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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Libraries promoting body mutilation as “joy” in Norfolk

314 replies

CarobBean72 · 12/04/2024 09:28

Anyone here from Norfolk?

Norwich Millennium Library has a display of “Trans Joy”, apparently aimed at children & young people, which IMHO promotes body mutilation & self harm of women & girls & glorifies drug use. In the wake of the Cass Report it’s incredibly irresponsible.

It includes images of hypodermic needles for injecting testosterone, a packer & mastectomy scars, with the slogan “Self-made men play God right”.

Most disturbing is a small figurine of a woman’s lower half, cut off at waist & knees, bearing what appears to be a hysterectomy scar & what is either a pseudo-phallus ( an appendage made from a flap of tissue removed from the woman’s arm or thigh, rolled up and sewn to the groin to mimic a penis ) or a hypertrophied clitoris, one of the often painful effects of testosterone on the female body.

The display is accessible to children as the cabinets stand only a couple of feet high, designed for a child’s eye line and it’s placed next to the 8-14 book section. The cases are by the entrance - not noticeable when you go in but inescapable when you leave.

I can’t believe someone okayed this. If it was promoting anorexia or cutting or glorifying steroid abuse to children and teenagers, we’d all see it for what it is. Instead, it’s promoting self-mutilation under the banner of “Trans Joy”.

It’s especially irresponsible in the week the Cass Review revealed how poor the evidence base for so-called “gender affirming care” is and how little followup there has been to assess regret and de-transition rates.

Ive been trying to find a contact for the head of Norfolk Library Services - it’s a woman called Kerry Murray, who is also the Safeguarding Lead! But I can’t find any email listing for her.

Any suggestions?

Sharing images with trepidation: it’s a horror show!

Post edited by MNHQ

Libraries promoting body mutilation as “joy” in Norfolk
Libraries promoting body mutilation as “joy” in Norfolk
Libraries promoting body mutilation as “joy” in Norfolk
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13
SidewaysOtter · 20/04/2024 14:05

@KayMasonBillig Thank you for coming back and answering our questions - many wouldn’t. And thank you for not only listening to our concerns but acting on them. I hope the inevitable fallout hasn’t been too awful.

Strawfan · 20/04/2024 14:00

KayMasonBillig · 20/04/2024 13:19

Removing the poster was a management decision. They will review it against guidelines and decide whether it can go back up or not. I’m not involved. My concern was on safeguarding children over the exhibition. Officers are dealing with any other issues. I want our library to be a safe space for everyone.

That's helpful to know, thanks.

wincarwoo · 20/04/2024 13:33

KayMasonBillig · 20/04/2024 13:19

Removing the poster was a management decision. They will review it against guidelines and decide whether it can go back up or not. I’m not involved. My concern was on safeguarding children over the exhibition. Officers are dealing with any other issues. I want our library to be a safe space for everyone.

Why wouldn't a library be a safe space? Why bring the overtly political and contentious into a public space. It's over-reach.

CarobBean72 · 20/04/2024 13:22

I have the protected characteristics of sex, age, disability, maternity & (lack of) belief - I’m one of those women who are stigmatised as TERFs because we don’t believe humans can change sex or that “gender” trumps sex.

Where’s my poster telling me I’m safe?

Do I get a poster for each protected characteristic?

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KayMasonBillig · 20/04/2024 13:19

Removing the poster was a management decision. They will review it against guidelines and decide whether it can go back up or not. I’m not involved. My concern was on safeguarding children over the exhibition. Officers are dealing with any other issues. I want our library to be a safe space for everyone.

Strawfan · 20/04/2024 13:07

I feel they've really fumbled it by also removing the 'trans safe place' poster. Of course the library is a trans safe place as it should be a safe place for everybody (including children!).

Now all the local TRAs are clinging to the poster issue and keeping quiet about the explicit exhibition to try and make the complaints look hysterical.

Chrysanthemum5 · 20/04/2024 12:06

So what that statement means is the TRAs have the council a hard time and rather than stand up to them they're hoping people will just forget about this sort of thing until the next time. @KayMasonBillig I don't think this is the robust response you proposed

wincarwoo · 20/04/2024 10:15

That response is absolutely disgraceful. When will anybody realise that the trans community is not the only community in the world. Their dominance and everyone else's capitulation is shocking.

Heads should roll at that library.

Motorina · 20/04/2024 09:01

It's quite telling that the media felt it necessary to blur out the genitals on the crotch-pot, but the library felt it appropriate to place it at toddler eye level.

Well done @KayMasonBillig for taking decisive action, and for having the ovaries to come on here and face the vipers of mumsnet.

FrancescaContini · 20/04/2024 08:41

Overlappingwaves · 19/04/2024 21:42

This is the council's latest response (19th April)
"We have now had time to reflect on community feedback and to review our guidance. As a result, the poster has been returned to display in the library. Moving forward, as a service, we will be taking some time and space to reflect and learn from recent events, ways to better manage difficult and sensitive subjects in the future and how we can work together to support our Trans community (and all LGBT+ people) to feel fully safe and welcome when using our services".

Nothing about keeping children safe from horrific images.

They are not remotely interested in listening to people who are concerned / angry about images and objects that glorify bodily mutilation being on display next to the CHILDREN’S area in a PUBLIC LIBRARY, are they?

GodspeedJune · 20/04/2024 00:21

This passed me by. I like to support my local libraries, use it or lose it, but won’t be using this one any longer. I don’t want my young DC exposed to this, like a PP it reminds me of the pro-anorexia and self-harm cults. Shocking that it was approved and left to stand.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 19/04/2024 23:39

That statement from the Norwich women's groups is a thing of joy:

"Trans Pride is welcome to express their displeasure at being told “No” in peaceful protest. It will do them good to get out in the fresh air.

We hope the weather keeps nice for them".

😂😂😂

Overlappingwaves · 19/04/2024 23:23

Sorry, I should have said. It's copied from a friend's post about it on another social media site.

CarobBean72 · 19/04/2024 22:56

@Overlappingwaves where is this from?

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CarobBean72 · 19/04/2024 22:54

Ooof. A combination of the automatic message they sent to everyone who complained, and total capitulation.

Not good enough.

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Overlappingwaves · 19/04/2024 21:42

This is the council's latest response (19th April)
"We have now had time to reflect on community feedback and to review our guidance. As a result, the poster has been returned to display in the library. Moving forward, as a service, we will be taking some time and space to reflect and learn from recent events, ways to better manage difficult and sensitive subjects in the future and how we can work together to support our Trans community (and all LGBT+ people) to feel fully safe and welcome when using our services".

Nothing about keeping children safe from horrific images.

IcakethereforeIam · 19/04/2024 19:04

Brilliant 👏

duc748 · 19/04/2024 18:41

Arf! 😄

CarobBean72 · 19/04/2024 18:33

https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/24265114.norwich-trans-pride-hold-protest-millennium-library/

Press Release 19th April

Norwich Women’s Rights Group & WRN Norfolk will not be counter-protesting the “Trans Pride” protest this Sunday.

Libraries, as the County Council Leader, the Council Safeguarding lead and Norfolk Libraries management fortunately recognise, have a statutory duty to safeguard users, which includes not promoting self harm, steroid abuse & bodily self hatred to children next to the 8-14 year olds section of the library.

Norwich Women’s Rights Group & Women’s Rights Network Norfolk are happy to meet with councillors and library management to explain our concerns, especially in the wake of the Cass Report.

Trans Pride is welcome to express their displeasure at being told “No” in peaceful protest. It will do them good to get out in the fresh air.

We hope the weather keeps nice for them.

Norwich Women’s Rights Group
Women’s Rights Network Norfolk

Trans activists plan Norwich library protest after ‘self harm’ artworks removed

Trans activists are organising a protest outside Norfolk's main library, in the Forum, this weekend amid an ongoing row sparked by a controversial…

https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/24265114.norwich-trans-pride-hold-protest-millennium-library/

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CarobBean72 · 18/04/2024 12:14

Emma Corlett is no longer a Labour Councillor but an independent. Some of Norwich Women’s Rights Group canvassed with & for her back in the day.

She’s also a trained nurse who should know better & should be able to read the Cass Review.

We’ve challenged her to debate us on this. Bet she won’t…

https://twitter.com/norwich_s/status/1780884103346225485

https://twitter.com/norwich_s/status/1780884103346225485

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MarieDeGournay · 18/04/2024 12:07

FFS - there's art and there's art, there are spaces for art and there are public libraries... This exhibition might be appropriate in a gallery where people go to see art, and are aware of the nature of the content, but it doesn't take a pearl-clutching-rightshoarding-dinosaur-TERF-bigot to see that it's absolutely not appropriate for a public library. 'Not here' is not censorship.
The council leader deserves support - maybe she should've known what was going on sooner, but her words now are strong and unequivocal, and I hope she gets lots of local and national support, as well as on MN.

FrancescaContini · 18/04/2024 11:09

I’d be quite nervous about taking a young child into a library these days. Of all the places to be tainted by gender bolleaux 🤬

IcakethereforeIam · 18/04/2024 09:05

Yup, vindictive and unhinged.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 18/04/2024 08:51

The comments from the Greens and Labour show their contempt for the need to safeguard children don't they OP? Mind you - the Greens have form for that (A Challenor)

CarobBean72 · 18/04/2024 08:48

The library staff are revolting.

No argument at all. Just anonymous “Trans activists” - who were invited to comment but didn’t - calling anyone who doesn’t let them do whatever they want all the time “bigots” & “hate groups”.

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24259879.norwich-millennium-library-staff-rebel-trans-art-show/

Library staff rebel after council leader criticises 'self harm' trans exhibition

County Hall is facing a rebellion by staff at Norfolk’s main library after the council leader intervened personally to order a controversial trans…

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24259879.norwich-millennium-library-staff-rebel-trans-art-show/

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