common is that they are both human, and over-simplifying is something that humans do. ... read full article
US - Dave Chappelle opens for Chris Rock and Kevin Hart (and pet goat) in NYC just days after Minneapolis venue canceled his sold-out set over his trans jokes
From Daily Mail (UK)
By ASHLEIGH GRAY
July 24, 2022
Dave Chappelle took the stage at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday night for a surprise set.
The 48-year-old standup comic opened for pals Chris Rock, 57, and Kevin Hart, 43, for what Hart called an 'epic night.'
It comes after the controversial entertainer's recent Minneapolis show was cancelled due to protests at the city's First Avenue theater. ... read full article
US - 'Woke' Crayola faces boycott after being accused of pushing transgender agenda to children: 'Just let them be kids!'
From Blaze Media (USA)
By PAUL SACCA
July 24, 2022
Crayola – the crayon company – is accused of pushing a transgender agenda to small children. The crayon company is now facing a potential boycott over the controversial content.
Crayola – which reportedly has a target market of ages 2-10 – shared images of a transgender model on its social media accounts. Crayola promoted Julian Gavino AKA The Disabled Hippie, on the crayon company's Facebook and Instagram pages to celebrate "Disability Pride Month." ... read full article
US - The Muddling of the American Mind: Part I
What does Steven Novella get wrong about sex?
From The Quackometer (USA)
By Andy Lewis
July 23, 2022
In a recent blog post on the web site Science Based Medicine, Steven Novella asks the question “What does the science actually say about biological sex?” His motivations are made quite clear in the opening paragraphs where he wants to clear up “misconceptions” about sex that mean we do not know how “best to approach people who identify as transgender or non-binary”.
But rather than clear up misconceptions, Novella wades in neck deep into specious arguments about sex and only adds to the confusion. In this post I wish to show where Novella goes wrong and suggest some reasons why that might be. ... read full article
US - Kamala Harris claims Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law prevents teachers from being 'able to love openly' and tears into 'so-called leaders' passing 'immoral' abortion bans
Vice President Kamala Harris tore into 'extremist' leaders without mentioning anyone by name, but did specifically highlight Florida and Texas
She appeared to warn that Florida's Parental Rights In Education bill could be a reality across the country if Republicans win control
Supporters of the law point out that its text does not include the word 'gay'
Asked why young people disenchanted with the Biden administration should still turn out to vote, Harris said it was because the very right to vote was at stake
Harris has been among the administration's most vocal opponents of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June
From Daily Mail (UK)
By ELIZABETH ELKIND
July 24, 2022
Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday claimed Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law is keeping teachers of young students from the ability to 'love openly.'
Harris had been asked about why young people, who have been largely disenchanted with the Biden administration, should keep turning out at the ballot box. She warned that it was a matter of the fundamental right to vote. ... read full article
US - Transgender rights in Ohio
Protections at stake with challenges underway
From Lima Ohio (USA)
By Jim Gaines
July 24, 2022
School and workplace protections for transgender people exist at the federal level but are under challenge by many states, including Ohio.
Proposed state legislation would limit sports participation, and an ongoing federal lawsuit seeks to reverse the Biden Administration’s policies on transgender people’s use of preferred facilities such as restrooms. ... read full article
Ed. Note: This article was published over three weeks ago, and we seldom include links to articles more than a couple days old. But it’s a very important piece of information for any children or parents considering using puberty blockers, as it describes a potential risk associated with that class of drugs.
US - Risk of pseudotumor cerebri added to labeling for gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists
From the Food and Drug Administration
From American Academy of Pediatrics (USA)
July 1, 2022
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added a warning about the risk of pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) to the labeling for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists that are approved for the treatment of central precocious puberty in pediatric patients. These products include Lupron Depot-Ped (leuprolide acetate), Fensolvi (leuprolide acetate), Synarel (nafarelin), Supprelin LA (histrelin) and Triptodur (triptorelin).
The new warning includes recommendations to monitor patients taking GnRH agonists for signs and symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri, including headache, papilledema, blurred or loss of vision, diplopia, pain behind the eye or pain with eye movement, tinnitus, dizziness and nausea. ... read full article
US - "Family Friendly" drag? Oxymoronic!
From Advocates Protecting Children (USA)
July 24, 2022
CNN posted a story about a cafe that was vandalized ahead of a "family friendly" drag show. Though we do not support vandalism, we do support efforts to stop children from being exposed to drag shows. Drag is adult entertainment. By its very nature it is not family friendly. In addition, it is inherently misogynistic as men dress up in "woman face" and entertain people by mocking women. It isn't any different than a cafe hosting a "family friendly" minstrel show. Minstrel shows are never appropriate let alone family friendly and neither are drag shows.
Increasingly libraries and schools are hosting drag queens, exposing children to overtly sexualized caricatures of womanhood. Doing so normalizes the objectification and sexualization of woman. It also gives children the impression that it is okay for men to appropriate womanhood. Neither of these messages are healthy. ... read full article
UK - Defense of Women’s Sports from Transgender Participation Has Hurt Olympic Medalist Sharron Davies
From Swimming World (UK)
By Swimming World Editorial Staff
July 24, 2022
Great Britain’s Sharron Davies, the 1980 Olympic silver medalist in the 400-meter individual medley, has long fought for women’s rights. Particularly, Davies has battled for women to have equal opportunities in sports, with her voice heard during the debate about the inclusion of transgender women in the women’s sports category.
Davies has argued, along with the likes of American Nancy Hogshead-Makar, that allowing trans women into women’s sports creates an unfair playing field. The expression of her beliefs and active involvement with the issue has, according to Davies, caused her financial difficulties and led to sponsors discontinuing partnerships. ... read full article
UK - Not in my name.
As Stonewall propose the indoctrination of 2 years olds, It's time for homosexuals to say "Enough".
From Kavanagh’s Substack (UK)
By Dennis Noel Kavanagh
July 24, 2022
Homosexuals face a choice. That choice is to fall in with the sinister ex-gay charity Stonewall which finally crossed the credibility Rubicon this week with a tweet urging the indoctrination of toddlers into gender ideology, or to stand up, oppose this madness and say “not in my name”. Silence is not an option, those evading this issue for a quiet life will be taken to have been complicit by the army of actual homophobes now headed in our direction. Stonewall claims to speak for us and our opponents will take it at its word when the reckoning comes. ... read full article
Ireland - Children’s Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon met with teenager over transgender ‘pressure’
From Independent (Ireland)
By Mark Tighe
July 24, 2022
The children’s watchdog has met a group who voiced concerns about the “pressure” children and young adults can come under to change gender.
Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon was approached to meet a group that included a 14-year-old girl who identified for three years as a boy. It came after Dr Muldoon wrote an opinion piece for the Sunday Independent last year, in which he called for “gender affirming care” for transgender young people as “a priority”. ... read full article
Australia - I was trying to shut down a culture war, Bill Shorten says
From WA Today (Australia)
By Latika Bourke
July 25, 2022
Government Services Minister Bill Shorten has defended reversing a trial of consent forms that used gender-neutral language, saying he was trying to shut down an ugly culture war erupting over the issue.
A new form being trialled in three hospitals, with the aim of reducing paperwork for new parents, asked parents adding their newborns to their Medicare cards to provide their full name as the child’s “birthing parent”. ... read full article
Argentina - Buenos Aires sued over ban on gender-neutral language in schools
The war over inclusive language appears to be spreading to South America
From The Telegraph (UK)
By Luke Taylor
July 24, 2022
The Buenos Aires authorities are being sued over their attempt to ban gender-neutral words in schools, in a sign that the culture war over inclusive language could be spreading to South America.
Argentinian city officials last month became among the first in the world to bar teachers from addressing students as “chic@s”, “chiqxs” or “chiques” - non-gendered words that were becoming increasingly common in place of the masculine “chicos” that is used for mixed-gender groups. ... read full article
I also am politically homeless and at first was horrified to share GC views with right wing politicians. But now I see that any attention brought to these issues brings us all closer to a place where ordinary citizens are empowered to discuss their basic rights which are being stolen from under our noses. there are many reasons why people support gender ideology and many reasons why a person would id as the opposite gender. but ive of come to see many who support gender ideology in the same light as those who support trump uncritically. what people get from trump and gender ideology is a feeling that supercedes reality. where as the trump fan is addicted to rage, misogyny and has a ton of gripes, the gender ideology fan is addicted to virtue signaling and misogyny and also has placed all their inclinations into this magic fantacy that empowers them. its the power of the magic thoughts that thrills them. they dont care what havoc it causes . thats not real to them. what kind of a person thinks bio men arent safe in the mens room? not people who have been in a mens room, unless their misogynistic. what kind of person thinks gay kids are helped by being permanantly sterilized? reminds me of the old tale where two women claimed the same infant and soloman suggested they split the baby in two. the real mother gave up her claim to prevent this. one thing i learned as a parent is many of the people who have a job writing books about kids or are school teachers or school administrators dont have kids themselves. its now common for school administrators to have a phd. but to get a phd, many also didnt have time for parenthood. that doesnt make them bad people. but they dont know anything about kids. and, like the woman who was fine cutting an infant in two, dont care about kids.
I am horrified by us Rad Fems getting attached to right wingers. At first I thought no big deal, because we need all the help we can get.
But then I realized that women are capable of changing history without the help of men or a political party.
We don’t need them. We make our own female led news sources. We make our own female led spaces. We make our own goddamn decisions about our own bodies. We put our own women on the forefront to speak about the issues that affect us.