The Trans Agenda #35

[30 July 2024]

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Apologies for the length of time since the last Trans Agenda, I took most of July off from this to have both a holiday and focus on some other stuff.

So, this is the first edition of the Trans Agenda under the new Labour government and, as we all feared, it’s not much different than it was under the last Tory one.

NEWS & POLITICS

UK High Court upholds ban on puberty blockers [TransActual]

  • TransActual has condemned the High Court‘s decision to uphold the ban on puberty blockers for young trans people. They criticised the judgment for relying on the discredited Cass review, which excluded trans researchers and included anti-trans academics. TransActual expressed deep concern for the safety and well-being of young trans people and called on NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care to take urgent action. They vowed to continue advocating for the needs of trans people and encourage the trans community and allies to contact their MPs to oppose the ban which leaves England as an extreme outlier in the western world.

    TransActual are considering an appeal while the UK needs to get to grips with being a country where the whims of a politicians dictate the medical treatment you are able to receive.

New independent surgical guidelines created to ‘ensure the safety and dignity of trans patients’ [Pink News]

  • New independent guidelines have been established for trans surgical patients to ensure their safety and dignity during the peri-operative period. These guidelines, published in the journal Anaesthesia, include 15 recommendations such as using a patient’s preferred name and pronouns and continuing hormone therapy unless contraindicated. The guidelines aim to address health inequities faced by transgender individuals and improve healthcare professionals’ knowledge and practices specific to their care.

Wes Streeting vows to make temporary ban permanent

  • The temporary ban, that was upheld in the judgement above, is due to expire in September, Wes Streeting has vowed to turn it into a permanent ban as he pushes forward with implementing the widely discredited and ridiculed Cass review, which itself did not call for a ban on puberty blockers.

Northern Ireland offers some young trans people hope

  • Despite having a Unionist in the role of Health Secretary, which is a devolved issue, Northern Ireland is ‘unlikely’ to introduce the same ban as the UK. That leaves a loophole that families of young trans people are already exploiting to access puberty blockers legally via private means. This, of course, is no help for those who don’t have any money to pay for them. If you need more information on this ‘so-called ‘back door’ for yourself or your family, please reach out to me.

    It is not clear at the time of writing if the legal ruling in England will have any impact on this stance, but I will be paying attention just in case.

Starmer asked if he will meet with trans youth over puberty blockers ban

  • In his first PMQs as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer was asked by one of his own MPs, Nadia Whittome, if he would actually meet with the people impacted by Wes Streeting’s crusade against trans kids. He said he would arrange a meeting with Whittome.

Trans Pride in London takes place

  • Around 55,000 people took the streets for Trans Pride this weekend and, in part, demanded an end to the blocker ban. They received practically zero media coverage with the BBC adding a throwaway line to a larger report about the much smaller Nazi-supported Tommy Robinson march which resulted, again, in violence between his supporters and the police.

Norwich Pride told Labour they were not welcome

  • This was in response to Wes Streeting’s stance on puberty blockers

READ THE PAPERS Monday 22nd July – Sunday 28th July 2024

  • This week, there were 14, two of which could be described as somewhat positive and actually featured a trans voice. Of course, the Daily Mail remains unhinged, as you can see with their output on Sunday. In total, three articles featured Elon Musk, one featured JK Rowling, two were about a GC losing his appeal after being sacked due to safeguarding problems and two were from an anonymous parent. Four could be considered ‘opinion’. Allison Bailey losing yet again to Stonewall did not get any coverage.

What’s on in Parliament this week?

  • There is nothing of interest happening in the Houses of Parliament this week before they are leave for recess on Tuesday afternoon.

GCs LOSING

Maya Forstater ruled not an expert by a judge [source]

  • This makes her the second member of Sex Matters to be legally defined as a layperson by the judiciary after Helen Joyce’s testimony was rejected in Australia.

Allison Bailey loses to Stonewall again

  • Despite claiming that she won the first time around, and after raising almost £1m in donations, Allison (that’s with two Ls) Bailey lost her appeal. She is taking time to consider if she wants to waste more money appealing yet again.

Teacher who put trans child at risk loses appeal [Blackstone Chambers]

  • The High Court upheld a prohibition order against Joshua Sutcliffe, a teacher who deliberately misgendered a transgender student and expressed controversial views on gender and sexuality. Sutcliffe appealed, claiming his rights to freedom of religion and expression were infringed. The court ruled that while these rights are protected, teachers must also ensure the dignity and well-being of students. The decision affirms that Sutcliffe’s actions breached professional standards, justifying the prohibition.

GC singer Louise Distras sings for Tommy Robinson [Louise Distras]

  • Scratch a Terf etc…She then followed that up by praising Laurence Fox.
  • JK Rowling is still trying to get the meeting she says she doesn’t want with Labour after she failed to get the apology she demanded from Angela Rayner. You can read more about that in this weeks The Papers.
  • A handful of GCs representing at what must have been at least 100 Twitter accounts, set up a barrier to stop trans women from using the swimming pond at Hampstead Heath. From what I’ve been told, they were told, politely, to fuck off, by the women who use the pool. It is not clear which one of the GCs was appointed as ‘genital inspector’ but I believe most applied for the role. [Source]
  • Former long distance runner, Paula Radcliffe, who objects to trans women in sport said that it was right that the rapist of a 12-year-old girl was allowed to compete in the Olympics.
  • In the last week, GCs have been mad at: Kew Gardens, a cookery show and the Olympics. This is, of course, not an extensive list.

AROUND THE WORLD

Transgender teenage girl in critical condition after horrific stabbing attack at Florida airport [Advocate]

  • A 17-year-old transgender girl was stabbed 18 times at Miami International Airport by a 29-year-old man named Alexander Love, who then tried to throw her off a fourth-floor balcony. Love was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder. The victim is in critical condition following emergency surgery. Love claimed he attacked the girl because he believed she drugged him.

Transfemicide becomes a crime in Mexico City [Guardian]

  • Mexico City has passed a law criminalising transfemicide, that specifically targets violence against transgender women. The legislation, achieved after years of advocacy by trans rights groups, defines transfemicide as the killing of a transgender woman due to her gender identity. Mexico is one of the deadliest countries for transgender people, and this law aims to offer legal recognition and protection against gender-based violence, ensuring that crimes against trans individuals are accurately recorded and punished.

Michigan bans ‘gay and trans panic’ defense as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs historic bill [Advocate]

  • Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill banning the “gay and trans panic” defence, preventing defendants from using a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity to justify violent actions. The legislation, HB 4718, passed narrowly in the state’s House and by a larger margin in the Senate. This law makes Michigan one of the few states prohibiting this defence, which has historically been used to reduce charges or sentences in cases involving LGBTQ+ victims.

Nebraska Supreme Court upholds anti-trans care, anti-abortion law [Advocate]

  • The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld a law banning most abortions after 12 weeks and restricting gender-affirming care for trans youth under 19. The law requires extensive counselling before minors can receive puberty blockers or hormone therapy. The ruling, challenged by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, argued that the law violates the state’s single-subject rule, but the court found it permissible as both issues relate to healthcare. This decision makes the restrictions and abortion limitations enforceable in Nebraska.

Florida is denying trans people updated birth certificates in defiance of its own laws [Gay Today]

  • The Florida Department of Health is reportedly denying requests from transgender people for updated birth certificates that reflect their gender identity, despite state laws allowing such changes. This includes trans minors and adults who have provided all necessary documentation, including evidence of gender transition. The state has not provided a clear reason for these denials, which has left many without accurate identification.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

  • Kemi Badenoch has launched her bid to become Tory leader, vowing to ‘tell the truth’.
  • Suella Braverman has declined to run for Tory leader as she takes another step closer to defecting to Reform.
  • Keir Starmer confirms he has no plans to revive second stage of Leveson inquiry [Guardian]

TRANSWRITES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

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