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Guardian: LGBT activists criticise minister for women over trans comments

78 replies

HavingALittleBabyToolshed · 27/08/2018 02:12

www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/27/lgbt-activists-victoria-atkins-minister-women-trans-comments?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

The minister for women has been condemned by transgender campaigners for saying that young people are having their gender reassigned as “an answer to questions they are perhaps not asking themselves”.

Victoria Atkins cited an increase in the number of teenagers who were being referred to undergo gender reassignment surgery and declared: “We need to get down to the reasons why this is happening.”

The remarks provoked criticism from leading LGBT rights activists who said it was “damaging to imply that trans teens are being given treatment lightly”.

OP posts:
BettyFloop · 27/08/2018 02:29

Victoria Atkins sounds eminently sensible to me - but then, I don't have an agenda....

Apollo440 · 27/08/2018 02:36

Pity no comments allowed on the article.

thecatfromjapan · 27/08/2018 02:41

It sounds utterly moderate and grounded in reality to me, too.

I think you'd actually have to be unhinged, or never spent time with an actual human person to find it offensive.

Strange Times.

ShackUp · 27/08/2018 03:47

Why are these Guardian articles always so biased?

thecatfromjapan · 27/08/2018 04:02

I used to think that it was because a lot of the older staff are desperately out of touch whilst simultaneously desperately trying to attract younger readers. So they will misjudge what appeals both to their base and will attract younger readers.

They think emerging progressive politics is all about the Q and the T in LBGTQ+.

Maybe they're right. Young, university-educated professionals do seem to find that easier to cope with thAn the tougher end of feminism.

Unless they get a big reader backlash, on they will go.

Now I'm not so sure.

Brainwashing?

Still, I think if you can bear to write an email, particularly given their running this story, whilst ignoring the one about David Challoner, it might be a good thing.

It really is well past time to accept this nonsense.

I mean, they are actually criticising a very basic bit of common sense here.

tiredandweary · 27/08/2018 05:20

Funny isn't it how a legitimate concern about the massive rise in the number of children below the age of consent making decisions that will result in them having a lifetime of medication and surgery is framed as 'anti trans'.
All part of the dehumanising of children seen with such grim effect in the Green Party this weekend. And a stellar example of the Guardian being so caught up in 'making the news' rather than ethical journalism that reports the news, that they have produced this with no insight or sense of shame.
Children are being weaponised by trans activists and it appears that it is only women and a small number of men who are trying to stop them.

BitOfFun · 27/08/2018 05:39

Bang on, tiredandweary.

vicviking · 27/08/2018 07:22

Let's write to victoria atkins and tell her how sensible we think she is being.

vicviking · 27/08/2018 07:24

It is important that she holds her nerve on this and visible support will help her to do so.

Juells · 27/08/2018 07:57

Would it be legitimate to run newspaper articles criticising a minister for expressing concern about anoerexia among teenage girls? Citing people with a vested interest.

It's so evangelical. Not only do you want to transition yourself, but you want your decision to be validated by persuading everyone else that it's the best thing possible for teenagers as well.

Starkstaring · 27/08/2018 07:59

So much wrong with that article.

The quotes from Polly Carmichael were highly selective. She also said that there might be an issue with sexuality and social contagion.

And the WPATH "effective treatment" based on decades of research cannot inform this recent uptick in referrals.

Tiny numbers are only those being prescribed blockers. What about the thousands who are identifying out of their biological sex, are under 18 and have yet to get a referral to adult services.

I could go on but my head is sore from banging against a brick wall.

And they quoted that bloody 45% suicide statistic AGAIN.

Rumbledore · 27/08/2018 08:03

Can someone explain the 45% suicide stat to me? I don’t understand where this has come from?

NameChangedAgain18 · 27/08/2018 08:12

I think it’s unfortunate that Atkins prefaced her comments with “I read in the paper recently”. While her concerns are very much justified, that phrasing makes it sound like she hasn’t yet got to grips with the issue and has not been looking at a range of evidence and testimonies. The government needs to be much more on top of this issue than it appears to be.

SturdyEarmuffs · 27/08/2018 08:20

I'm actually getting bored shitless by the TRA "criticism" - there's nothing original in that article, it's sheer propaganda and it's just not convincing at all. The 'shock' and 'horror' and anti whateverethefucktrasaysitis is starting to induce utter indifference to the latest offence taken.

I no longer give a flying fuck what the TRA says. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hulo · 27/08/2018 08:34

At least reading her comments, normal people will see nothing wrong with what she said, and probably agree, and just feel puzzled about the fuss if they know nothing about the toxicity of the debate. Some may feel irritated and wonder if anyone can ever say anything right - if such mild comments are wrong it points out impossible the TRA position really is and how suffocating of free thought, debate and scientific evidence

SPOFS · 27/08/2018 08:37

Fox and Owl! Angry

Those two wind me up more than any other TRAs, the bloke especially! They are just a bog-standard, boring, run-of-the-mill, heterosexual couple who want to feel special.

And you know what? They both look pretty gender conforming to me!

borntobequiet · 27/08/2018 08:39

Email:

[email protected]

I just did and got an auto acknowledgement straight away. (I find some official addresses for MPs don’t always work so was pleased to see this one.)

AngryAttackKittens · 27/08/2018 08:45

Let's hope the over the top frothing in response to such sensible, reasonable comments from Atkins peaks some more people. Honestly, it's just ridiculous.

OnlyMakeBelieve · 27/08/2018 08:48

NameChangedAgain18 Look at the quote they have highlighted on the left hand side and you'll see why they've used this quote from Aitken.

ScreamingBird · 27/08/2018 08:49

borntobequiet I've emailed her too, and sent the link to heresyandwitchcraft's FAQ to help her get up to speed.

Starkstaring · 27/08/2018 08:58

I will email her today with our family's story which I have already shared with my MP.

Latinista · 27/08/2018 09:05

Think I might be approaching peak Guardian. This is a terrible piece of journalism, hyperbolic, biased and apparently aimed at nothing more than invoking outrage and pearl-clutching. Was she really “condemned”, or did they just ask a couple of outspoken TRAs who were bound to splutter? It’s disingenuous and provocative, and incredible they publish this today after such conspicuous silence over the Challenors.

LassWiADelicateAir · 27/08/2018 09:11

I see The Guardian still has not mentioned the Challenor case.

noeffingidea · 27/08/2018 09:12

I 'peak guardianed' when they failed to report on the mass sexual assaults and rapes on hundreds of women in Cologne on New years eve in 2015. They showed their agenda then. They are not a reliable news source on issues relating to womens rights.

hackmum · 27/08/2018 09:24

I feel absolutely despairing at the Guardian. What is wrong with them? Have their collective brains fallen out?