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

465 replies

crsacre · 16/12/2018 00:51

A transgender charity that campaigns for children to be given prohibited sex-change treatment has been awarded £500,000 by the national lottery.

The payment to Mermaids has angered MPs, feminists and women’s organisations, who accuse the charity of bullying doctors, promoting falsehoods and using “emotional blackmail” to pressure parents to support life-changing medical interventions for their children. Mermaids will use the money to create a network of 45 groups nationwide.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/child-sex-change-charity-handed-500-000-by-national-lottery-dvbt7t2kb?shareToken=cd8d6faad97cd9dd3fe3f16eb3810f45

OP posts:
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16
HandsOffMyRights · 18/12/2018 22:17

Fantastic work, thanks.

PaleBlueMoonlight · 18/12/2018 22:15

According to wiki he is a Freeman of the Leathersellers

R0wantrees · 18/12/2018 21:42

Thank you.
There's so much that other posters have established on previous threads.
I learned a great deal from them.

DandelionsAreNotLions · 18/12/2018 21:39

I want to take a moment to thank Rowantrees for her work.

All hail Rowantrees , queen of all linkage.

You are a star.

DandelionsAreNotLions · 18/12/2018 21:33

Same here . I can read both Haddock and Green's tweet.
Susie Green may suddenly wish to appear more transparent, or maybe on of the terfblockers has failed.

Still blocked by mimmy mum despite never having any interaction.

R0wantrees · 18/12/2018 21:22

current thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3454658-recording-of-mermaids-training

Popchyk · 18/12/2018 21:17

MESMAC's annual report is interesting.

The section on Plan for Future Periods 2018/2019 shows where they are going.

"We will continue to work with trans groups across our footprint to develop a Trans Plan. We have entered a strategic partnership with a University and have submitted a proposal for researching gender identity clinical services ".

Mesmac annual report March 2018

They are chasing transgender revenue because they lost the lucrative BLAST project earlier this year. It was shut down after allegations that MESMAC staff were having sexual relationships with service users. Project BLAST was for boys who were at risk of child sexual exploitation, remember.

Charity Commission investigation August 2018

"We concluded that the trustees’ failure to report serious incidents to the Commission left issues of serious regulatory concern unchecked and unmanaged.

Through their actions, the trustees placed the charity and its beneficiaries at undue risk, thereby falling short on important duties around safeguarding and managing risk."

R0wantrees · 18/12/2018 21:13

October 2018

twitter.com/MoreAvocadoes/status/1048101198841204737

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1048098968088072194.html

"THREAD: Ethical issues with Mermaids. There's a lot to cover and 280 characters doesn't always allow for level of detail.
They’re a UK registered charity who support trans and gender non-conforming young people and their families. This is an admirable goal. Families and children in a complex and distressing situation ought to be able to access peer support. No-one is disputing that.
What they are not - scientists, child development experts, safeguarding professionals. And yet they are giving advice and providing resources to schools, police forces, youth organisations, the NHS etc.
There’s nothing wrong with a family support group being non-experts. The issue here is that they are passing themselves off as experts and getting their mer-fins all over public policy as if their 'affirmation only' position were backed by evidence.
Then there’s that court case. The Times reported it and then had to print a correction. This is often jumped on as ‘the entire article was a pack of lies and Mermaids were blameless’. Not the case.
The facts: the judge told the mother that Mermaids were to have no more contact with the child, and awarded residency to the father. This was because the mother, with Mermaids support, was raising the child as a girl. He didn’t want to be a girl.
Mermaids response to the ruling: “this is a huge injustice and transphobic practice. Devastating for the child. sad‘

The Times correction was that it was not ‘court ordered’ that Mermaids needed to stay away from the child - it was verbally ordered by the judge. That’s it.
In Mermaids own words: “Following the proceedings, the mother informed us that the judge had ordered the child should have no further contact with the charity.”
There’s more. Mermaids make heavy use of discredited trans youth suicide statistics. This goes against Samaritans guidance on suicide reporting, and the figures themselves are both unreliable and misrepresented. It was a survey about ideation in a self-selecting group.
I have a bit of personal experience with Mermaids. I’m not going to go into much detail as it’s outing, and I keep my Twitter anonymous for personal safety reasons.

I attended one of their talks and asked them how they tell the difference between a trans and GNC/gay/lesbian kid.
They couldn't answer. They also called me something rather offensive when I asked where I sit on their gender ‘spectrum’ as someone who rejected feminine norms as a child (probs due to autism as well as not being straight) but grew up to be a happy, non-dysphoric bi and NB adult.
Autistic kids are massively over represented in those seeking gender ID therapy. When I was younger (showing my age) it used to be called ‘wrong planet syndrome’. Now it seems to have evolved into ‘wrong body’.
Mermaids aren’t experts in autism, or very much beyond their own direct experiences. Are they the right group to advise parents of distressed autistic kids - who often show gender variance as part of their autism?
Those I’ve met in person seem like decent, loving parents, but what they as an org are doing is profoundly unethical and anti-science. They are putting vulnerable children on a lifelong medicalised path because it fits their ideology, not because it’s best for the child.
That's before we get onto the eye-watering sexism and homophobia regularly expressed by their leadership. Gay people are 'deviant' and Barbie is the most womanly woman, whereas GI Joe is the manliest of the male sex.
So here we are. A parents group, largely staffed by decent people, that has gained influence far beyond common sense and sanity due to an ideologically driven leadership. I hope I’ve helped the merscales fall from a few eyes."

BouncingOn · 18/12/2018 20:59

We fully endorse the principle that the welfare of children and young people override any obligations of confidence we may hold to others. Individual cases will only be shared or discussed on a “need to know” basis. Information pertaining to a child or young person’s gender identity of transgender status, will only be disclosed if directly relevant to the matter causing concern.

Bingo. Idiots.

FYI Mermaids- it is not for you to decide whether you disclose a YPs transgender status to others. It is not for you to make the judgment call as to whether it is relevant or not. It is not for you to make these judgment calls. Full stop. Your policy does not comply with safeguarding. And spreading this misinformation is dangerous and puts young people at risk.

R0wantrees · 18/12/2018 20:59

R0wan - that chilled me to the bone and ties in with the 'we're still here' mandate - to infiltrate schools.

'We're Still Here' conference organised by Jane Fae, Dawn Butler keynote speaker.

OP TheHarpySings wrote:
"Hi all

First off, I’m a regular poster, have been here for years under various usernames, it I’m posting here on a name change as I don’t want this traced to me.

On 8th September there was a conference held in London a Bloomsbury Baptist Church which was called We’re Still Here, which featured a variety of panels and workshops and was attended by many prominent people in the pro-GRA reform camp.

I decided to attend to find out what was being said as it was clear that they did not want anyone to attend that wasn’t a TRA or an ally.

What follows are my notes from the day. But first a few notes on attendance:

There were probably 80-100 people in attendance. Overwhelmingly white. Mainly older transwomen. A couple of transmen. Some Mermaids delegates Some fellow travellers/ allies. And me." (continues with report)

thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3398737-We-re-Still-Here-Conference-8th-September-A-report-from-the-inside

R0wantrees · 18/12/2018 20:49

All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children

Purpose:
'To raise greater awareness in the Houses of Parliament of aspects of the well-being of the nation's children aged 0-18 years, and our obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; and to work with children, young people, children's organisations, and politicians from all sides to promote first-class government policy for children.'

Chair & Registered Contact Tim Loughton Conservative
Co-Chair Baroness Howarth of Breckland Crossbench
Secretary Baroness Massey of Darwen Labour
Treasurer Earl of Listowel Crossbench
Vice Chair Sarah Champion Labour
Vice Chair Baroness Walmsley Liberal Democrat
Vice Chair Kelly Tolhurst Conservative

publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/170502/children.htm

Needmoresleep · 18/12/2018 20:21

Krystyna Hebb seems to be a Director of PROUD 2 B PARENTS CIC, who...

wait for it... claim to be supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

Mermaids Safeguarding Policy is here

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/12/2018 20:07

Ita such a niche area I'm pretty sure they will all be linked one way or the other...

Ereshkigal · 18/12/2018 20:07

She must have removed her Terf Blocker recently. Interesting move.

Very.

R0wantrees · 18/12/2018 20:06

Twitter thread by DrEm

"As others talk about the charity #Mermaids and its alleged troubling disregard for safeguarding policies (fracturing lines of communications with parents, keeping secrets etc.) I want to express what I view as troubling connections. @ BigLotteryFund #charitytuesday
The relationships that don’t sit well with me are the ones between Mermaids and MESMAC and Mermaids, MESMAC and the police.

To summarise, Mermaids and MESMAC are two charities which support each other and work together. MESMAC, a sexual health charity, permitted volunteers & workers to have sexual relationships with service users.

One former trustee of MESMAC, Bowen, was convicted of child sexual abuse. One former employee of MESMAC harassed the academic Jessica Eaton over her campaign to stop showing explicit films of child sexual exploitation in schools.

The supposed office décor at MESMAC – alleged penis coat hangers – maybe should have raised concerns rather than just eyebrows? Here it is described in the IPSO ruling.

Despite this disconcerting record Mermaids is proud to work in partnership with MESMAC and release joint statements with the charity.

I am of the opinion that both Mermaids and MESMAC have strong relationships with the police. Mermaids hosted Christmas parties at various forces, trained the officers etc.

It is important, I think, to note that part of Jimmy Savile’s tactics to prevent exposure was to host parties with the police.

Both Mermaids and MESMAC have reported journalists to the IPSO. Some breaches have been upheld but the vast majority of the claims have not. MESMAC vs The Sunday Times: ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-re…
Mermaids vs The Sunday Times: ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-re…
The Mermaids IPSO case was over the Sunday Times Reporting that a Judge had ordered the charity to keep away from a child. It wasn't an order but rather a request.

It is frightening to criticise Mermaids, if one does Mermaids might, instead of producing their safe-guarding policies and assuaging fears, send the police to question you. I worry that this is a silencing tactic and not a productive response to child-safeguarding concerns.
Mumsnet thread on Posie Parker: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3190731-Woman-questioned-under-caution-and-banned-from-leaving-the-country-for-criticising-Mermaids

I always feel uneasy when a group or institution creates a climate of fear and silence, particularly when it comes to child safeguarding.
I can’t help but think that if I’m frightened to criticise a group/institution/individual imagine what a child would feel like if they had a secret to tell.
I think the dates are significant, the MESMAC sex scandal and trustee being jailed for child sex offences, the harassment of an academic over her campaign against child sexual exploitation films - those happened before Mermaids joint statement.

One would think Mermaids were aware. If not could it be argued that as a children's charity they did not carry out due diligence?
I must stress I am not aware of any CSA allegations against Mermaids, it is their relationship with MESMAC, particularly post the various MESMAC scandals, the cultured climate of fear & silence, and their disregard for safeguarding principles which is troubling me. "

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1075033888110624770.html

see linked document for sources etc

BouncingOn · 18/12/2018 19:47

Thanks Thingybob Thanks

Thingybob · 18/12/2018 19:36

Sorry it does, it's Krystyna Hebb

Thingybob · 18/12/2018 19:35

Do Mermaids have a safeguarding lead does anyone know?

I think they have to but ths diesn't say who it is

www.mermaidsuk.org.uk/assets/media/Mermaids%20Safeguarding%20Policy.pdf

sackrifice · 18/12/2018 19:35

Gosh, what sort of an organisation needs it's training to be kept a state secret?

Terfing · 18/12/2018 19:33

Sorry, haven't RTFT, but I've just noticed that I am no longer blocked by Susie Green on Twitter? She must have removed her Terf Blocker recently. Interesting move.

PlectrumElectrum · 18/12/2018 19:29

Orchid I'd be interested in getting a copy of the transcript. If you are ok with this, can PM you!

BouncingOn · 18/12/2018 19:23

I've had a busy few days but now reporting in for duty. I shall be emailing in re: safeguarding with links to statutory regs, guidance and policy. I'm an SW who is absolutely appalled at the total lack of regard for ANY safeguarding procedures to be followed by this organisation. They are complicit with putting children at risk and are encouraging others to do so. Infiltrating our schools with this nonsense is dangerous. Do Mermaids have a safeguarding lead does anyone know?