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]

You realise she shouldn't have been doing what she did, she had no license to run the online clinic.

Is she banned from working with transgender patients now? Because if she has been given supervised permission, which it looks like she has, then I don't see what the issue is.

She didn't have permission.

Is she banned from working with transgender patients now?

She's been banned from over a year.

Spirituallove what are you getting out of this thread? Because it’s blindingly obvious that you either have little or no knowledge what you’re talking about, or are getting some kind of disgusting kick out of provoking and distressing autistic women and parents of autistic children.

I know which I think it is.

Can you answer my question, do you agree this is wrong?

Spiritallove answer the questions ffs. Do you think experimenting on children medically, and targeting those with neurological issues is ok? It’s very simple to answer and if you think it’s not ok then you should also think mermaids are not ok. If your child plays with toys or likes activities and clothes stereotypically associated with the opposite sex, that’s ok. Their body is not wrong they just don’t conform to society’s gender stereotypes and expectations. Targeting children with autism who do not tend to conform to society’s expectations is wrong. Their can be many reasons and being in the wrong body is not one of them. So what if an autistic girl does not want to wear frilly dresses and itchy tights and prefers joggers and a t shirt. That doesn’t make her a boy, it means she wants to be comfortable. The same goes for a boy, if they want to wear a dress that’s not a problem, he is not wrong, society is wrong. Why can people not understand this? Transing children means accepting society’s gender barriers and forcing children to fit into boxes by mutilating them. How the fuck can people think this is ok? Children cannot choose to have sex, they cannot choose to smoke or drink, they can’t even watch movies (or are at least not allowed by their parents) that are of a recommended age much older than themselves, so why can they choose to fuck yo their bodies with no chance of undoing what’s done? Why are they being allowed to choose this from influence of their parents and peers?

there has been pressure from some posters on here for a charity to remove a website for another registered charity, for their own personal beliefs

Those personal beliefs being the safeguarding of already vulnerable children.

There* can be many reasons... apologies for any other typos.

Sunday Times:
'GP guilty of running illegal sex-change clinic'
(extracts)
"The case was brought by the regulator, the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW), which refused to give a licence last year to Webberley’s company, Online GP Services, and then prosecuted the firm and her personally after she continued to operate.

Convicting her under the Care Standards Act 2000, District Judge Neil Thomas ruled that she committed the offence through “consent, connivance or neglect”.

From her home in Abergavenny, Webberley has used Online GP to run a private clinic, Gender GP, treating adults and children who say they want to change their sex.

Webberley is also under investigation by the General Medical Council.

Kate Chamberlain, HIW’s chief executive, said Webberley’s operation posed a “risk to patient safety”.

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/gp-guilty-of-running-illegal-sex-change-clinic-65xjzcdqr

thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3387210-Contrast-to-BBC-reporting-on-Helen-Webberley-Times-GP-guilty-of-running-illegal-sex-change-clinic

The fact you are refusing to answer means deep down you think it's wrong, but you are too much of a coward to speak out.

It's not against trans, or the trans community, it's about protecting children and stopping history repeating.

If you have any doubt, stand with us in this.

We're stronger together, this doesn't reflect well on the trans community, you should be distancing yourself from this, not defending it.

spiritual
Do you have a child in your life you care about?

I am not refusing to answer. I am asking questions. I think that it is concerning that a registered charity would not lose it's license if it allowed someone to work for them in an advisory role if they weren't permitted, by law, to advise. And I still have seen no evidence that that is the case.

You’ve been linked to articles about it.... and by not answering you are refusing lol. You are asking questions that have either already been answered, or have been answered again since. Actually read and you will see them. Your posts don’t even follow conversation ffs. So answer the question, do you think medically experimenting on children is ok? Add to the fact those children are targeted for their autism, do you agree?

The NAS had a link on their website. It is there for transgender persons who have autism, to support them. This is not targeting, but offering support.

I'm not sure you really know what you are arguing against anymore, you came here on the back of a biased artical which missed out the whole reason for the link being removed and you refuse to give an opinion on the conduct of Dr Webberley.

Still haven’t answered the question...

Nobody, literally nobody in the history of the world is this obtuse unintentionally.

Whatever kick you are getting out of the spirit you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Thoroughly ashamed.

The NAS link to serveral transgender organisations but you are only focused on mermaids as the one that helps... Because it's the one with questionable ethics.

You came here expecting transphobia but received a very reasonable explanation and now your not sure what to do other than repeat.

Someone being a shitgibbon shouldn't detract from the important discussions autistic women and carers of autistic people have had on this thread imo. It's over 700 posts at this point.

Do any other autistic women think it might be worthwhile setting up self organising groups?
Obviously a fb one has been mentioned.

Meet ups in person that are women only are really helpful I find.

I met with some friends recently to fill in the consultation.

Organizations who should represent us are failing to do so currently.

Agree this thread has value but unfortunately I think it’s being exploited for some malign ends by some people. I’d be inclined to continue the discussion elsewhere.

The NAS link to serveral transgender organisations but you are only focused on mermaids as the one that helps... Because it's the one with questionable ethics.

Quite.

I find it utterly disgusting that anyone can know what Webberly has done here and still defend her. And defend Mermaids who have promoted her the whole time she was not allowed to practise, and to this day. After she has actually been convicted. Its just disgusting that people are so focussed on the trans word that they are willing to overlook huge safeguarding issues. We care about kids. Its a shame you don't.