R4 Thought for Today

[MsBeaujangles]

Can't quite believe R4 are allowing the religious slot on the Today programme to promote how people should complete the GRA consultation
Asking questions doesn't mean you're transphobic, it means you don't understand!

can you elaborate OP please? I missed it

Wow MsB, you were quick getting this thread up!
I heard it, and couldn’t believe that it was allowed, unless they are going to have the opposite view on tomorrow’s programme, because, of course, the BBC has to be impartial!

I had also been wryly considering how the journalist on a previous piece about the persecution of journalists stated something along the lines that we value freedom of speech and protect it in the UK. Unless you wish to discuss women's rights that is.

Just heard this. It was Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner - a quick google shows she is the senior rabbi of ‘Reform Judaism’ a progressive Jewish denomination.

I thought it was reasonably measured - she described her non-binary daughter using factual language, explaining how she identifies and what pronouns she uses, without going so far as to say that means she believes she is not actually a woman/female. She talked about how the discussion around GRA is so toxic that people are fearful to express their opinions and I’m very happy that was recognised and voiced openly. Yes the line about asking questions isn’t transphobic, it’s because people don’t understand was massively patronising - but there she’s appealing to the aggressive TRA/woke lobby to stop crying transphobia, ‘we’ (gender critical feminists) weren’t the intended audience of that line I don’t think.

She spectacularly missed the entire issue of why self-ID is a concern to us - not because we don’t understand or respect trans identities and experiences - but because we do understand how abusive misogynistic men operate. To my point of view, she came across as either naive or ignorant. I believe I understand where she was coming from though.

It strikes me that some of this is a conflict between an idealist/optimistic view of how we wish society would be - if we truly lived in an equal society, self-ID would be much less of an issue - vs a realistic understanding of how society actually is, that patriarchy is real, women suffer discrimination and harassment because of it, and self-ID will facilitate that.

Refuse
It was a rabbi with a non binary natal female off spring ( trips off the tongue!) talking about it being a blessing having a trans child and, basically, saying the nay-sayers to suggested changes are lacking in understanding.

Clever of the BBC really as there is never any debate or questioning of the Thought For Today slot. I bet they're feeling very pleased with themselves!

To my point of view, she came across as either naive or ignorant.

Or possibly, like many parents of "trans kids" she is willing to throw women under the bus in order to make life easier for her own child. (Well, at least for the moment.)

I think it is wrong to use a slot dedicated to religion to influence political outcomes.

I wonder if they did so when abortion laws or same sex marriage were being consulted upon?

She spectacularly missed the entire issue of why self-ID is a concern to us - not because we don’t understand or respect trans identities and experiences - but because we do understand how abusive misogynistic men operate. To my point of view, she came across as either naive or ignorant.

This seems to be a particular blind spot amongst female-born non-binaries and their supporters. They see the feminist objection to transwomen in female spaces, and project that to be about them. They think we would reject them, so they side with the transwomen with whom they have nothing in common.

These young people, with their rejection of gender stereotypes, would have turned to feminism in the past. Now they're fighting us instead.

Just posted this on the other thread:

I have The Rage after listening to this.

She's @LauraJanklaus on twitter, which is full of praise for her piece this morning. Stonewall among the first.

I have to work so can't do it myself right now but can someone please tweet her a pic of Jacinta?

I would throw lots of people under a bus for the sake of my children.

And that is why I'm not put in charge.

"That complaints number again: 03700 100 222

I just pressed 3: "All of our agents are still busy" ....."

update - I've complained. details on other thought for the day thread.

I said that may or may not be in a similar position to the speaker and that, like her, I have highly partisan views on topics that affect my children and family and that THAT is precisely why I'm not put on the radio to tell people what to do.

Is Thought for the Day a religious programme? Does that mean this is a religious ideology? In which case it can’t be forced on others?

I always understood Thought for the Day was classed a a religious broadcast and therefore had to be extra careful about engaging in political issues - is that correct? If so then this could be a breach of the BBC's own rules, even if it was wrapped up as a generic message about kindness and tolerance.

Besmirching got there first but yes that's what I was thinking too

to be fair to the speaker, she clearly tried to be nice. She simply couldn't see why anyone might have a concern. Because she is proud to support her child (as I am).

I think she would be open to listening, to be honest.... but has probably never heard of concerns, and almost certainly believes that there can be no impact on the Equality Act.

I don't think this should be about the speaker. I think it should be about the appropriateness of using the TFTD slot.

Yes it was very much "her soul isn't female".
I'm not sure where Judaism stands on duality but Christianity doesn't go in for souls and bodies being disconnected.

If the speaker is going to speak on TFTD then it’s surely incumbent on the speaker to, in the words of the AWAs, ‘educate herself’ as to differing view points.

it wasn't as bad as it started out being, but the line about trans people having endured lots of bullying also applies to women having received lots of sexual bullying even from a young age, it certainly started at secondary school for me and thus women and girls are often afraid of men. this is why we do not want men in our spaces.

They've had a spate of trans stuff. A Good Read last week was a paeon of praise to a book about a transman boxer and then on one of the arts shows there was a trans-based discussion with everyone being cheerily uncritical. The 19th is looming and the BBC is determined to muzzle us while promoting trans wherever it can.

I think you will find that Christianity does emphatically recognise a disconnect between body and soul...wouldn't work otherwise!

"The BBC Trust confirmed that Thought for the Day must comply with requirements of due impartiality and that any future complaints on particular broadcasts would be judged against these standards on a case-by-case basis." from an article covering the lack of secular POVs on TFTD. So I think there is a case to answer