Wednesday, October 26, 2022
"A charity which supports gay and trans children in Scotland is facing an investigation by the charity regulator for allegedly offering to help provide breast binders for children."
This day in Herstory: Hillary Diane Clinton (née Rodham), born October 26, 1947, is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, as a United States senator representing New York from 2001 to 2009, and as First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001 as the wife of President Bill Clinton. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the party's nominee for president in the 2016 presidential election, becoming the first woman to win a presidential nomination by a major U.S. political party; Clinton won the popular vote, but lost the Electoral College vote, thereby losing the election to Donald Trump. (more)
Scotland - ‘Sturgeon’s Tavistock’ clinic offers trans children surgery not backed by ‘robust evidence’
Leaked recording reveals that medics at the Sandyford clinic in Glasgow admits there were huge gaps in evidence around trans healthcare
From The Telegraph (UK)
By Daniel Sanderson
October 2022
A gender identity clinic’ branded “Sturgeon’s Tavistock” has been offering patients irreversible sex-change treatments despite senior clinicians admitting that its methods are not backed by “robust evidence”, a leaked recording showed.
The Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow, home to Scotland’s only gender identity clinic for children, also authorised hormone treatment and referrals for surgical procedures for its patients after apparently rudimentary mental health assessments, according to unguarded comments by a senior clinician. … read full article
Scotland - Scottish schools told to reject English guidance for trans children
From The Times (UK)
By Mark McLaughlin
October 26, 2022
Scottish schools have been urged to reject “derogatory, demeaning and dangerous” new NHS advice that suggests children who want to change gender may simply be going through a phase.
NHS England has issued new guidelines advising that most children identifying as transgender are going through a “transient phase”.
Doctors have been told to explore all underlying health problems, including mental ill health, before helping young people transition, amid concerns that the NHS is rushing children on to irreversible puberty-blocker medication. … read full article
Scotland - Schools told to seek legal advice before following Scottish guidance for transgender kids
Recent findings from an NHS review found that most young people identifying as transgender are going through a 'phase', sparking serious concern from gender critics about advice in Scottish schools.
From Scottish Daily Express (Scotland)
By Jessica North
October 26, 2022
Parents and campaigners have warned schools to seek legal advice before following controversial Scottish Government guidance that impacts young people struggling with their gender identity.
NHS England has issued new guidelines following a ground-breaking review into child gender care. It is advised that most children identifying as transgender are going through a "transient phase" and states social transitioning should only be a pathway in severe cases.
This is in direct conflict with advice issued to Scottish schools that have been warned against challenging or trivialising self-ID in children and to be supportive of a child socially transitioning. … read full article
Scotland - We must take time to get Gender Reform Bill right
From The Times (UK)
By Pam Gosal
October 26, 2022
Proceeding to change laws too quickly increases the risk that the end result will satisfy no one because it will not be workable. Unfortunately, the SNP’s proposed reforms to gender recognition legislation are following that path.
The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which comes before the Scottish parliament today, has practical flaws and strikes at the heart of fundamental issues of faith and conscience. While I don’t doubt the noble intentions behind it, the proposed Bill is a letdown for women, for faith communities and for children who require the protection of the law. … read full article
Scotland - Holyrood debates gender recognition reform legislation
A stage one debate on the Bill will take place on Thursday.
From Evening Standard (Scotland)
By Neil Pooran
October 26, 2022
MSPs are due to debate the general principles of a Bill which will make it easier for transgender people to be legally recognised as their preferred gender.
A stage one debate on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill is due to take place on Thursday afternoon.
The Bill aims to speed up the time it takes to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC), and also lowers the age for obtaining one from 18 to 16.
A group called Scottish Trans will hold an event outside the Scottish Parliament urging MSPs to support the Bill. … read full article
Scotland - SNP MSPs will be whipped to vote in favour of gender recognition reforms
SNP MSPs will be told to vot favour of the Scottish Government’s planned gender recognition reforms, it can be confirmed.
From The Scotsman (Scotland)
By Conor Matchett
October 26, 2022
MSPs could face disciplinary action if they fail to back the Government’s plans to make the legal process of changing gender less bureaucratic and quicker. It will also see the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria removed, with the minimum age dropped to 16.
All five main political parties in Scotland have previously backed reform of gender recognition, with the legislation long delayed by controversy and vocal opposition. This has included significant senior figures within the SNP such as Edinburgh South West MP Joanna Cherry. … read full article
Scotland - Youth charity reported over breast binders advice
From The Times (UK)
By Lara Wildenberg
October 26, 2022
A charity which supports gay and trans children in Scotland is facing an investigation by the charity regulator for allegedly offering to help provide breast binders for children.
A worker at LGBT Youth Scotland is accused of supplying a young person with information about the controversial practice in an online chat room hosted by the charity.
A complaint was made to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) on Monday by Safeguarding Our Schools Scotland, a campaign body that has concerns about gender reforms. … read full article
Scotland - Scottish Government trans quango reported to regulator for breast binding advice to children
A charity that is funded to support gay and transgender young people in Scotland is being investigated for promoting the controversial practice of breast binding.
From Scottish Daily Express (Scotland)
By Jessica North
October 26, 2022
A charity previously slammed as a "patronising, money-grabbing organisation" has been reported to the charity regulator and is now facing an investigation for advice on breast binding.
LGBT Youth Scotland, a group funded by the Scottish Government, has been accused of providing a young person with misinformation on breast binders.
The controversial practice deemed "self harm" by some, has been in the spotlight since mainstream trans charity Mermaids was found to have handed out the garments to girls as young as 13 without the knowledge of parents. … read full article
US - GIRL, GONE: A “Trans Teen” Was Removed From Her Parent’s Care. Then She Was Sexually Abused.
From Reduxx (Canada)
By Genevieve Gluck
October 26, 2022
Michele and Roger Blair first reported the disappearance of their teen daughter, Sage Lily Blair, to the Appomattox, Virginia Sheriff’s Office on August 25, 2021.
Sage, 14 years old at the time, had run away from home after experiencing intense bullying at her school stemming from a newly-adopted transgender identity. Sage, a female, had begun identifying as a boy.
Michele and Roger would soon discover that the public high school Sage had attended was secretly encouraging her “social transition,” and had been deliberately withholding information from her family. Sage had begun calling herself “Draco” while at school, and using masculine pronouns. … read full article
UK - Blasphemy is dead. Long live blasphemy
The "marketplace of ideas" was nice while it lasted
From Reactionary Feminist (UK)
By Mary Harrington
October 26, 2022
The European court has overturned the prison sentence handed down to a feminist who interrupted a Catholic Mass at the Madeleine church in Paris, topless, and simulated “aborting” Jesus before urinating on the steps of the altar.
Hurrah for free speech and the marketplace of ideas? For some decades now, those most committed to the “marketplace of ideas” have celebrated the idea that we can enjoy a free speech right to say offensive things about religious faiths.
In truth, though, the only reason the Western liberal order managed a relatively free ‘marketplace of ideas’ was that it was still underwritten by what Matthew Arnold called the “melancholy, long, withdrawing roar” of shared Christian faith. For as I argued a little while back at UnHerd, it’s not possible to have a functioning society without restrictions on speech and actions that violate that society’s sacred values. For without some sacred values, you don’t have a society, just chaos and conflict. This is still understood by those Muslim believers who react with anger (and sometimes worse) when nonbelievers insult the Prophet. … read full article
US - Trans activist who interviewed Biden 'has a fetish,' demeans women online: Riley Gaines
Transgender activist asked Biden about his thoughts on states banning gender-affirming health care
From Fox News (USA)
By Yael Halon
October 26, 2022
Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines tore into President Biden for his recent interview with a transgender activist on Tuesday, faulting the White House for elevating the controversial TikTok comic in what she called a "demeaning" snub to women.
Biden sat down with several social media activists in an interview with NowThis News at the White House last week to discuss gun legislation, abortion access, trans rights, climate change, criminal legal reform and economic instability. Dylan Mulvaney, a 25-year-old transgender actress and comic creator who regularly documents her transition journey into "girlhood" for her 8.4 million TikTok followers, asked the president about his position on gender-affirming health care. The interview came after months of infrequent Biden sit-down interviews with journalists, prompting fierce backlash from Biden critics who questioned the White House's priorities. … read full article
US - Why is Joe Biden taking trans advice from a TikTok star?
The President seemed clueless during his interview with Dylan Mulvaney
From The Post By UnHerd (UK)
By Debbie Hayton
October 26, 2022
You might not have heard the name Dylan Mulvaney, but your children might have. This 25-year-old social media influencer has 8.4 million followers on TikTok, and is currently documenting a transition to “girlhood”.
On “Day 222 of being a girl”, Mulvaney interviewed Joe Biden. Transgender-identification seemingly invokes privilege that mere muggles can only dream about, but that is not my point. Mulvaney is on a mission.
The egregious patter is self-absorbed rather than self-aware, but one focus is “trans kids”. In Mulvaney’s words: “I’m ready to step up and show that trans people are not going anywhere and that trans kids deserve a fighting chance to be their true selves.”
… read full article
US - Transgender high school volleyball player appears to feature spike that injured opponent in highlight reel
The opponent's school board voted to forfeit all games against the transgender athlete's school
From Fox News (USA)
By Ryan Morik
October 26, 2022
A North Carolina school district voted last month to forfeit all high school girls' volleyball games against a rival school which rosters a transgender athlete.
The transgender athlete from Highlands High School spiked a ball into the face of a girl from Hiwassee Dam High School who reportedly suffered head and neck injuries - the Cherokee County Board of Education forfeited the contests "due to safety concerns."
A YouTube video was posted on Oct. 1 that appeared to be the athlete's highlight reel - high school athletes often make reels for college recruitment. … read full article
Canada - College of Nurses accuses defense witnesses of 'transphobia' in case of BC nurse facing firing for belief in biological sex
College of Nurses & Midwives counsel Barbara Findlay called into question the credentials of Drs. Kathleen Stock, Linda Blade, Miriam Grossman, and single-sex prison advocate Heather Mason on the basis of "transphobia."
From The Post Millennial (Canada)
By Mia Ashton
October 26, 2022
On days 4 and 5 of the eleven-day hearing of a Canadian nurse under investigation for allegedly transphobic off-duty activity, legal counsel for the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) attempted to discredit all defense witnesses on the basis of "transphobia," the definition of which is at the heart of this case.
The legal counsel for Amy Hamm, a nurse in British Columbia who is facing the possible loss of her nursing license after complaints were made about her social media activity, intends to call Drs. Kathleen Stock, Linda Blade, Miriam Grossman, and single-sex prison advocate Heather Mason to testify as experts before the committee, but Barbara Findlay, counsel for the BCCNM spent several hours trying to call into question their credentials. … read full article
US - Mainline Protestant church adds 'nonbinary/genderqueer' to official membership statistics
Spokesperson for Presbyterian Church USA said traditional definitions of race and gender 'may upset people'
From Fox News (USA)
By Jon Brown
October 26, 2022
A mainline Protestant denomination recently announced that it will be adding a "nonbinary/genderqueer" category to its annual report regarding church demographics.
The Office of General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), which is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S., said Tuesday that it is making a series of changes regarding how it records the number of congregations and membership statistics in the denomination, according to a press release.
In addition to traditional men and women categories, members of PCUSA presbyteries who identify as nonbinary or genderqueer will also be able to record their identity for official church statistics starting next year. ... read full article
US - Majority of Americans say transgender movement has gone 'too far' in targeting minors: poll
In response to the question, "Do you believe the transgender movement has gone too far by encouraging underage minors to use drugs and surgery to transition to the opposite sex," 65 percent of likely voters agreed with the question, while 21 percent disagreed.
From The Post Millennial (USA)
By Hannah Nightingale
October 26, 2022
A new poll has revealed that a majority of Americans believe that the transgender movement has gone "too far" in its encouragement of minors to pursue medicalized gender transitions.
The poll was conducted by McLaughlin and Associates for Summit.org between October 12 and 17 of 1,000 likely general election voters nationwide.
In response to the question, "Do you believe the transgender movement has gone too far by encouraging underage minors to use drugs and surgery to transition to the opposite sex," 65 percent of likely voters agreed with the question, while 21 percent disagreed. 14 percent of respondents said they "don’t know." … read full article
UK - Harry Potter sales surge despite efforts to boycott JK Rowling
Bloomsbury reports ‘more readers than ever’ as sales jump 35pc
From The Telegraph (UK)
James Warrington
October 26, 2022
Sales of the Harry Potter books have increased despite calls for a boycott of author JK Rowling over her transgender views.
Bloomsbury said sales of the wizarding stories had jumped 35pc in the first half of the year – a quarter of a century since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was first released.
That compares to a 5pc increase in the number sold in the year to February 28.
It comes amid a furious row over Rowling’s criticism of gender ideology in an essay published in 2020 and her concerns about threats to women-only spaces. … read full article
US - Detransitioner Met With Vitriol By Transgender Activists Shares Her Story
From The Daily Wire (USA)
By Christina Buttons
October 26, 2022
A young woman who formerly identified as transgender and met an avalanche of Twitter vitriol earlier this month when she complained of the long-term effects of testosterone treatments told The Daily Wire she feels better than ever about her decision to detransition.
KC Miller, 21, adopted a transgender identity at 16 and began taking testosterone after being referred to a local gender clinic by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia just after her 17th birthday. Only six months after the injections started, she received a double mastectomy to remove her breasts. By the time she announced that she wanted to detransition, she had been on testosterone for five years and hairline had receded to the point she wondered if she could reclaim her womanhood. … read full article
UK - Cambridge faculty apologises for ‘distressing’ emails about gender ideology talk
The head of sociology said staff were sorry for circulating ‘harmful material’ promoting a talk by author Helen Joyce
From The Telegraph (UK)
By Ewan Somerville
October 25, 2022
Cambridge faculty chiefs have apologised to students for “distressing” them by sending an email promoting a talk about gender ideology.
An advert for the forum by Helen Joyce, an author and journalist, was sent to faculty mailing lists across the university to invite undergraduates.
Ms Joyce, who believes that trans activists are eroding the concept of biological sex, was invited by Arif Ahmed, a Cambridge professor, to discuss trans activism at Gonville and Caius College on Tuesday night. … read full article