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]

It's not an irrational fear to be scared of males.

I don't hate any male, I am quite rightly wary of any male as has every female back through history.

One male in four has a criminal record.

Males commit most violent crimes.

Males have bigger and stronger bodies than females.

Males can impregnate females.

Women can smell males.

Women can see secondary sex characteristics in males.

Women have been taught from a young age all about the threat males pose to them.

Nobody here dislikes anyone because they’re trans. I’m no spring chicken, I was a teen in the 80’s and around the artists community, so transsexualism is not new to me nor do I care, I prefer the company of gender non conforming males. What I do object to, is the new style of trans activism, particularly those like mermaids. There is nothing wrong with being trans, but I do not think that means you can change sex. I wish people were being supported to accept themselves for who they are without thinking they need to remove or alter their body parts. But the main objection here, is the targeting of the autistic community ( I know it happens as my teen autistic girl told me ) both online and in various other ways, like the NAS website. We have to make sure any support, information or advice, is from expert professionals who base it on well researched data. Autism charities must prioritise autistic people, not politics. Autistic female teenagers are particularly vulnerable.

Autism charities must prioritise autistic people, not politics.

Yes yes yes yes!

Autistic female teenagers are particularly vulnerable

Also yes.

Safeguarding needs all charities and bodies to be open to criticism and scrutiny.

Any group that resists that, in anyway is a problem. It does not have to be a trans related group.

Any group should be openly inviting it if they are worth their salt and are dealing with vulnerable people.

Thats got fuck all to do with trans issues - it should be true of ALL and EVERY group that deals with vulnerable people without exception.

Yet shouting 'transphobia' seems to be a means to avoid exactly this.

And it's being done by lots of people who claim to advocate for trans people (yet notably often aren't trans themselves) whilst actual trans people are saying "what the fuck are you on about, that's not trans phobic and just someone asking a bunch of questions!" and "All this 'transphobia' nonsense is harming not helping us" or "Being challenged about being trans benefitted my long term wellbeing to not have been challenged about being trans".

And in saying this, these particular trans people who think Mermaids are dodgy are being harassed, victimised, outcast and called traitors.

What the fuck is that all about? It's really not very inclusive? Or pro trans voices and rights.

It's funny how the only 'good' trans people are the ones who subscribe to a singular policy which doesn't stand much stand up to scientific scrutiny either.

I agree that NAS will now probably get a ton of sh1t from the TRA's.

But very good to see that response from the NAS and high time.

The idea that a healthy person needs to be surgically or chemically "corrected" because they are not neurotypical is basically eugenics (especially because many will end up sterile).

There have been so many autistic women on this board who have said how much they would have jumped at the chance of changing gender if the chance had been there - but that they are glad that it was not.

FactsAreNotMean 👌🏾 So good.

Great news about NAS and Mermaids. I'll write to them.

The idea that a healthy person needs to be surgically or chemically "corrected" because they are not neurotypical is basically eugenics (especially because many will end up sterile).

^ this.

WPUK Sheffield:
www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=ATNRbJW_JI8

'Professor Michele Moore is an expert in Inclusive Education and Disability Studies. She leads human rights projects across the world to support children, their families and those who work with them. She is the Co-Editor of the ground-breaking book Transgender Children and Young People, Born in Your Own Body from Cambridge Scholars. Michele will be discussing ideas from the book – the implications of self-declaration of gender for children and young people, including disabled children'

The idea that a healthy person needs to be surgically or chemically "corrected" because they are not neurotypical is basically eugenics (especially because many will end up sterile)

^ exactly this

This is the big danger with Mermaids and their drive to do things QUICKLY. There's no concept of wait and see, and evidence suggests that once puberty blockers have started the desisting is a) less likely and b) won't restore things fully to what they would have otherwise been

Many of here are autistic, we remember the confusion that came with the teenage years. Even those of us who aren't will remember some of the trends that went on at school. For SOME kids, that is what trans turns out to be - a phase, which they grow out of. At my high school the equivalent was being Bi/Lesbian. About half of the girls in the year proclaimed themselves one or the other. Few years on and the only actual lesbians to emerge are ones who weren't in that group at all! But imagine if you were stuck with lifelong consequences of a teenage phase? If that phase meant you'd never be a parent, for example?

We don't let under 18s decide to smoke a cigarette or have an alcoholic drinks FFS. Why are we letting them decide on something with some long lasting consequences?

But we're not allowed to talk about desistors or detransitioners....

Another parent of an autistic child here, posting in support of the National Autistic Society.

So pleased they’ve taken this step.

They are taking their time and looking at it, they aren't giving in to bullying.

This is going to hit the press then.

"A spokesperson for the National Autistic Society said: “We are committed to providing information to empower autistic children, adults and their families to make informed choices about their lives.

“In response to enquiries about the links on our online information about gender, we have recently taken down the links to Mermaids.

“Issues around gender are highly contested – and not our area of expertise – so we will remove all links except to the NHS and Stonewall on our site, while we consult with autistic people, their families and experts about the most useful information sources to include on this subject.”

We are now looking into the best way we can consult with you. We will update this page with information about the consultation as soon as possible. "

Well I quite like their statement. I am hopeful they will listen. Anyone else who is autistic or the parent of an autistic child, please email NAS.

Spartacus that brought a tear to my eye. What with Girl Guides and NSPCC showing a disregard for safeguarding, it makes me feel like I can breathe again seeing NAS being so clear about what they are doing, why and that they are putting people with autism first.

It's so nice to read plain English. No word salad, no gaslighting.

That is a very positive statement - admits what they don't know and acknowledges what is their central focus.

It centres autistic kids and their families.

Firmly.

Totally agree Lunarain that female autistic abuse survivors end up at meetings with males dominating.
So many of us have come away from those meetings shaking with rage or fear or whatever.

I don't go anymore and I would love a place to talk tbh.

Finally someone is carrying out some due diligence. Well done. There is clearly something to be said for wanting things to be honest and straightforward.

Looks like they are doing a consultation - We all need to register so we are on their mailing lists. Please can people put this round facebook too. I am unwell and had to deactivate for a while - www.autism.org.uk/registration.aspx

Needmoresleep - your use of the phrase "due diligence" is spot on. There hasn't been enough of that.

I'm autistic. I thought being a boy was better than being a girl until my mid 20s personally. Then I discovered I was same sex attracted. Got my autism diagnosis aged 40. I did not know who I was as a child. Does anyone really, especially before you have a sexual orientation?