Tag: school

Categories
Healthcare

There is no justification for using unlicensed medications on children outside of a clinical trial.

I care because I have great concerns about the influence of political ideology on the medical treatment of vulnerable children

I have posted on medical forums about the inadequate evidence for puberty blockers being used in gender dysphoria clinics. There is no justification for using unlicensed medications on children outside of a clinical trial.

This shouldn’t be news but critical appraisal of evidence seems to be a skill that’s no longer taught in medical school.

I was called racist, a bigot, uneducated, ‘old fashioned’ and various other personal insults by fellow doctors. My questioning about the reliability of Stonewall’s publications about suicidality drew comments that I was freakish and ‘messy’ for questioning a deeply flawed methodology. I was then banned from the group for ‘spreading hatred’

Dr S Smith , MBChB

Categories
Education

I have refused to deliver curriculum

I am a mother, a parent and a teacher

I have submitted full analyses of all government policy and resource. I have spoken up at meetings when relevant. I have refused to deliver curriculum and implement policy. I have shared my views with friends and family members when they have raised the subject.

I have had some consequences: I have been told by friends that I am bigoted and obsessed.

A Teacher who has dedicated many years to upholding equalities legislation in schools

Categories
Healthcare

I care because children’s well-being is at stake and they are the future of our society!

I care because children’s well-being is at stake and they are the future of our society!

I have spoken up, written to MPs, DofE, written for medical journals.

I have not had any negative consequences so far but am aware it is always a significant possibility.

Julie, Parent, Paediatrician, School Governor

Categories
Education

Men generally don’t take it seriously

I care because I work in Education and have personally seen the effect of puberty blockers on a couple of Y7/8 girls, one of whom used to collapse on a regular basis. This had an effect on staff seeing this happen.

I then began reading more about the subject and was extremely worried how this subject and it’s consequences for women and girls was slipping under the radar and changes being introduced by stealth.

I have talked about it with friends and family. Men generally don’t take it seriously as they will not be affected by its consequences.

The worry is that young women want to be fair to everyone as they don’t see the dangerous consequences for themselves.

I have discussed on social media.

AB, Concerned School support member of staff

Categories
Education Healthcare Parent

Children need to be allowed to grow up without being manipulated into fulfilling someone else’s idea of what is normal

This matters to me because my eldest son was very gender non conforming. He had an all-female friendship group at school; hated sport; did four dance classes a week; wore bright colours and nail varnish; and dressed-up as female characters on World Book Day and the Golden Jubilee – he made a lovely princess! 

We always told him there’s no right way to be a boy and celebrated his confidence. His two best family friends were ‘trad’ boys and they are still his best friends today. He is now 16, wears mainly black and navy and alongside his one remaining dance class, he does weight training and plans to take up American football!  He’s had a girlfriend, has a diverse friendship group and loves his life as a teen boy. He is horrified when he reads about gender non conforming kids like him being told they are the really the opposite sex. When I read about Mermaids CEO Susie Green’s child, who sounded just like my son as a toddler, my heart breaks. I firmly believe that you don’t really get to know yourself until after puberty.

If an adult wishes to transition, I hope they get the best care and support but children need to be allowed to grow up without being manipulated into fulfilling someone else’s idea of what is normal.

I have written to my MP and various Labour leadership candidates; signed petitions; attended Women’s Place UK and argued gently with friends (either young women or older men in the tech industry) although most of my friendship group and their children agree with me.

A friend from my MA course challenged me about liking ‘transphobic’ tweets. We had a brief, polite discussion and she unfollowed me.

Vee, Teacher

Categories
Education Healthcare survivor

I would be halfway through my transition by now

This issue is deeply important to me for many reasons.

I learned about Self ID and was panic stricken as I have been made a victim of sexual violence by men repeatedly, and single sex spaces are vital to my ability to access public services.

I like with chronic pain and C-PTSD as a result of the abuse I have suffered, and single sex spaces help me in managing my physical and mental health when out in public.  I also am a lesbian woman, and was horrified to learn about the new ‘Woke Homophobia’, whereby gender ideology and trans activists insist that men can be lesbians, and that lesbians are same ‘gender’ attracted not same sex attracted. This erases homosexuality, and makes the discrimination lesbians face impossible to address. I am also concerned as a primary school teacher, that child psychology and development is being ignored in favour of lobby groups who have their own aims and dismiss developmental psychology and basic child safeguarding.  And finally, due to sexual violence, I had a period of time where I experienced gender dysphoria and I understand how horrid it feels to feel trapped in your own body, but I know that this condition can be managed and recovered from, and I know that the basis for my dysphoria was sexual violence and my wish to not be a woman and escape sexual violence. Were I 15 years younger, I would be half way through my transition by now and it would have been a catastrophic mistake. I am deeply concerned for young lesbians and children who are being sent down an experimental and physically and psychologically dangerous path, as guinea pigs.

I have led direct action protests, I have spoken to friends and family, I have written to my MP, I have been vocal on social media, I have written an article, I have even shared information with dates!

I have had a Twitter ban, for a tweet that explains queer theory, which was bizarre. I have also had difficult conversations with friends who misunderstand the issues, many however, now support me due to their own observations. The most negative consequences have been during direct action protests where I have been intimidated, spat at, screamed at in my face by trans activists. I was also followed by a trans identified male, and was very unsettled. I am mostly concerned about being harassed by previous abusers, and by male trans activists. I feel frightened attending talks, in case someone is intimidated or violent.

Sofia, lesbian radical feminist activist

Categories
Parent

I thankfully held off in case he just needed time to work out who he was

I care because I am concerned about the safeguarding of young girls, because I know vulnerable autistic young girls and because my own son thought he was Trans when he was confused about his feelings towards other boys, and people suggested Mermaids to me. I thankfully held off in case he just needed time to work out who he was.

I have had quiet conversations with friends with autistic daughters to warn them to be ultra aware of what they are up to online and what they are hearing at school. I have had frank conversations with my own kids. I have spoken with likeminded friends online privately and on a couple of occasions posted publicly.

S, Mum of teenager

Categories
Education Healthcare

I feel so completely and utterly betrayed by publicly funded and third sector organisations

I was sexually assaulted by a boy at my school while I was asleep. In late 2017 I read the LGBT Youth Scotland guidance, which recommends that boys who identify as transgender be allowed to share sleeping accommodation with girls on residential trips, and anyone complaining should be reminded of “equality, inclusion and respect”. 

After my experiences I would have found it incredibly distressing to have to share a bedroom with someone I perceived to be a boy.

I really could not believe that this guidance had been endorsed by so many children’s organisations and not one of them had considered or even noticed the potential impact of this on girls.

I wrote a Children’s Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) of the LGBT Youth Scotland transgender schools guidance. I used a very comprehensive template developed by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. In the accompanying guidance to the template, CYPCS mentioned that they offered support and assistance to those writing CRIA’s using their template, so I took them up on this. I was working with Women and Girls in Scotland and when we published the CRIA we got some press attention, and CYPCS wrote to the Scottish Government regarding the guidance.  The Scottish Government are now working on a replacement, in part I think due to the CRIA and the intervention of CYPCS. I’m now working with For Women Scotland, focusing on children and education.

This has been very personal and sometimes traumatic for me.

I feel so completely and utterly betrayed that no publicly funded or third sector organisation in Scotland has ever spoken in defence of the interests of girls in relation to the issue of transgender inclusion in schools (or anywhere else), including those organisations who are funded to represent women and girls and the issues that affect them.

This is despite the Scottish Government now acknowledging that these ‘inclusive’ policies do indeed risk excluding girls. My family have been incredibly supportive, as have some of my friends, but I think the biggest toll has been on my mental health.

When I heard Shirley-Anne Somerville’s speech where she announced the replacement of the guidance I cried for a long time.

Categories
Education Healthcare Parent

I am desperately worried that my daughters will grow up with fewer rights than I had

I am desperately worried that my daughters will grow up with fewer rights than I had; and that our rights, when lost, will be incredibly difficult to regain.

I have written to and met with my MP; met with my children’s schools; helped a friend to meet with her school; talked to friends that I think will be receptive. 

I feel very anxious about taking all of these actions as I am not naturally comfortable in these situations – but I do it because I must, and because no-one else seems to be doing it. 

Doing this survey has made me realise that although I am anxious, I haven’t experienced any truly negative reactions although some of my friends disagree to some extent with me.  I am cautious though re my employment, although I have raised tangential issues a few times when possible.  I work in further education.

I haven’t experienced any consequences, although I don’t speak up as much as I feel I should.

Categories
Education

I was teased at work for days for objecting being referred to as cis

I care because I do not want women’s hard won rights to be given away because of the current trendy identity politics and to accommodate perverted men.  

I have joined a women’s group, written letters to MSPs and MP, met MSPs and MP, talked to people at work, got training video changed at work from gender to sex in “protected characteristics” , talked to HR manager about using the term gender instead of sex, talked to friends and family, filled in GRA consultation, posted on twitter, distributed leaflets and talked to shoppers, written to M and S written to Weatherspoon’s, written to local councils, written to schools, refused to attend a further Stonewall training at work

I have been laughed at at work for objecting to being referred to as cis and then teased for days after.

The HR manager was also highly amused during our conversation about why sex and not gender should be on a feedback form about diversity training,  Mind you – he’s a bit scared of me now!!   So – win! 

I am ostracised by some team members who believe “Trans Women are Women”. Needless to say they are woke beardy dude bros.  I have had to work with trans boys and refer to them as he and vice versa. I  tried  to speak to team members /teaching staff about how I felt about this but was shut down. I couldn’t push as fear about losing job. Not the child’s fault of course but it really got to me psychologically -especially  the young trans boys who were on testosterone and wearing binders and EACH and EVERY one of them was on the spectrum. I could not say or do anything except affirm. I am supposed to be a support worker – its so incongruous. to have to work like that. I have fallen out with my bestie over the trans issue which was horrible but now she agrees with me on most of it.  

Mabel Frances, Reawakened radical feminist