Herald article raising concerns about transgender rights movement

[SylvanianFrenemies]

Here: www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/16911183.stuart-waiton-why-is-the-state-pushing-harmful-transgender-agenda/#comments-anchor

I can't read it all as I've had my free article allowance this month, but it looks promising. Comments section is 50/50 despair/heartening

The Herald is one of Scotland's main broadsheets.

But yeah, hackum, I agree that there is something that feels utterly artificial about this TRA 'movement'.

What is different about this movement is that it's not a grassroots movement. It's driven from the top down with governments in favour of 'progressive' changes to laws and government funding for organisations pushing the agenda.

That was a great lunchtime read - have liked lots of comments. Well done Charlie.

Charlie, you are the heroine of the hour.

Thank you.

(And I haven't even got through all the comments yet.)

Yeah, Charlie, I forgot the shout out for you! Well done! I didn't make it through it all though, because I could not take some of the comments. I honestly, honestly admire your patience.

Thank you for your kind words everyone. I did despair at times, but I used what I learned here on Mumsnet to argue my case and kept reminding me of the Mumsnet mantra - think of the lurkers. (There is a fairly reliable metric in content marketing that for every reader who leaves a comment, there are another hundred who read the comments.) Maybe my words will alert some people to the fact that we are fighting to retain our rights and the we don't fear trans people but male violence.

As for the drink offers, if you're in Scotland, send me a message, I'd love to meet up. I love whisky. And dry white wine. And Margharitas. And Mojitos. And coffee, oh my word, there is just not enough coffee in this world.

I am going to break cover in real life now and take my pack of Fair Play for Women's leaflets and postcards to the parents evening at my DCs school. And hand them out and speak to people about the consultation (if the headteacher allows it). Wish me luck!

reminding myself of course

I'm in Argyll, right by the coast Charlie if you ever come over here give me a shout. I'm 99.9 % sure I know one of the people in that comment section.

Thank you Charlie.

I've wondered for a while what / who is behind the trans movement.

I think it must be a mix. It must be much harder for paedophiles and potential abusers to gain access to potential victims, now that people are more aware following the Jimmy Saville scandal and so these men have jumped on the trans bandwagon.

The police have to take acusations seriously, whereas before they could be brushed under the carpet.

I think many politicians quite simply couldn't care less about women's rights and unthinkingly backed the TWAW mantra in order to appear politically correct.

I'm sure there are transpeople out there who just want to live their lives quietly and free from harassement, and it's a shame for them that this is happening.

Then there is the pharmaceutical push for people to be on drugs their whole lives (I think this is mainly in America though).

For thing for sure is that women can never be complacent about their rights.

Yes, I saw a comment the other day (can't now remember whether it was on Twitter or here) but it was a lightbulb moment for me. Something like 'there's no financial incentive to tell someone with an eating disorder they're quite right, no need for any therapy, because if you do they'll die - but if you tell a girl who thinks she's a boy that she's quite right you've got a patient for life'. Depressing and sordid, but I do think for some pharmaceutical companies and US/Canadian HCPs and hospital chains there is an element of this going on.

Wow! Charlie

She’s arguing with those idiots who aren’t even reading what she says it seems- but actually she’s providing a brilliantly clear text book analysis of what’s going on- for everyone to see- what an inspiration.

Charley good luck at parent's evening. That's incredibly brave. I hope it goes well.

The students at the university have a petition against the author of the Herald article which has hundreds of signatures calling his article transphobic and saying he needs educated. He may appreciate some support for writing the article.

Charlie that must have taken up a significant chunk of time but you put your point across beautifully again and again. Thank you! I hope you can drink a nice girly Guiness along with a side order of spinach soup to re-fortify yourself

I googled the author. He doesn't appear to be shy of tackling controversial subjects. Good luck to him, though. Can't be pleasant. Hope his senior management back him.