General Trans Discussion Thread

Yes that's the one. The posters on Mumsnet from Mermaids who said I was giving personal information about Susie and Jackie Green obviously did not realise anything I said was available via the internet. I did say some parents who joined Mermaids during the time I was there were given information about, and were encouraged to obtain, medication from the internet. It is confirmed in that Guardian article that parents are obtaining blockers and hormones online. I know of at least one parent still within Mermaids whose child was discharged by The Tavistock for doing just that. Again, I'm not revealing details about individuals. I would not do that. So if any Mermaids people are reading your secrets are safe with me. I find it encouraging that Polly Carmichael is sticking with 16 being the minimum age for cross sex hormones, despite parents pushing for them to be prescribed earlier. If the private doctor in Wales intends to continue to do that despite the risk to herself then OK. It is not OK for the only NHS GID clinic to do this as that would risk it being closed down which would be wrong. I still believe there should be someone looking into Mermaids though.

Datun I am OK thanks. I believe I did the right thing in turning down the journo who was contributing to the Observer article and contacted me by PM through Mumsnet asking for info. I am relieved that I am no longer connected with the organisation.

www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/13/transgender-children-the-parents-and-doctors-on-the-frontline
Its the one I posted earlier I think. datun

tuba do you have a link ?

Hope you're doing ok.

I see the Guardian has published information in that article which I was remonstrated for by anonymous Mermaids posters on here. Namely that parent members of Mermaids obtain blockers and hormones on the internet for their children.

I don't think trump or pence care too much about trans issues or title X. Trump has already said that trans people should whatever bathroom they want and Caitlyn Jenner would be welcome to use the ladies in Trump Tower. Pence has said that schools should be able able to decide for themselves their bathroom policy.

There is no doubt that women are going to be the ones who will suffer the most during this presidency if access to abortion and contraception is further restricted.

I think it's anyone's guess where we will be with the issue by the time the next president comes in.

I think that the tide of sympathy and support for transwomen is going to swing even further in their favour with the election of Trump and Pence. It looks like they may repeal Obama's dreadful Title X bill that allows schoolkids to use the toilet of their gender. Which is a good thing for women and girls, but will be touted as transphobic and oppressive. There will be widespread pressure on the next president who comes in to repeal it.

That is a great article, wiggly. Some of the parallels are very intriguing.

Hi Miranda. I missed you on the Blogfest thread (#1) but wanted to applaud your analysis of PL's MO. It's gone strangely quiet, but hopefully someone will be along to update in due course.

Forgot the graphic!

If a man is dressing as a woman but has no plans to have a sex change then he is not a transwoman but a cross dresser surely. Or even a drag queen.

'Transgender' is now drawn so widely that literally anyone can now be a 'transwoman'. See, eg, this graphic or the tale of 'GrrlAlex'.

'Diagnosing via email'

www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/13/transgender-children-the-parents-and-doctors-on-the-frontline
Interesting article I thought ,also good to read colomist expressing doubts about early transition. But my lord that Doctor Spack??!! Words fail me .. Also Webberley... a private practice! I've not seen them mentioned on here before but don't always have time to read all posts. Can't help feeling they are both a little overzealous to say the least...

I know! The description of mental conditions needing an " ecological niche" struck a chord, is the increasing gender separation of children's toys and activities the ecological niche needed for transgenderism. Also the " feedback loop" effect , which the author explains much better than I could but which is a strong argument for not bombarding children with stories and information about transgender issues or even gender itself.

That article is very interesting. Challenging to read. The stuff about social conditions for identity based conditions is fascinating.

OMG wigglybeezer that article!!!

The similarities are shocking.

Benlinus - couldn't agree more.
I also think the identity model of gender misrepresents how it operates, and this is the source of a lot of anguish for trans people. Gender is a social category. A large part of your experience of it is down to how you are perceived. It would be nice if it wasn't the case and all those experiences could be wished away, but they are still there even if we try to deny them.

I have just read this article, very interesting for those wondering about the seemingly sudden proliferation of "trans" www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2000/12/a-new-way-to-be-mad/304671/

The non binary shit causes me to roll my eyes so hard they hurt.

EVERYONE IS NON BINARY. Nobody is a gender stereotype personified.

"she 'misgendered' somebody none binary"

HOW can you 'misgender' a non-binary person?

Should we call them "it"?

Oh dd had an app on her phone to make you look like a man

I look fucking awesome

Think zoolander

datun

Probably because i assume its an honest mistake

I am 5 ft 8 so tall for a woman and have very short hair, i very often wear jeans and a black jacket

At passing glance and not looking at my face some people just leap to a conclusion

I dont look manly at all...honest

How can someone else erase your identity?

Does your identity only exist in the minds of others because if it does then we're all fucked?

I was having a conversation with an old school friend the other day and she was describing how she perceived me back then and I was incredulous! I didn't recognize myself at all although once she explained why she thought what she thought, I could sort of see it. The thing is, her experience of me, how I behaved around her, what I shared about my life with her, could never be the same as my lived experience of me. Identity is such a nebulous entity - placing the validation of ourselves anywhere but within ourselves seems like the fast track to insanity and depression to me.

I've also sometimes been mistaken for a man, as has my daughter. It's not an issue at all is it? Why would it affect my identity? I am a woman, what other people call me makes no difference to my biology. Being called a bitch or slut also has no effect on my identity but it is hurtful and upsetting and can be threatening. Given the choice I'd opt for 'sir' every time. Especially as being thought to be male by the sort of person who might otherwise abuse me is probably quite protective.

Of course if I was pretending to be male and it was very very important to me that everyone recognised me as male then that would affect my feelings about how successful my disguise was. That would be my issue though. No one should be obliged to collude in my fantasy.

I've seen you say that before rufus. Honest question - why do do you think that misgendering you doesn't drive you to suicide, but it does for a transwoman?