National Autistic Society and Mermaids [Title edited by MNHQ]

[GColdtimer]

My friend just posted this on Facebook this morning. She isn't on MN so I have her permission to share. She would really like more people, especially people with ASD or who have children with ASD, to write to NAS thanking them for their willingness to listen and their agreement that Mermaids is not reputable.

This is really great news so please can we keep this bumped and shared. Thank you.

If posters on the SEN board would like to share that would also be great (if appropriate).

Dear XXXX ,

Thank you for your feedback regarding the Gender and autism page on our website.

I’m writing to let you know that I’ve raised your concerns regarding Mermaids UK, one of the organisations we link to on our Gender and autism page, with a number of teams within the National Autistic Society. In light of the concerns raised in your message, and of other feedback that we have received, we have decided to remove all links to Mermaids UK from our website, while we take the time to consult with relevant professionals and to reconsider which organisations we wish to place links to on our website.

As such, our Web Team are working to remove all links to Mermaids UK from our website as soon as possible. Please do be aware, however, that, as we are currently in the process of updating our website to reflect our new branding and organisational identity, it may take a few days for this to be actioned.

Thank you again for bringing this to our attention, and I hope that you are satisfied with the actions we are taking in light of the concerns that you have raised.

Kind regards,

National Autistic Society

[Edited by MNHQ to remove personal info]

I wonder if the boy who shouted 'the emporer has no clothes' was autistic. Telling the truth when everyone else had resorted to subterfuge.

If so I hope there are parallels today and the NAS do their research and do what th÷y consider is right.

Yeah great. Now can they (NAS) do something about that stupid poster that says if they see anything call the police. Distressing as having ones eyes open now makes one feel like they should call the police.

I wonder if the boy who shouted 'the emporer has no clothes' was autistic. Telling the truth when everyone else had resorted to subterfuge.

DS1s primary 2 teacher taught it that way!

I must admit I like the bluntness on this thread. Polite, logical and centring a group that has its own problems rather than pandering to the drama of the trans lobby.

It has been suggested to me that I may have some sort of autism but I don't tick all the boxes. I have no idea. I know I don't think like other people regardless. Why that's the case doesn't really matter. I value good sense.

It's kind of refreshing to see such sense and logic over barmy posts saying people have said x, y or z when they clearly didn't and everyone can see that.

The ability to do English comprehension rather than step into the interpretive and fantasy world of English lit feels like a dying art in the political world of 2018.

It has been suggested to me that I may have some sort of autism but I don't tick all the boxes. I have no idea. I know I don't think like other people regardless. Why that's the case doesn't really matter. I value good sense

Women/girls very rarely tick all the boxes, it’s often why we fall through the cracks.

And this lobby is just one more thing pushing us further down the priority list.

The ability to do English comprehension rather than step into the interpretive and fantasy world of English lit feels like a dying art in the political world of 2018.

It does indeed.

What do you mean by 'some kind of weird ablism'?

The NAS won't be using resources that could be put to better use because of the trans community

Any resource which has to back a doctor who gave unneeded and harmful Trans-medication to 12 year olds is a bad resource!

They have good reasons for dropping connections with Mermaids.

'transphobic' just stop, it doesn't work any more

but because I believe that no groups, or registered charities symbolizing those groups, should be excluded.

What are you talking about?
Should they perhaps link and condone the work Dr Asperger did under the Nazi's?
Perhhaps a link to a modern Neo Nazi group as it's important to autism history and shouldn't be excluded?

What?

I don't think you understand. I am sure that the NAS will continue to stick to its remit of supporting autistic people, whether transgender or not. No one is asking them to do anything else.

The concern is about Mermaids. Yes they are a registered charity, but quite a lot of parents and others have concerns about their approach, which they feel in some circumstances may lead to children being medicalised unnecessarily. The Court yesterday shutting down Dr Helen Webberley's clinic only adds to those concerns.

It should have been simple. Some parents raise concerns. NAS say they will take down the link until they have had a chance to look into it. A couple of months later a decision is made whether to put back the link or not. End of. Ask yourself why this is a big issue.

but because I believe that no groups, or registered charities symbolizing those groups, should be excluded

Are you actually trying to claim that the single most exclusionary movement since time began are being excluded? Oh that’s funny.

What is being excluded, or rather smothered by the tub thumping (I googled and decided it better fitted TRAs) of the activists is the rights of women, the rights of disabled people, the rights of lesbians and the rights of anyone who doesn’t fit in to your agenda.

All of whom exampled perfectly how to fight for your own rights without attacking or smothering the rights of others.

Oh and having an ex and a pal who are autistic doesn’t make you anything approaching an authority and I actually find it quite offensive that you assume it does.

I’ll say it again, your little mission won’t work. I promise you now. You and your friends don’t get to override my rights and the rights of my children. It will not happen.

Do you hear me? I hope you do.

but because I believe that no groups, or registered charities symbolizing those groups, should be excluded

To make things “fair” then I would expect a group such as Transgender Trend should also be represented shouldn’t they? Would you agree with that? They represent trans people and their families don’t they? Or is only biased representation from a charity started and run by a woman who has made hugely questionable choices, choices that changed an entire law in a foreign country to prevent it ever happening again, the kind of representation you want to see?

These issues are covered by links to the NHS and Stonewall and that’s more than enough. Mermaids is not needed by anyone really and certainly not vulnerable autistic people.

I would also expect autistic lesbians to be included.
Like... yunno... Hannah gadsby or Jeanette purkis.
We.exist.

And you can't define lesbian if you can't define women.

Spirituallove they were NOT harassed until you and your disgusting TRA friends saw this post. It was one letter, and that’s all it took. Because any research into Mermaids very quickly shows up the issues. They certainly have not removed all links to support re gender identity, as I keep saying and you keep ignoring, they still have appropriate links regarding gender identity. What are you not getting about that? You’re talking about something THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. They’ve very specifically taken off Mermaid links, which is just as well given they are still linking to a Dr who has been successfully prosecuted for offering young children illegal and dangerous services. think about that how the fuck you can defend an organisation like that is beyond me.

It isn’t any of us who harassed them or wasted their time, with a single letter, it’s you and your TRA mates with your harassment via social media. It won’t be any of you donating to help them cover these costs either, it’ll be us.

Stop interfering. You’re not autistic, you don’t have an autistic child, you’re someone with some previous link from an ex partner. You have nothing to do with them now so stay out of it. The narcissism it must take to do this to a charity for autism... unbelievable.

And you can't define lesbian if you can't define women

Bang on.

Although apparently the definition of homophobia has been appropriated because according to some it doesn’t mean hatred of people who are attracted to the same sex. now that fried my brain!

Please find me a lesbian who conforms to gender stereotypes in all ways and who never played with trains and cars and Lego.
Until paris Hilton comes out I will hold my breath.
Lesbians are not attracted to the feminine gender.
Lesbians are same sec attracted.
The fact stonewall has shifted on this is another issue worthy of interest.

*sex

Bloody phone

Yes let’s not forget, Susie Green of Mermaids did something that led to Thailand changing their own laws so that that kind of child abuse would never happen in their country again.

Why do you keep ignoring these facts?

As an autistic person. I personally would like people who dont have autism or autistic children to write to the NAS with your concerns as an allie of autistic people. We need help and support. Feel free to say you are writing in support of autistic women who have asked for your support

Thanks for that article Spartacus .
The local branch of the NAS is just restarting and I’ve told them to pass on thanks to head office about removing Mermaids. I have 2 DC with ASD.

The fact stonewall has shifted on this is another issue worthy of interest

Absolutely, it really worried me. Especially given that it directly contradicts the exact definition of homophobia.

Why people can’t see that the appropriation of the identity of so many other groups is a massive, massive red flag is utterly beyond me.

I’m not lesbian, but I don’t conform to gender stereotypes. Because I’m me. Interpreting my love of football, boxing and lack of looking feminine as anything other than personality is dangerous.