from MSB article linked in OP:
"Our analysis suggests that those jurisdictions in Europe who have already introduced self-declaration models for legal sex change have tended to do so with very little public scrutiny. A report prepared by international law firm Dentons aimed at those advocating for self-declaration stated that pursuing reform ‘under the radar’ (in its own words) had been a deliberate strategy in Ireland, and advised that proponents of reform should seek to avoid media coverage and ‘latch trans rights legislation onto more popular legal reforms’ – such as same-sex marriage." (continues)
Spectator by James Kirkup
2 December 2019
'The document that reveals the remarkable tactics of trans lobbyists'
(extract)
"A great deal of the transgender debate is unexplained. One of the most mystifying aspects is the speed and success of a small number of small organisations in achieving major influence over public bodies, politicians and officials. How has a certain idea taken hold in so many places so swiftly?
People and organisations that at the start of this decade had no clear policy on or even knowledge of trans issues are now enthusiastically embracing non-binary gender identities and transition, offering gender-neutral toilets and other changes required to accommodate trans people and their interests. These changes have, among other things, surprised many people. They wonder how this happened, and why no one seems to have asked them what they think about it, or considered how those changes might affect them. (continues)
So the question again: how did organisations with small budgets and limited resources achieve such stunning success, not just in the UK but elsewhere?
Well, thanks to the legal website Roll On Friday, I have now seen a document that helps answer that question. [linked below]
The document is the work of Dentons, which says it is the world’s biggest law firm; the Thomson Reuters Foundation, an arm of the old media giant that appears dedicated to identity politics of various sorts; and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Youth & Student Organisation (IGLYO). Both Dentons and the Thomson Reuters Foundation note that the document does not necessarily reflect their views. [linked below]
The report is called 'Only adults? Good practices in legal gender recognition for youth'. Its purpose is to help trans groups in several countries bring about changes in the law to allow children to legally change their gender, without adult approval and without needing the approval of any authorities. 'We hope this report will be a powerful tool for activists and NGOs working to advance the rights of trans youth across Europe and beyond,' says the foreword.
As you’d expect of a report co-written by the staff of a major law firm, it’s a comprehensive and solid document, summarising law, policy and 'advocacy' across several countries. Based on the contributions of trans groups from around the world (including two in the UK, one of which is not named), it collects and shares 'best practice' in 'lobbying' to change the law so that parents no longer have a say on their child’s legal gender.
In the words of the report:
“'It is recognised that the requirement for parental consent or the consent of a legal guardian can be restrictive and problematic for minors.'
You might think that the very purpose of parenting is, in part, to 'restrict' the choices of children who cannot, by definition, make fully-informed adult choices on their own. But that is not the stance of the report.
Indeed, it suggests that 'states should take action against parents who are obstructing the free development of a young trans person’s identity in refusing to give parental authorisation when required.'
In short, this is a handbook for lobbying groups that want to remove parental consent over significant aspects of children’s lives. A handbook written by an international law firm and backed by one of the world’s biggest charitable foundations." (continues)
Roll on Friday,
'Dentons campaigns for kids to switch gender without parental approval'
By Jamie Hamilton
29 November 2019
www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/dentons-campaigns-kids-switch-gender-without-parental-approval
'ONLY ADULTS? GOOD PRACTICES IN LEGAL GENDER RECOGNITION FOR YOUTH
A REPORT ON THE CURRENT STATE OF LAWS AND NGO ADVOCACY
IN EIGHT COUNTRIES IN EUROPE, WITH A FOCUS ON RIGHTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE'
NOVEMBER 2019
IGLYO
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) Youth & Student Organisation (IGLYO) is a network of 96 national and local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and
intersex youth and student organisations across the Council of Europe region
THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION
Thomson Reuters Foundation is the corporate foundation of homson Reuters, the global news and information services company.
TrustLaw is the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono legal programme, connecting the best law firms and corporate legal teams around the world with high-impact NGOs and social enterprises working to create social and environmental change
DENTONS
Dentons is a polycentric law firm ranked as the world’s largest law firm by number of lawyers. Our extensive global coverage connects pro bono clients to the top-tier legal expertise wherever they need it
in the world.
www.iglyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/IGLYO_v3-1.pdf
