Mermaids given £500,000 by National Lottery (Sunday Times)

Brilliant news that they're going to pause and have a think. Brave decision. Let's hope sanity reigns

what the TRAs need to realise is that the Big Lottery Fund would have just dismissed all the protests about this grant if they were all just 'evil, vile, transphobic hate speech'
The fact that they're reviewing the grant suggests that they think the protests are reasonable and worth investigating properly.

What would the legal comeback be for anyone suing in the future?

So many organisations are facilitating the harm of children, even when the concerns have been outlined to them.

If there is ever something like a serious case review, where does liability end? The doctor actually signing the prescription? Mermaids for pushing the ideology? The lottery fund for funding the people who push the ideology?

I bet BLF cave.

Small steps...

what will the Big lottery Fund review entail I wonder? I'd be really impressed if they didn't adopt the default position of bowing to societal pressure to be unquestionably woke without reason or critical thinking...if they really look at the FACTS (not opinion) they can't possibly think this is a good charity to support

Well it’s only under review... no word on what they will actually DO yet.

Hopefully they will undertake a thorough review and take on board safeguarding concerns.

None of them could ever shut me up about gaping safeguarding failures in charities or their guidance - whether it's trans guidance or any guidance. Safeguarding first. Always.

Why are they so keen on children being drugged and mutilated at such an early age

If they have nothing to hide then what’s the issue?

Yay! Huge respect to Big Lottery Fund. Now hopefully they can help support children in an appropriate, caring way, which doesn't involve blockers, surgery and instant validation without counselling and exploring of feelings, sexuality, gender expression etc

the TRAs are banging the anti Mumsnet drum on twitter saying that it (Mumsnet) should be shut down, calling Justine a Terf and all the usual stuff. Why are they so afraid that this subject is discussed? They can hashtag 'no debate' it as much as they want, but you can't silence a slowly growing flood of resistance to their ideology. They've been untouchable and undebatable for too long.

Big Lottery Fund has made a statement:

www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/news/press-releases/2018-12-17/big-lottery-fund-statement-on-proposed-grant-to-mermaids

We have received a range of correspondence in relation to a proposed grant to Mermaids, expressing both concern and support regarding this organisation. We’re grateful to those who have taken the time to write to us, and in light of the nature and volume of the communication we have received, we have decided to undertake a review of this grant.

shouldn't Susie and co at Mermaids be really concerned at the unanimous disapproval of the general public? If I was Mermaids, I'd be horrified at the complete lack of support from the vast majority of people and want to hear their side.

I don't think Susie, at least, thinks that way. I don't think she can afford to.

shouldn't Susie and co at Mermaids be really concerned at the unanimous disapproval of the general public? If I was Mermaids, I'd be horrified at the complete lack of support from the vast majority of people and want to hear their side.

And also letting us know so we can follow.

Careful with this. If you have used your real name on 'What do they know?', it could be linked with your MN account.

And also letting us know so we can follow.

If people are sending in FOIs would you consider doing it through 'What do they know?'

Things are escalating. Stay safe

As the Sunday Times article points out, Mermaids, and its level of influence, makes no sense at all. Indeed is dangerous.

The gender industry is so interrelated. Helen Webbersley, GIRES etc, LGBT spokespeople in political parties and elsewhere, grant receiving academics. Mermaids is a major domino. If it falls it could bring others.

Even the biggest domino of them all might face scrutiny. Are they really the same respected organisation before the T was added in 2015. And should the Government be paying a lobbying organisation, with their own interests to promote, vast sums to provide training and advice. Including in schools.

A lot of careers are at stake.

The problem being that what a rational adult would describe as "being disagreed with" Jones sees as an attack. Because he is a petulant baby.

I've seen Susanne Moore challenge Owen Jones (about the role of the press, I think) where the idea that Guardian journalists shouldn't attack each other was floated.

Fairly sure from the way it's worded that that isn't the real George Monbiot.

Very very encouraging to see the overwhelming number of commenters are horrified by this.

I suppose "Shut Up, Hadley Freeman!" might be a better name for it.

(She was needling him on Twitter. He didn't like it.)

Have emailed the complaints department & Dawn Austwick-if mermaids are given this money.....words fail me.
With so many deserving charities desperate for funding, this could be a travesty.

I missed that policy! How did that arise?

Huh. I wonder if they'd sack him for wrongthink if they confirmed it was him. Does this violate the "be nice to little Owen?" policy the instituted a while back?