Opinion

With all the talk of chest binders after mainstream media took aim at them and Mermaids UK we are seeing the same pattern. The voices of those actually affected by the issues are not being heard. Correcting that for Trans Writes is Keith Ramsted with his chest binding story about the need for harm reduction;

So they sort-of debated the idea of non-binary representation, but mostly didn't. Instead opting to just do fearmongering and spread hateful rhetoric through parliament. Democracy! The whole thing wraps up with them patting themselves on the back for a job well done and deciding not to move forwards with any plans to include non-binary people in our legal system.

And they're entirely right. It is a classic example of pinkwashing and I think we should call it out. Making this extremely minor change to how their database records user details would likely take less than a few hours work. There is no excuse for having not done this, especially given the multiple attempts by campaigners like Tom, the general push for more non-binary inclusivisity in society elsewhere and the fact that by flying the pride flag during June they want you to think they are supportive.

LGB Alliance's charity status is currently under threat in legal action brought by Mermaids UK. The arguments for and against will be heard in court from today, the 9th September 2022.

The Society of Authors posted a tweet which included the phrase "self-identified" in relation to disability. Transphobes, who have been trained to view the phrase as negative, reacted badly.

The Conservative government in the UK are determined to push forwards on using transgender people as a wedge issue in order to distract from their incompetence. They are fanning the flames of the culture war so that you forget the thousands of our family members who died alone and in agony as they lapped up the luxuries in parties while paying their mates millions of your money to invariably do a terrible job of providing basics like PPE to hospitals.

Allison Bailey is alleging she was discriminated against by her employers, Garden Court Chambers, and also Stonewall UK. She believes that she has lost work because of Stonewall as she is a critic of 'Stonewall Law'. Which, in short, is the idea that Stonewall are misrepresenting the law, specifically the Equality Act, and disadvantaging cisgender women at the behest of transgender women.

Look, lots of people post things they call trans joy but they’re just celebrating having queer friends (set the bar higher!) or consuming other trans people’s creative content (cool, but make your own!). Those things are fun and all, but have you ever tried really living in your body and thriving in it?

The Gender Census 2022 is out and Tom Pashby has a little poke around inside of it. Small content warning for transphobic slurs, which will be uncensored in this article.

So far this language and the severity of the concept has helped to stave off attempts by transphobes to employ single-sex exemptions with a blanket approach. Meaning it can only be employed on a case-by-case basis and there must be a truly legitimate aim. However Kishwer Falkner's EHRC has been making moves to support transphobic groups who would like to see the exemptions employed more liberally.