46% of trans people disabled, 52% neurodiverse.

Clearly you're going to get remarkable results in any poll of "trans" people.

For starters (nearly) 100% claim to be in some way not the sex they actually are, so initial signs of reliability are poor.

In an attempted survey of benefits from childhood transition (Turban 2020), 73% of respondents said they'd had puberty blockers after the age of 18, so they just chucked those replies out.

Transwomen frequently claim to have period symptoms and to have difficulty opening jars.

They also repeatedly falsely claim that trans people were foundational in the gay rights movement.

And "feeling suicidal" and "suffering transphobia" are part of their group and self justification for getting everything they want, so for an individual to say they didn't would be letting the side down somewhat.

So clearly any self-reporting figures are going to be immensely unreliably.

All you can say is "46% of trans people claim to be disabled", but that no more makes the claim true than "99% of trans people claim to be the opposite sex".

Now, in reality, there certainly is a significant overlap between trans identities and various other conditions. Trans appears to be the current central hub that lots of disparate things latch on to. I can certainly believe the "neurodiverse" thing is higher than population average.

But you'd need proper non-self-reporting data to figure it out properly. It is a population of fantasists.

Lily Madigan self-identified as having autism. This is the problem with so many of these surveys (not just regarding “trans” issues, but all types). They are often self-selecting, which makes the figures less than useless. If you want the true figures, you’d probably need to be in a position to check medical records. Unfortunately nobody at GIDS seems to have bothered.

That the big Swedish study didn’t look at that as a factor might indicate that it was not particularly on the radar as significant back in 2012. Another reason to consider whether this might relate somehow to the huge wave of new cases that has occurred recently.

@NitroNine excellent post!

This ended up almost saga-length & wandered off from the point a bit, sorry, but not really up to editing, so TL;DR: self-ID for oppression points &/or to justify poor behaviour is absolutely A Thing in TRA & SJW circles. Would not trust this survey as far as I can spit. (My toothpaste would like to thank gravity for enabling it to reach the basin.)

There is (& has been for much this century, courtesy of ever-improving internet access & exponential growth in ways to communicate with others online - but greatly amping up over at least the last decade) an enormous trend for self-diagnosis. DID & Tourette’s are the flavours du jour, but autism remains a perennial favourite - the hashtag “actually autistic” was partly developed to try to distinguish the voices/conversations of people with ASD from parents of people with it; but also because the adults shamelessly LARPing autism were such a nightmare. Obviously the shameless bit meant they flooded the hashtag - “self-diagnosis is valid!” & “diagnosis/healthcare is a privilege!” are BIG things on social media. Obviously in the US there are people who won’t be able to afford to engage with the diagnostic process, but firmly declaring you absolutely have something (not infrequently accompanied by lecturing people at length about it & buying items - eg chewable jewellery - that will act as visual signifiers of [perceived] Special Status) is really not ok. When you have the necessary insurance & won’t seek professional diagnosis (because self-diagnosis is valid/because if you have an ASD diagnosis they will strip you of [insert rights here]/because if you have an ASD diagnosis & go into hospital they will murder you [bizarrely doesn’t stop people sharing the self-diagnosis with staff]) or you refuse to accept being told (sometimes multiple times) you do not have ASD - also a problem. The UK has its own issues with NHS waiting lists & ongoing underdiagnosis of girls & women (the latter, particularly) but again, rather than “I think I may have ASD, I’m particularly struggling with [thing(s)], could anyone recommend some resources/how to talk to my GP about referral” there’s a lot of “my GP is rubbish/waiting lists to specialists are too long/they told me it’s not ASD: self-ID is valid & now watch me stim-dance”. ADHD is still popular too.

Physical disability is another arena where social media frankly isn’t doing anyone any favours. Even on here - “I have sore joints” cue chorus of people insisting the poster must require investigating for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome despite their clarifying that they are not, & never have been, hypermobile any joint (or even slightly flexible); nobody in their family is “bendy”; & they have none of the diagnostic-criteria-forming issues people have reeled off. In online “support” spaces people ask what they need to say to get diagnosed with things; if there’s a way to “make sure” tests show “what they need to”; people seek recommendations for doctors who will basically give them what they want, whether that’s a particular diagnosis, particular treatments, or both; & of course it’s an endlessly tour of Elevenerife as people vie to be Sickest Of Them All. (Which leaves anyone who’d just like some actual kind of actual support group stranded, yes.)

Anyone who is actually disabled will tell you it is not fun. Even if you have a positive outlook & immense gratitude for how things are, it is inescapable that there will be times it is awkward/difficult/frustrating/painful/other. And you don’t get to switch it off. Unlike the people who thoughtfully broadcast their lives on social media - always enough “spoons” for the things they want to do, but their share of the cleaning/visiting family where they won’t be the centre of attention/an activity of someone else’s choice? No spoons. Sometimes there is even a miraculous replenishment of the cutlery drawer if something comes up! A lot of the people who claim ASD have similar issues with what causes “sensory overload”. And while that is absolutely complicated & variable, if the crowds that are never ok are the unfun ones but you’re fine in packed concerts & at protests & shopping is only an issue when it stops being for you…

There is a definite theme of exploiting groups of people who actually are oppressed & marginalised. A strange kind of oppression Top Trumps - the more marginalised you are, the less - & indeed fewer - people are allowed to question you; & the louder you’re allowed to shout. In the world of SJWs, I mean, where as we know there is some serious warping of ideas about privilege & oppression. But if you look at biographies on social media, as well as the pronouns, if they’re in the oppression olympics, you’ll also have the announcement they’re trans, queer, disabled, autistic [& both intersex & Jewish get surprisingly frequent mentions].

Hugely frustratingly, autism is often used as an explanation for rudeness &/or poor behaviour by these groups (NB not only those who identify as trans &/or non-binary) in a way I’ve only seen once (from a parent for their child) from anyone [who is a parent of/carer for someone] with an actual diagnosis. “If you think I’m being rude I’m not, it’s because I’m autistic.” The expectation is that their rudeness go unchallenged & should someone dare say anything they’ll be accused - at the very least - of ableism; possibly retraumatising the person who was rude to them; right up to the traditional You Are A Nazi. Equally: “I had a meltdown & screamed at/hit/threw things (possibly including furniture) at family/friends/educational staff & they are being ableist by enforcing consequences to these actions” or “people are so ableist I had a meltdown in a public place & I heard someone say I looked like a toddler having a tantrum lying on the floor screaming & crying”… etc.

As we all know, just saying you are a thing doesn’t make you it. If this were going to get people to look closely at why so many girls with autism are declaring themselves to be trans &/or non-binary - & then ensure they get appropriate support before making any changes; or even develop resources specifically for girls with autism as they enter puberty - that would be great. The dismal methodology & “next steps” makes it seem they were actively looking for further backing for the Most Oppressed Of All claim; & potentially to further claims that trans people are being denied (life-saving) healthcare - possibly to serve as a springboard for a further survey about transphobia in healthcare to really go for that dream scenario of funding healthcare for trans people being paramount. Absolutely trans people deserve excellent care on the NHS. But only as excellent as the rest of the population. I do wonder if the recent BBC “Panorama” episode about the surgical backlog would give any of them who talk about “life-saving surgery” pause, but sadly I suspect not. There seems to be no comprehension years on waiting lists is not unique to the trans experience & people throughout the UK are languishing in agony &/or anguish on all sorts of lists.

Sorry, I’ve got away from myself so am adding a TL;DR at the top.

Without a clear definition of what constitutes 'transphobic content' in the media those stats are pointless.

Any mention of biology? Pointing out that sex is immutable? Not sharing their beliefs? Helen Joyce's book? The word woman?

And yes their comments about certain interest groups skewing stats is so biased and tunnel vision it's ludicrous.

I mean tiny example. The encouragement to lie on the census, when it's illegal to do so!

I think it's been clear to many for a long time that anyone with a black/ white way of thinking is vulnerable to this ideology esp children/ young people.

and one reported identifying as a hippo.

😂

I'm sure I read something where one of the lobby groups were basically telling trans people that they were probably disabled if their trans status prevented them living fully. Almost promoting the idea to push up the stats. Similar to them telling trans teens that being trans automatically means suicidal thoughts.

There is clearly a link with Autism or Neurodivergence in the youth but is that because they are more susceptible to being sucked into the gender agenda?
Gender identity now seems the go to reason/cure all for any teen mental health issues.

I do not believe however that the majority of adult males fit this category and once again the children are being used as collateral damage.
Unfortunately no separation or distinction of ages, sex or reasons for being trans is allowed because they don't want the gaping holes and very obvious contradictions in the ideology pointed out.

The latest trend is claiming to suffer multiple personality disorders or tourettes so I would take those figures with a massive pinch of salt.

Sorry for all the posts. Hope some find it interesting!

Checked website what they do.

Lobbying, publishing info, consultancy.

I find the lack of recommendations for the groups that support on the ground very peculiar.

Must admit skimmed the rest looking for their actions/ next steps. Not at end so looked again at the recommendations at the top.

ALL are for things they want others to do. The govt the NHS employers etc.

There are no recommendations for trans orgs in terms of areas to review and check given correct priority/ allocation of resources.

'The majority had also witnessed transphobic
content in digital media (97%), print media (97%) and on the radio (85%). At this
point it is relevant to note that we are aware that a number of transphobic
individuals completed the survey with the intention to derail it. Had we
discounted them from the data analysis, these figures would have been higher.'

Higher than 97% from print media? Wow.

Given their demographic I'm surprised that so many young people are reading print media. That's a fascinating statistic.

The word derail is not very professional in this context imo.

However the homeless stats are concerning 27%. I hope that is an area being actively addressed on the ground by trans orgs.

Going to read the report :)

So far I note:

Methodology.
Online survey.
Recruitment social media and trans orgs.
No indication of any method of confirming respondents in UK. No indication of looking out for multiple submissions from same person.

Note that a small number were from outside the target group. Despite the number being small, their conclusion is their survey was shared widely on SM by those who wanted to skew the data. The idea that might have happened amongst their target group does not seem to have been considered.

In short. Very poor methodology.

Moving on.
The points they make about discrimination around getting employment, housing, and issues with accessing what I assume is general medical care etc.
I think are very likely to be issues and in some cases are illegal.
I support trans orgs working on those areas on illegal discrimination and not being able to access standard medical care.

Similarly I have no doubt that verbal abuse on street and physical attacks are common or at least not uncommon.
I support trans orgs working to reduce that abuse which will invariably be coming from males. Tackling the street harassment and violence by males will be beneficial to the many other groups that are targeted due to being from other protected groups.

Do the stats give info on the % that selected both disability and autism?

I have no idea but bet a pint they don't.

Autism is a disability in itself. (As well as an identity and a superpower yada yada).

Massive overlap with autism and trans populations.

On this issue I always question why these stats are produced circulated cited reported on etc.

And yet none of the many many trans orgs seem to do anything to tackle the issues/ questions raised by their own stats.

Where are the studies into what type of disabilities? Physical, neurological, something else? What are the age groups? Why the over- representation in the trans population? What can we do to get to the bottom of this and provide appropriate support? Which came first, the disability or the realisation of a trans ID? Is there anything else these groups share?

Same for those who are autistic or have other diagnoses in the neurological field? And of course these can be/ are disabilities. How much overlap is there between the two stats?

Lol at people identifying as neurodiverse, a person can't be neurodiverse, they can only be neurodivergent. If they can't even use accurate terms what's the point?

Self-identifying as something is not the same as actually being something, as we know.

It pisses me personally off as I have a physical disability from birth that while not as bad on the fact of it has still meant massive issues through school, life, loads of surgery etc.

I didn't apply the word to myself until i was in my 30s. 3 decades to come to terms with everything emotionally and make peace with it.

Others feel differently obv. It's very personal.

As a physically disabled person who's probably autistic and the parent of a diagnosed autistic child, I'd be interested in their scope of disabled. Some neuro diverse people identify as disabled, some don't. Some physically disabled people identify as disabled, some don't.

Identifying as having a disability on self diagnosis is prevalent now in some sections of society it seems.

Which really pisses me off personally.

Because.

In ye olden days the wording identity as having a disability was used for the same good reasons as identify ethnicity (I think it's usually called).

It was because not everyone with a disability, even one with significant impact on life, accepted that label for themselves. It was to be understanding that it was sensitive and if you didn't want to say yes you didn't have to. In things it was used for something other than equalities monitoring or similar. The questions would be specific about diagnosis, limitations etc. Eg some insurance, certain benefits applications (for all the good that did/ does) etc.

For ethnicity it was because it was another sensitive question. Someone born here with Irish parents and strong family connections in Ireland etc may identify as Irish. Similarly those of parents of different backgrounds may identify as one, the other, or as both. Iyswim.

The idea that a person would choose to ID as having a disability just didn't really occur to anyone and I doubt it happened much. Ditto a white person with v English background for years identifying as Chinese. I suspect that doesn't happen much but still.

The useful term identify as. Has been misused and bastardised as so much other stuff has. And it's original use for stats etc made meaningless.

@SuperLoudPoppingAction

'Central sensitivity syndromes' is very much still in the sphere of much discussed theory, without actual evidence as yet. But the CSS theorisers are keen to sweep up as many conditions as possible into it's research pool.

Sarah Grant states: .... "These conditions have been termed ‘central sensitivity syndromes’ (Yunus 2008) and include fibromyalgia, ME/chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine and a number of others."

.
Already classified and researched diseases such as Fibromyalgia, IBS and ME being "termed" central sensitivity syndromes (CSS) does not mean they Are CSS. Both ME and Fibromyalgia (for example have a substantial body of research identifying multiple body system dysfunction that are not indicative of the theoretical 'central sensitisation'.