Janice Turner - article in the Times about Mermaids

Mermaids delivers training into schools, the NHS and other organisations such as Fostering Agencies and the Police.

I think it is extremely concerning if Mermaids are providing training to - presumably private, rather than LA - fostering agencies.

Now, when I went to school a long time ago, we were taught that men have these chromosomes and women have these chromosomes and that was it. And most people still think that way, but what we now know, through advancements in science, is the human race can have a combination of up to 42 different sets of chromosomes.

That is astonishing. Were they really taught that? Because when I was in school (some 40 years ago), we were taught that humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, only one pair of which is involved in determining sex.

Does anyone else have a very strong suspicion that the Mermaids person doesn't know what chromosomes are, or what they do?

Found the DfE funding in the 2017 accounts.

£35K over 2.5 years from October 2016.

I wonder if that £128K over 3 years from Children in Need is in addition to the £12,445 they got from them in 2017 and the £70,300 they got from them in this year's accounts?

What was the 42 chromosomes thing?

The Mermaids person said:

Now, when I went to school a long time ago, we were taught that men have these chromosomes and women have these chromosomes and that was it. And most people still think that way, but what we now know, through advancements in science, is the human race can have a combination of up to 42 different sets of chromosomes.

It's available here, LiverpoolReSisters.

See images for restricted funding sources and purposes. They also got £63.5K grants and awards which were unrestricted. They don't list the benefactors for these.

Also under the 'achievements' section they say:

Training:
Mermaids delivers training into schools, the NHS and other organisations such as Fostering Agencies and the Police. The training into schools is partly funded by the DfE initiative to provide schools with help to combat Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic bullying.

But I can't see that DfE funding listed anywhere.

What was the 42 chromosomes thing?

I missed the 42 chromosomes thing. What do they think is on the remaining 4 that must be censored?

Haven't had the time to look through the document, but anyone can email us for it, if that helps. [email protected]

If Mermaids are so convinced by their cod science they should be delighted this training session recording is out there. I hope it's heard widely and by the Big Lottery Fund.

Well, exactly. If your organisation is being funded with public money and you are going into schools as well as providing training to the public and private sectors, as well as lobbying on the basis of your expertise in this area, why would you want to conceal from public scrutiny the contents of training you deliver?

Oh yeah, that'd be because it's made up unscientific ideological bollox that doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

@datun yeah you have to wonder.

Strange how the TRAs are very quiet on twitter today.....its almost as if they have nothing of any value to say

drspouse

Exactly. I mean, quite apart from anything else, why didn't their PR guru say, er...

@datun

Sorry, forgot to paste the link, it's not cunningly hidden!
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Listofforganismsbyychromosome_count.html

For anyone who's interested, here's a link with the number of chromosomes for each species. Humans have somewhat fewer than a potato. Those with 42 includes pandas and rats.

"Feminists are constantly accused of being on the wrong side of history. Yet Mermaids, with its clownfish and jelly-babies, is clearly on the wrong side of science."

Hear hear.

Also that Dr Helen Webberley is actually currently suspended by the GMC and not permitted to practise as a doctor anywhere in the UK

Janice's article is outstanding - such clarity

if anyone can read that and not see Mermaids for who they really are, they need their head examined

You'd hope most Times readers wouldn't need that one pointing out!

I know - but it adds to the 'this is a load of unscientific bollocks' for the non-Times readers!

You'd hope most Times readers wouldn't need that one pointing out!

It would have been good if Janice Turner had picked up the glorious error in the Mermaids training about humans having "up to 42 chromosomes".

It's 46...

Great stuff to wake up to today! Thank you Janice, Andrew G, James Kirkup, Sanchez Manning et al.

Today is the first day after the Winter Solstice, the days are lengthening now, imperceptibly at first but more and more glorious light penetrating the gloom every day.

There's an analogy there

Mermaids don't have a leg to stand on!

Mermaids' accounts and annual report are publically available here on the government website.

beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1160575&subid=0