A salute to Stephanie Davies-Arai

The year has ended with a scathing assessment of the ‘madness of transgenderism’ by Leo McKinstry in the Express (here), a view which has been confirmed by a report in the Mirror of the manufacture and sale of prosthetic penises for ‘gender non-conforming’ little girls under the age of five (here). An article by Harry Yorke on the dangers to free speech and research in UK universities, including interviews with James Caspian, Heather Brunskell-Evans and Sheila Jeffreys, in the Telegraph (here) was followed by a widely-reported announcement by higher education minister Jo Johnson that universities that fail to protect freedom of speech could be fined (in the Guardian here).

And on the very last day of the year, Sanchez Manning reported in the Mail on Sunday that the Hampstead Ladies pond will no longer be a private space for women and girls (here).

picture: Julie Bindel, a feminist writer who has also been swimming at the pond for more than three decades, added: ‘It is totally unacceptable to allow men who identify as women, but who are otherwise male bodied and socialised as men, to be in a women-only space. I have seen mothers bring their young daughters who are self-conscious about their bodies but want to feel good about swimming and exposing their skin to the sun. The last thing they want is to look behind them and see a male-bodied person pretending to be a woman in order to gawp at them.’

And Nicholas Hellen reported in the Sunday Times the case of a woman who had requested a female nurse to perform her cervical smear test who was met with a transsexual male nurse (here).

picture: The patient said it was “bad enough for a fortysomething mother”, but the effect of such an incident on her 17-year-old daughter would have been much worse.

We know that these things are happening but the big shift in 2017 is that more sympathetic journalists are reporting such cases and publishing the opinions of women, whose view (or consent) has not been sought by government.

There were so many good pieces we may have overlooked some, so our thanks to all journalists who have raised questions over the past year. The Guardian and The Independent continue to largely provide an uncritical platform for trans activism and our hope for 2018 is that the left-wing media will catch up with the right, look beyond the knee-jerk accusations of ‘transphobia’ and begin to critically examine the ethics of transitioning children as well as the political implications for the rights of women and girls.

Special mentions to Andrew Gilligan of The Sunday Times for critical reporting on Mermaids, Dr Helen Webberley, Action for Trans Health and the newScottish schools guidance amongst other wider issues such as transgender prisoners; Sanchez Manning of the Mail on Sunday who gave a voice to the parents who are not usually heard and highlighted Girlguiding transgender policy; Lucy Bannerman of The Times who drew attention to the harms of chest binding, gave Heather Brunskell-Evans a platform for her views on transitioning children and published a revealing report on Lily Madigan, the ‘first transgender women’s officer’ and Nicholas Hellen, Social Affairs Correspondent of the Sunday Times, for questioning the ‘affirmation’ of teens who may just be experiencing anxiety and revealing that the EHRC is to produce national guidance for schools.

Other journalists who deserve a mention are Sian Griffiths, Education Editor at the Sunday Times, for keeping us up to date with what’s happening in schools (here), Stephen Naysmith of the Scottish Sunday Herald (here), Tim Shipman, Political Editor of the Sunday Times (here), Steve Bird and Joe Shute of The Telegraph (here and here), Mark Macaskill of the Scottish Sunday Times (here), Rebecca Hardy of the Daily Mail (here), Kate Foster, Health Editor at the Scottish Daily Mail (on the Scottish schools guidance, no link available), Martin Bagot of the Mirror (here), Guardian writers Joan Mcfadden (here), Catherine Bennett (here) and Hadley Freeman (here and here), Libby Purves in the Mail (here) and on wider issues Miles Goslett and Helen Hendry of the Sun (here and here) and Claire Heuchan in the Guardian (here). The Independent published an excellent piece by Jo Bartsch (here), The Express had a good Leader comment (here) and so did The Times: see photo

Media

Our report on media coverage of the issue of ‘trans kids’ from April 2016 – April 2017 was bleak reading. (Link). But the second half of the year has seen a massive increase in critical pieces in the UK press, led by The Times and The Sunday Times. A debate which has been silenced is increasingly being given a platform by the UK press, thanks to some brave journalists who are leading the way. Many of the journalists listed below have been called ‘transphobic’, ‘bigoted’ and ‘haters’ for questioning the transitioning of children and the teaching of gender ideology in schools, and some have been trolled more than others (the female ones). We thank them all for upholding the freedom of the press and the importance of proper investigative reporting.

For her consistent clear arguments, her bravery, her interview with James Caspian, for asking Maria Miller some hard questions and for writing one of the most important pieces of the year about the crisis in teenage girlhood “Why Do So Many Teenage Girls Want To be Like Alex Bertie?”, our journalist of the year is Janice Turner of The Times.

There is the above photo linking to this article

2017 was also the year when the bullying of high-profile women such as Jenni Murray became news and when people learned the word ‘detransitioner’ and realised that important research was being stifled, thanks to Bath Spa University and the courage of James Caspian in speaking out. It was also the year when people learned the practical impact of self-declared gender identity, courtesy of Top Shop’s prioritisation of a ‘non-binary’ male over their customer base of teenage girls; and women learned they must accept a teenage male’s authority over them as a Labour constituency ‘Women’s Officer.’

The violent side of trans activism was revealed to the public through events at Speakers Corner. We learned of the high rates of violence amongst male transgender prisoners, the fact that rapists may be housed in the female prison estate and that a trans campaign group with a violent agenda was one of those who had been invited to give evidence at Maria Miller’s Transgender Equality Inquiry. We don’t suggest that all activists or transgender people are violent (obviously) but that these stories illustrate the spuriousness of the claim that rights to self-declaration can have no impact on the safety of women and girls.

We want to show how much has been achieved in 2017 and acknowledge all those who have worked hard to raise awareness in the UK. Here are our highlights.

As we approach 2018 and the planned government consultation on the Gender Recognition Act, which is likely to take place early in the New Year, we look back on the year 2017 in the UK. There is reason for optimism, despite what often seems to be a juggernaut of changes happening socially and culturally preceding the new proposed legislation.

We think that 2017 was a pivotal year. The move towards global adoption of gender identity ideology at times felt overwhelming, with a low point being the removal of the World Health Organisation’s page on ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ and its replacement with a factsheet on ‘gender’. Here in the UK, the creeping indoctrination of children in the classroom, with the publication of yet more transgender schools resources (with their uncritical acceptance of the idea that children should just be ‘affirmed’ as the opposite sex) and the addition of ‘gender identity’ to the UKCP Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy, has left children at the mercy of a political ideology with no basis in science, research or evidence. All the main political parties in the UK expressed uncritical support for the idea of what would be a system of self-declared gender in all but name if proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act go ahead.

However, this was also the year when opposition to gender identity politics became public in the UK. We think that in the future we will look back on 2017 as the year when public consciousness began to shift. It started with the broadcast of the brilliant and revealing BBC2 documentary ‘Transgender Kids – Who Knows Best?‘ in January, the first time the public was shown the reality behind the transitioning of children, rather than the uncritical ‘happy trans kids being their authentic selves’ stories shown previously. Trans activists tried, and failed, to prevent its broadcast and their complaints of ‘bias’ were not upheld by the BBC. Our thanks go to Sam Bagnall for producing such a unique and valuable documentary which dared to show all sides of the story.

Still no joy. So frustrating! Would love to read it.

Another salute from me. So glad we have brave people like Stephanie around.

Haven't got a net nanny either and also getting the server not responding message. I'll try turning off wifi.

I had the same problem. Managed to get on by turning off wifi.

Net nanny? Some kind of filter, I'm guessing. No, no longer needed!Guardian

When I tried last night , I thought maybe it was due to lots of traffic, but still getting server not responding message today.

Excellent article, it's great to see all the people who are fighting for women. Lots on there who I didn't realise either. Brilliant!

I've been on the site loads of times before really frustrating!!

Can't open it!

Thermostatpolice I'm in the UK. Have tried all manner of search ways, on laptop and phone.
No joy.

I can't access the site either - am in the UK.

She’s a tireless campaigner. A Proper shero

I can't access the site either, through the link or through google. Am assuming it's just my ancient phone and not something more sinister.

This is so heartening. Well done everyone. Do we need a new 'action plan' thread? Or a NY Feminiat resolutions? I pledge to:
Finish letters to friends'/relatives' MPs so friends and relatives can sign and send them.

Great article. Reasons to be hopeful

whitehandled I can't access transgender trend either. Am currently outside the UK and wondering whether it's blocked for some reason?

Are you in the UK?

SDA is bloody amazing, and a proper laugh to boot, I love her.

I'm having trouble opening the link but I have no doubt that SDA has been one of the most influential voices for me this year.

Thank you Stephanie for all that you do.

That article has given me hope, and so many new people to read and follow!