Remember the Girlguides thread? We have our first success!

[AgnesBadenPowell]

A few weeks ago I posted here and in AIBU about Girlguiding UK and their transgender policy - I'm a leader. I'm also using the App so can't link to the threads but will come back later when I'm on a laptop.

I did not expect such a large response - over 800 posts in all. The support has been amazing. Via those threads, some people made contact with me and another leader and bravely agreed to speak out about their concerns.

We now have a story published in today's Sunday Times! This couldn't have happened without your support, input and encouragement. I'm grateful to everyone.

The only downside is the original article was heavily edited at the 11th hour to make way for other stories. Lots of other points and quotes were cut out. I made it clear to the reporter that I love Guiding and it was a tough decision to be publicly critical. I was also clear that GG's policy, however misguided, was written with good intentions. This was all lost in the editing.

The important thing is the message is out there now and GG will have to do something.

Do also check out the comments - lots of common sense and reasonableness. If we can demonstrate that there's lots of interest then we have more chance of a follow up so please leave comments if you can; I plan to stay in touch with the ST.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gender-swap-boys-spark-guides-revolt-wtcv7xjk5?shareToken=772e2cb2a2f2c493cf7fdcdbc245ab9b

I'm off to name change and then go to lunch but I'll be back later. Thanks again

Well done! And lots of supportive comments too.

the organisation forbids leaders telling parents

Good that this was the second sentence. Massive safeguarding and consent alert.

Massive safeguarding and consent alert

Absolutely.

Great stuff

And being shorter isn't necessarily a problem: some readers are more likely to finish it than being put off by a longer piece that they think is all about whinging feminists and gender neutral hippies

I didn't realise until I got to the last comment that the Scouts won't tell parents either.

I can't think of a more effective way to get a bunch of parents up in arms than to make them aware of the fact that an organization is deliberately withholding information relevant to their kids from them.

I can't think of a more effective way to get a bunch of parents up in arms than to make them aware of the fact that an organization is deliberately withholding information relevant to their kids from them.

Yes. Especially if the kid could come home pregnant as a direct result of that withholding. Also: schools allowing pupils to socially transition without telling the parents or having a family conference first.

I swear, it's going to take a load of teen girls getting pregnant and wailing BUT I'M A LESBIAN AND SO IS MY GIRLFRIEND (when the girlfriend is no such thing) before the fools in charge actually understand how babies are made, let alone the bloody kids.

Well done & the comments are really encouraging, I’ve shared it on Twitter

Brilliant work OP. Mary O’Connor is a gem.

Not sure whether this already mentioned as I'm busy today and haven't managed to read the whole thread but you can subscribe to the times and get 3 free articles a week and that would also give you the right to make comments. So you just have to give them your details you don't actually have to pay any money. Would be definitely worth everybody who is concerned writing comments and backing up those who already have done so apologies if this has already been mentioned

Fantastic article and the comments are sensible. I’ve added a comment in support - getting braver. The more of us speaking out the harder it is to call us all terfs and go after us.

I still self censor though. I can’t write boy but instead write trans girl.

Thank you so very much Agnes. I complained to Girl Guides when the issue first came up in the news and they were very snooty and dismissive in their original and follow-up replies so I thought it was a lost cause. Not only do you and the other "rebels" give up your time in the first place for the benefit of our daughters but you have gone out on a limb here. The parents and girls really do appreciate it.

Fantastic work! Thank you so much for speaking up on behalf of all our daughters!

The comments are a beacon of hope. We all knew the general public would be outraged if they knew what was going on, and the message is finally getting out there.

If further confirmation were needed, the TRAs on Twitter are all wetting themselves with indignation. Spouting off about TERFs monopolising the comments and other such bullshit.

@TheBadgersMadeMeDoIt I've stayed away from Twitter today - I can imagine what they are saying. I'm also blocked by most of them

This comment made me laugh out loud

Yes, the multiple "oh those silly lefties" men in the comments who despite their scorn for feminism are still able to see that letting boys self-identify into a girls camping trip is a terrible idea are definitely TERFs. Well spotted there, gender fans.

Bless Norman! But the TRAs should take note. There are a great many more Normans than there are radical feminists. And they are also a great deal meaner IRL than radical feminists. The TRAs do not want your average centre right Times reader to go full Norman because of their nonsense. They won't know what hit them.

Well done Agnes.
An important article and great exposure in getting everyone to understand the safeguarding implications of all of this.

to go full Norman

😂

A Radical Feminist Called Norman - a tale for the social media age.

Norman himself will be a bit confused by this.

Yes, but if we were to reach critical mass of Full Normans, they too could attend a Women's March wielding baseball bats and wearing fake blood-soaked t-shirts saying KILL ALL TRAs. This would be a sight to behold.

I won't offer you a banana, Norman, for fear of being called racist but here, have a .

Great job! 👍🏼😀

I won't offer you a banana, Norman, for fear of being called racist but here, have a

But Norman might be vegan. Is that vegan?

It self-identifies as vegan. What are you, some kind of cookie-phobe?