We’re Still Here Conference 8th September: A report from the inside

[TheHarpySings]

Hi all

First off, I’m a regular poster, have been here for years under various usernames, it I’m posting here on a name change as I don’t want this traced to me.

On 8th September there was a conference held in London a Bloomsbury Baptist Church which was called We’re Still Here, which featured a variety of panels and workshops and was attended by many prominent people in the pro-GRA reform camp.

I decided to attend to find out what was being said as it was clear that they did not want anyone to attend that wasn’t a TRA or an ally.

What follows are my notes from the day. But first a few notes on attendance:

There were probably 80-100 people in attendance. Overwhelmingly white. Mainly older transwomen. A couple of transmen. Some Mermaids delegates. Some fellow travellers/ allies. And me.

Okay. So here’s my notes

1. Health Panel: Chair was Dr Ben Vincent of GIRES.

Part of the discussion on this panel was around GPs reluctance to prescribe “bridging hormones”. GPs are reluctant/afraid to prescribe them for liability reasons. Apparently a brand of T-Gel was withdrawn and GPs are reluctant to switch brands.

There was then a bit of chatter about whether a person’s sex was relevant for healthcare stats.

Then there was discussion about trans children. Dr Vincent was very scathing about GIDS-said there was disgusting and unethical practices. BV spoke about dispelling the myths about desistance and the myths of ROGD- BV called this “concern trolling, malicious and ethically bankrupt”. BV would like a review of the whole system.

Then Dr Vincent said that they’d received a review copy of “Born in your own body” edited by Heather Brunskell-Evans and Michele Moore. BV is reviewing it for some Royal College and said “I will tear it a new arsehole”

Also (and they didn't want this tweeted) BV is also planning a book called Terf Wars which will be a “rigorous takedown of terf arguments” which is getting serialised as articled in some peer reviewed journal- I’m sorry but I couldn’t catch which one.

Dr Stuart Lorimer, of the Tavistock and Portman who was also a panellist- said that ROGD is “evidence free”.

There was a great deal of discussion as to the health risks for transwomen taking certain brands of hormones- one person said they knew three other people who’d died taking them, and they’d nearly died as well.

That's hilarious

Um they just both wear glasses... enjoy your feast?

One looks distinctly, hmm, male?

There's a bit of the Jeff Goldblum there too

Yeah, not really seeing it, Sonixx...

Hats, though, mmm, yummy

That Venice picture was screenshotted from a video and used by Gay Star News to make Venice look as unattractive as possible (as to whether an unflattering shot of a woman looks like a posed shot of man claiming to feel like a woman, I won’t comment).

Here is Venice in motion, her little speech starts from around 1hour 12 minutes (the whole thing is worth watching though).

m.youtube.com/watch?v=XD5he3RLuxM&feature=youtu.be

Dear god, I’ve read it all. I’ve met Venice (wasn’t introduced but I spoke with her briefly) and that’s some serious scraping of the barrel.

Venice is gorgeous. I was there and her speech was amazing.

Seriously. She looks lovely in real life.

Venice is Morgane's doppleganger.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Christ almighty. Straws well and duly clutched.

OK fair enough. The first photo I looked at looked just like Oger to me. I was really shocked, so I posted it. Having looked at others now they look very different.

Venice has been interviewed for mainstream media, attends all her meetings which are streamed, talks in public, is often on TV, and recently spoke to the media outside Westminster magistrates court, right after being subject to proceedings inside.

I and many others have met her loads.

It's the glasses. I've been told I look like Ruth Serwotka, and that's definitely the specs - my hair's a foot longer, the wrong colour, no fringe, and I'm rather bulkier!

I want to contribute something more sensible to this thread but it's just so horrifying and virtually unbelievable, it's been rolling around in my head for days. How is this not in the media yet? And even with the limited audience here, I'd have expected some of those named to have come on crying slander. Actually I'm amazed it's still here.

I've been told I look like Nana Mouskouri.

The time I was about 17 and highly pissed off. Now I'm delighted.

Feel like I've wandered onto the sand thread in a parallel universe...

From the start of this thread the striking difference in format between this meeting and the WPUK meetings has been the fact that WPUK have all been public - MB even attended one I believe with a channel 4 film crew? - and this one hasn't bar one small part.

Regarding oopsters comments that's we really need to know.

And that's definitely not Venice in the first pic.

Moving on...

Also, protesters at the Newcastle WPUK meeting were invited in to attend - and refused.

I was once told I looked like Audrey Hepburn. It was one of the proudest moments of my life, but even at 17 I knew the man saying it was deluded.

I've been told I look like Dervla Kirwan or Susan George by people who actually met me. I'm fairly sure I can't possibly look like both of them, so there's that.

I have a nice recipe for Hat a la Banana if you're interested.

I’ve been asked if I’m ‘Bella’ the man Friday doxxer. Damn my blonde hair and all. Doesn’t make it so. Although I might have to change my hair colour to retain my credibility...

Silentcrow. Im also surprised it hasn't become a big story. I wonder if they (those who spoke at the conference) are trying to avoid the Streisand effect. It would be restrained and strategic of them, but would be the wiser move.

Im also surprised it hasn't become a big story

It's hearsay. It would be different if there were a recording. There are notes of the meeting - but good evidence requires a transcript, and an accurate one. I could go on - corroboration, witnesses, note-taking, blah,blah - but I won't.

Having said that, it is a good foundation for some pointed questions to the speakers at another time - as and when they ACT on what they've said.

• when the review of Transgender Trend's resource pack appears
• when Mermaids publishes its findings on the links between autism and transgender conditions (you would think that this had already been done if they purport to be the experts, so its damning that the study is planned only now!)

Now that we are aware of the cynical discussion around pretending to care about womens' and children's campaigns, then every retweet or endorsement will beg the question - are you for a real or is this a tactic to ingratiate yourself? Which is extremely, extremely damaging to both our causes.

It's only my opinion: I think that the notes of the meeting may not be "a story" overnight, but the notes - in all their shocking revelations - may be the start of one.

Sonixx, mate, you might want to give these lovely people a ring and make an appointment.

www.specsavers.co.uk/

I think Sonixx may have face blindness.

Oger actually looks a bit like Fred Armisen to my eye, if Armisen's nose was 3 times its size. Which is quite funny if you've seen Portlandia.