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]

yes maybe it is a good thing as they are still doing an investigation and consultation despite putting the links back up. Maybe they just want the trans movement off their back whilst they investigate

Mermaids give advice that conflicts with the advice given by the Tavistock GID.
The NAS are craven cowards.

OP your thread title now looks odd unfortunately- the "Good news" needs to change to "Bad news"?

NAS apologised?!

WUT

I agree. The thread title needs to be changed.

I have emailed the NAS to protest and to let them know that, as an autistic woman, I feel that they have betrayed me and that I will no longer be able to trust their guidance and advice.

Do this charity know that Mermaids recommend Dr Helen W on their website?

You know, the one found guilty yesterday of illegally running an online clinic.

The fact remains, they are still investigating. They will have trouble squaring away the head of mermaids acting illegally, or at least against not just the Tavistock, but the laws of this land, plus promoting a doctor who has just been convicted of illegally drugging children.

As someone has just said, this is the long haul. Any other charity who acts this way would be getting held arm's-length by absolutely everyone, whilst holding their nose.

What does the picture look like of mermaids showing up at pride with exhortations to children to come and have sweets and pat their dog, whilst at exactly the same time promoting a doctor who has just been convicted of illegally drugging children. And ignorance is not an excuse, because the whole sorry business has been played out in public.

I have asked for the title to be changed.

Thanks for support.

I have just sent the NAS a PM thanking them for their sober and tolerant retraction. I feel that their initial reasoning for the drop was out of panic, and not through intolerance.

As for anyone who has called me a disablist, or ablist through this. I am not. I am, myself going through programmes throught the Tavistock for mental health reasons. I did not want to bring this up, as I didn't want to muddy the debate. And as for the idea that this thread is primarily about autism, it also isn't. The original post is about a transgender charity being dropped from a chatity for autistic persons.

The fact is that there are a few trangender persons who have different forms of autism, and they should not feel excluded from what is an all encompassing charity. I realise that there are people who do have their agendas, but they should be kept within their own circles, and should not impact on an association which is there to show impartiality to such issues.

I do hope that no one will be opposing this retraction through the NAS, as that would be wasting their resources which could be designated more for the good work they have been doing since their foundation.

I had a bad feeling NAS would capitulate.

Nothing but unquestioning compliance will ever be enough and why this isn't triggering everyone's klaxon for Origins of Totalitarianism baffles me.

spirituallove You can think again if you think we wont be opposing this. You are on the wrong side of history. Over my dead body will I stop opposing it

I realise that there are people who do have their agendas, but they should be kept within their own circles, and should not impact on an association which is there to show impartiality to such issues.

Support for TRA organisation Mermaids is not "showing impartiality"

Mermaids will continue to be investigated. This will not stop now. Kids' Company Fell. Mermaids can too.

Spirituallove You make me sick. This has literally nothing to do with you, you’re a vile opportunist and are 100% disgustingly ableist. No, we absolutely will not let this go.

First things first, withdraw any future donations. I am glad I waited to give a large donation to cover all this, they won’t be getting my support now.

That craven apology is very very similar to the same one that Ruth Hunt, CEO of Stonewall gave to the trans activists in around 2015.

Bullied or guilt-tripped into submission

I do hope that no one will be opposing this retraction through the NAS, as that would be wasting their resources which could be designated more for the good work they have been doing since their foundation.

Not at all manipulative, there. Nice bit of reversal. What a thoughtful you are.

What’s the famous quote? “ when someone shows you who they are, believe them”

Maybe NAS shouldn’t have been trusted after hiding abuse at Mendip anyway 🤔

Yeah that's us told.
Autistic lesbians, autistic survivors of abuse, get back in your box and don't expect support.

It seems that nowadays everywhere has been taken over by neoliberal corporations and promoting their agendas

The coffers which help autistic people

Oh don’t throw that shite at me. I am an autistic person, so you can shove that as far as it will go.

As it happens, I’ll not be around much today, DS2 has a hell of a tummy bug so I’ve got priorities.

But the way you and those like you speak to women and to autistic people isn’t going to be socially acceptable for long, I promise you that.

It’s fucking personal now.

I really look forward to the day that cluster Bs are forced back in line and politicians and institutions stop indulging them in their depraved human bloodsports.

I mean fucking hell. Just look at these DARVO creeps making sport of our lives?

Please do not give out your email details.

PM is the way to do it.

Especially when there are posters on here with a hidden agenda.

DO NOT RISK IT. BE SAFE.