Gender Critical in Ireland Part 3

[VaddaABeetch]

I’m watching RTE news. They mentioned the Garda representatives organisation are concerned about Gender Identity in the workplace. It’s been brought in without consultation & without training.

the Garda Commissioner has said that Garda may be disciplined for misgendering.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Just FYI this petition was started by TD Peadar Tobin - I'm very conflicted about the right wing support for this cause. What do you all think?

I really hate this whole 'right wing/ left wing' stuff - you can absolutely agree with people about one thing but that doesn't mean you have to agree on everything.

There's plenty I don't agree with Peadar or Aontú about, but I agree with him on this, so I signed it.

Also, 'right wing' is something that is routinely used to smear women trying to talk about these issues - people are so afraid of being labelled right wing or being associated with it that they refuse to engage with the actual message.

Helen Joyce talked about how she was branded as such because she appeared on GB News, but she said that basically the BBC, ITV etc. have all blacklisted her, so GB News and other 'right wing' organisations were the only ones who would talk to her.

Also, if someone accuses you of being right wing about this, or that questioning gender aligns you with fellow travellers such as Nazis, ask them which side the paedophiles and other assorted perverts are keen on.

Good for you, the schools need to hear from parents about this instead of just assuming that everyone is ok with it.

@Farmageddon I was quaking in my boots doing it though - at least it's not an Educate Together school or we'd probably have to leave it....

@Cyanchicken I agree with @Farmageddon on this. I'm not a mad supporter of Aontú myself but since nobody else is asking these questions then that's who I'll answer. I do worry about it, I've had someone compare me to the Burkes! Right-wing, religious zealot, transphobe, bigot, yada yada yada.... I think we just have to grow a thick skin!

Indeed. It can be very disconcerting to not align with your 'tribe' on something, it feels like your going to be shunned or cast out, especially if you saw yourself (as I did) as a liberal leftie, proud of the fact that Ireland introduced gay marriage and abortion. Proud of throwing off the shackles of Catholic conservatism.
But in a way I think that is being used against us - we are being compared to zealots and religious fundamentalists for simply upholding biological truth and reason - something people all agreed upon until 5 minutes ago.

It's such a fascinating social experiment if you zoom out and look at it, also a bit terrifying how quickly this has taken hold and infiltrated institutions and people who on every other topic would argue for reason and the scientific method. Except this one issue.

But I get it, it's difficult - we are social creatures after all - fitting in is really important, even as an adult. Nobody wants to be tainted. And all this stuff is dripping with connotations of who is a good person, and a bad person - based entirely on whether you follow along with the ideological beliefs and ignore your own reality. Bizarre.

@Farmageddon and other posters

Thanks for the responses - great to discuss this. It’s not really a tribal thing per se it’s more that I do not believe that they are coming from the same place as I am on this issue. I am concerned about the erosion of female rights and safety which have been hard won over the years and the protection of children from any type of brainwashing.

I feel they are coming from a place where they feel children should not be educated about sexuality at all, that very traditional gender roles should be maintained. Conservative values that I feel so not prioritise or advance the rights of women

I worry that joining together on one issue might generate support for them or give them power to gain ground in areas where I don’t agree - for example more votes and representation. Aontu is catholic traditionalist in terms of social values - they may be the only ones shouting now - but surely we need to look elsewhere?

I do agree that gender critical people get tarred with a “right-wing” brush but the answer to this shouldn’t be to join forces with groupings that have diametrically opposite viewpoints on everything else surely?

I’m not the most eloquent so not entirely sure I’m making my point but 100% welcome the debate and opposing viewpoints!

Also don't want to derail - so let me know if this is all too tangential

Not at all. But personally, I see this as a grand coalition of normal and sane across all parts of society vs absolute melts.

I worry that joining together on one issue might generate support for them or give them power to gain ground in areas where I don’t agree - for example more votes and representation. Aontu is catholic traditionalist in terms of social values - they may be the only ones shouting now - but surely we need to look elsewhere?

I disagree - I for one won't be voting for them under any circumstances, but I will happily march alongside anyone who wants to raise this issue to the voting public. The problem is that not enough people are talking about these issues, so it needs exposure and for that I'm not going to be too picky about who is willing to talk about it.

You say we need to look elsewhere - but where? Fianna Fail, Fianna Gael and Sinn Fein are all heavily embedded with this nonsense.

It's the right wing/left wing thing I mentioned before - if the left wing media simply refuse to talk about this stuff openly and honestly, what choice do we have but speak about it in media outlets that will actually discuss it. I think it's too simplistic to say that aligning with conservatives on anything means you agree with their whole menu, most reasonable people understand people can agree to disagree, and frankly I think it's scaremongering.

I do agree that gender critical people get tarred with a “right-wing” brush but the answer to this shouldn’t be to join forces with groupings that have diametrically opposite viewpoints on everything else surely?

Again I have to ask, then who do we join forces with, given that those in politics with the correct credentials are the ones pushing this.

@Farmageddon you've articulated my own thoughts/feelings on this far more clearly than I was able to! so thank you. What a sorry mess we are in. I pray to God (even though I'm not religious!!) that the tide turns quicker and we can get back to some sort of normal.

FYI - Laoise De Brún, founder of The Countess Didn't Fight For This will be on RTE on 14th September on a programme called 'Let's Talk About Sex' to discuss the issues with gender ideology being taught in schools.

Here's a link to the RTE Iplayer if people can't tune in tomorrow -

https://www.rte.ie/player/series/richie-sadlier-let-s-talk-about-sex/10002327-00-0000?epguid=IP000066469

Oh, they won't like that. Unless she's on for some kind of struggle session.

I got an email about that this afternoon (from The Countess) and they are asking people to email RTE to thank them for having Laoise on the show, recognising that it's quite a big deal to include that viewpoint in the discussion! I emailed (and even got an acknowledgement reply) Every little helps etc.

Just emailed RTE to thank them!

Let Women Speak
Important Information

1. Attendees to enter Merrion Square South from the Merrion Square East Side, which has the National Maternity Hospital at the top of the street.

Do Not Enter from the Merrion Square West.

1. Bag searches will be carried out by Gardaí

1. No alcohol is permitted

Gardaí have assured that there will they will have a strong presence at the event to facilitate the event attendees and the protestors.

Glad to hear there will be a strong gardai presence. The PSNI were definitely needed at the Belfast event. Looking forward to it & hoping it all passes peacefully

Good luck everyone. Hope it's peaceful and the voices of women are covered rather than the toddlers.

I'm looking forward to it, although the weather forecast is a bit shite!

Best wishes to those attending, you wonderful women, and those supporting them

Yeah, all the best to the warrior women and their allies. Wish I could be there.

Dayum! Planned on going for weeks, but 🤒. Had my poster ready and all 😞. Looks safer than I expected, with proper barriers and spacing. via Youtube:

What a great afternoon, despite the weather (which actually wasn't that bad, although KJK's hair did droop a bit!). Fabulous women, fabulous security, well policed. A great range of speakers - some hilarious, some very sad, some slightly bonkers, but all were heard 💚🤍💜

Here's the lady herself in her fabulous green jumpsuit!