Australian Mumsnetters (Tas)

[CamillasTampon]

Coming out of lurkdom to discuss some legislative amendments happening in Tasmania currently.

The leader of our Greens party has launched a personal crusade to get our very own version of Self-ID through the State Parliament. As per usual for this lot, the amendments were cobbled together at the last minute and handed to members with very little discussion in the press.

The reforms will be read in the Upper house on Tuesday. I urge anyone who is willing, to send emails and make noise to the members of the Legislative Council, who are mostly Independents and whose contact details are publically available at the Parliament Tasmania website.

I wrote a submission this morning and sent it to all 22 members. I also included as an attachment Datun's wonderful post on the Peak Trans analogy of walking up a hill, which seems to be key to getting people to put this in context. Anyway, here it is in full:

'I am writing to you with concern at the proposed gender recognition reforms passed by the Lower House on Tuesday evening.

As a mental health Social Worker working in acute care with a vulnerable population group, it is my opinion that these reforms will effectively dismantle all of the safeguarding measures we have in place in regards to women and children.

I emphatically deny that this is a matter of LGB concern. In fact, there remains an increasingly bitter divide within the community, with those who understand that Transgender political aims are an entirely different beast to those of the Gay and Lesbian community, and in fact the two communities have opposing interests on many issues.

When you vote on these reforms, please do not make the grave mistake of conflating gender identity with sexuality because the two are not the same, and any short-term feeling of having done a good deed - ‘been on the right side of history’ etc will dissipate very quickly in the polls and on the ground when your constituents realise that previously protected spaces are now opened up to all and sundry; with the only barrier to violations of privacy and dignity being a signed statutory declaration.

That there is no alternative view being presented in the public press should be a warning sign on the limitations and chilling effect that this issue has on free speech. If there is no balance in reporting I would argue that true public consultation is not possible.

There is nothing wrong with being transgender and that is not my issue here. However, biological fact is immutable and to say otherwise is dishonest. What is really being asked here is that less that one percent of the population are given legal precedence over more than fifty percent of the population – those who fought for their rights over generations and are now threatened with seeing them dismantled in the blink of an eye. Inclusion should not come at the expense of cohesion, and the right to sex-specific spaces and services exists for very good reason.

Proposals for similar legislation have recently caused significant backlash in the UK. I include as an attachment one of my favourite explanations of how far-reaching this legislation will be, and how one may react when seeing the ramifications within a broader context. I hope you will take the time to read it because it remains one of the most viewed posts on one of the most trafficked websites in the UK.

I thank you for your time and hope you will take this on board when coming to a decision.

Regards'

I will keep you all posted on any interesting replies.

Anyway, cheers and thankyou to everyone who participates here for facilitating my ongoing education on this issue

Good luck. That was very well phrased!

Wow, what a fantastic letter. It's very persuasive. May I plagarise some of the non Tas-specific bits, OP?

One of the only silver linings in this whole mess is that women the world over are taking strength from each other.

Good luck. I hope that lots of Australian MNetters see your post and write as well.

Yes you certainly may, Dragon.

It is quite a challenge to keep this discourse accessible to Joe Public. There are so many aspects that deserve further analysis but the last thing I want to do is alienate the beginners to the subject.

I figure risk- centered language is something everyone responds to on some level and I chose to speak to that.

I’m in Canberra but I was aghast at the passing of this. Your letter is well written and I hope others jump on. I’d be happy to share it with friends if you’ve made it more public outside of MN.

Oh, and I also sent it to my organisations Diversity and Inclusion officer (through private email), with a note saying that although I knew it was taking a risk to discuss this it would be ethically negligible for me to pretend that it wasn't happening when I work in this sector.

I also asked her to be mindful of these issues when selecting organisations for staff cultural awareness training (which is also trans-centered as a rule).

I’m just outside of Canberra. So haven’t contacted TAS but wrote to Bill Shorten as he said there was t plans to change at a National level and I wanted to send my support and

I only wrote it this morning and I am not on social media but I would love for it to be shared in any capacity. I have gotten most comments on the attachment tbh. I feel the two work really well in tandem. I can post that here too if you like, but I am aware I am spamming in my enthusiasm here.

Camilla, it would be great if you could post the attachment. I'm a regular here but can't recall Datun's post.

I am sick of everything being about gender/feelings/personal rights.

People don't respect you being non-binary? Diddums.

The television coverage made me seethe. I'm near Canberra (which has pushed through a bill about Self ID without discussion).

This affects more people than those that identify as something other than male or female. The Greens are now adopting trendy causes instead of concentrating on the environment.

Agrona, I agree. It's impossible to make good policy when all you are working off is imagination and personal feelings. The presses here are posting pictures of the Greens Leader with her trans child which makes criticism very difficult. Never mind that said family member was on student radio a few weeks back and said that they were originally intersex, which makes them a coup for the cause given that they play right into the confusion out there in the general public.

Here is the post attachment I have been referring to. This seems to get the penny to drop.

'Peak trans is meant to invoke the image of a hill.

So people might start in the foothills wondering what on earth women are talking about, why is it so important?

Then they begin to question. Still not sure, because up until now, they didn't see any problem. Why not be nice? What's the big deal?

Then they start to understand the concepts. Sometimes they still waver, because this all feels like it's happening somewhere else. Online, or not really affecting them. And anyway, feminists have a downer on men, so it's unsurprising they're cross. And, honestly, I know a transwoman and she's absolutely delightful.

Then they read about a rapist being transferred to a female prison. So what, one news story. Are you saying all transwomen are rapists?!

Then they read about the woman who asked for a female health care practitioner and got a man. Oh well, a little uncomfortable, but still, what's the big deal? Then they read that the woman was called a transphobic bigot for objecting.

Hmmm, well that's a bit off. I may not mind a man doing my smear test, but I can understand women who do. It's not really bigoted.

At this point you have advanced a few hundred yards up the hill.

Then a sports story is mentioned on here. A mediocre male weightlifter suddenly winning awards by competing as a woman.

Oh, whatever, I don't like sport anyway.

Then another one. Then someone in cycling, fell running, roller derby, football, cricket, golf.

Then suddenly it appears to be less about sport, and more about women being disadvantaged.

The crampons come out and you advance another few hundred yards up the hill.

Then you notice that a 19-year-old boy has been elected as labour's women's officer. Oh well, he probably feels like a woman inside. That's gender dysphoria, right?

Except he starts to compile a secret list of all women who disagree with him to get them ousted from the party. Despite his remit being to include as many women as possible in the party. Claims he can get pregnant in that biology is irrelevant.

Then you start to notice intimidating tactics against women. Meetings to discuss the upcoming law change are targeted, a 60-year-old woman is hit at speakers corner. Venues pull out, peoples jobs are threatened, they are doxxed online, they are reported to the police for disagreeing.

You scramble up towards the peak of the hill.

Then someone tells you about autogynephilia, and all the men's rights activists flocking to the trans movement. You realise that it is actually true that the government is legislating to legitimise a fetish.

You peak. You look back down the hill and can't believe you ever stood at the bottom.

Then you read of 2 transwomen, one of whom has been asked to speak at the Women's March. Who claims that being treated like a piece of meat by men is sexy and objectification is hot. And because they are woman, they speak on behalf of women. And the other one who claims that women are allowed to go to the Women's March, as long as they don't talk about their reproductive systems. You know, the very basis of women's oppression. Because it excludes men. The ones who are doing the oppressing.

And you peak all over again.

This keeps going.

You look at the handful of men with gender dysphoria and how to include them, and wish, with all your heart, that it could be that simple again.'

Thanks Camillas! And Datun.

Well done, Camilla! An excellent letter. Wishing the gender critical Aussies all the best with this!

And wow to Datun's piece! I hadn't seen that before. It's a very vivid description of the road many of us have been on and hopefully for many people to come.

Thanks so much for this post Camilla, and the letter to the Upper House. We're still hopeful commonsense will prevail.

I find it interesting that it is Tasmania that is leading the charge in this. I still remember when Tas had laws against gays i believe they were the last state to still have them.
I am in WA and im not aware of any schools indoctrinating kids like in the UK but when they do will that transgender trend booklet help in Australia?

I'm in Melb. Good luck! Tasmania on the ground is a pretty hostile place for progressives. Hopefully it will hit the media.

*Not that I agree with the hostility towards progs, just on this matter!

Hi Koalablue

All I can really recall as to school programs was some discussion about the Safe Schools Program. TBH this was around the time of the marriage equality vote, a lot of commentary by NO voters and I really didn't pay too much attention. In hindsight I probably should have, especially seeing the UK examples of how this type of Program can be infiltrated (for want of a better term).

Also imho I don't think Bill Shorten will be much help, frankly I don't think I've seen a politician more inclined to flip flop between opposing opinions on policy. He's the consummate populist. Looks like we're politically homeless down under too.

Australia hasnt had any decent pollies for at least ten years.
I think the AFL player had peaked alot of people.
Was very disappointed to see UWA no platform some group that wanted discuss issues with trans rights.

Good luck women of Tasmania

Yeah true that. All aboard the gravy train. Toot toot.

Another Australian near Canberra here. I've been lurking for a while on FWR, and this horrifying news from Tasmania has finally driven me to sign up and post. So firstly... is there anything I can do to help? Write to someone? Fling a few dollars to a local feminist group next payday?

Secondly, I've been looking at the legislation on the Parliament of Tasmania's website, and this is particularly concerning:

28H. Effect of recording of change of gender
(1) Where a person’s change of gender is
recorded under this Part, the person is,
for the purposes of, but subject to, any
law in force in this State, a person of the
gender as so changed.
(2) Any reference to a person’s sex in any
law in force in this State is deemed to be
a reference to the person’s gender as
recorded under this Part.

Any lawyers want to comment?

^ I did some time working in public health a while ago and all of the public service documents have changed Sex to Gender - even on sex education resources and records. I brought this up with my supervisor at the time and apparently it has been standard for years. I asked her how one might gather accurate records on matters of reproduction but she wasn't willing to engage on that.

It does make me wonder whether the trans advocates have a viable legal platform here in this state though, which is freaking me out.

Notyourcisterinaus. I think that means if your birth certificate has your non birth sex listed then you can use you non birth sex. I think it means the sex discrimination act is useless now.

I’m considering asking to speak to my local member (Mike Kelly) in person but I’m nervous about fucking it up. I wonder if I should write to my state MP.

And just in case there are any Canberra lurkers the greens have put forward a bill about abortion rights which will mean that any reference to abortion will have use the phrase pregnant person.

Melbourne here.

Koalablue and Danaquestions*, the trans activist narrative has been in Australian schools since Safe Schools was launched in 2010 - much longer than in the UK.

I was overseas - and not a mother at the time - so had no idea that Safe Schools was anything other than a generic anti-bullying program. It is not.

Safe Schools was developed at the behest of the Federal Government by Roz Ward, from LaTrobe University’s Australian Research Centre for Sex, Health and Society. Ward has commented in the past: “Apart from social stigma and discrimination, almost every single structure in society is set up to accommodate only two possible genders, male or female. Everything from the toilets we use, the school uniforms, changing rooms, all official documents, passports, the process is that you go through airports, everything is divided into these two limited gender options.”

Safe Schools was the only funded anti-bullying program in Australia. In its own words: “Safe Schools Coalition Australia is a national coalition of organisations and schools working together to create safe and inclusive school environments for same sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students, staff and families.”

The program has been controversial, to say the least, with mainly right-wing Christian groups decrying its ‘radical gender ideology.’

Indeed, I live in the only State (Victoria) which is still fully funding the original program. The Opposition have promised to scrap it if elected (election at the moment). The vast majority of secondary schools here run the curriculum.

In 2015, the Safe Schools website promoted The Gender Fairy - a book aimed at 4 year olds, and designed to be used in an educational setting - but were forced to remove the online link after complaints were made that the program was only supposed to provide curriculum content to secondary schools. However, many primary schools run their own version of Safe Schools. The Gender Fairy is typical of the trans child/ gender essentialist genre. I borrowed it from my local library.

The deputy director of the Centre for Sex, Health and Society (from whence Safe Schools originated) is Dr Gary Dowsett. In 2016, Nationals MP George Christensen accused Dr Dowsett, of advocating pedophilia.

He cited an article by Dr Dowsett, published when he was a school teacher in 1982, in which he recounted having “a friend, a pedophile, who is working very hard on making sense out of his relationships with boys”.

“These relations consist of, among other things, a large amount of nurture and support for these boys, a real caring for their welfare and growth,” he wrote in the journal Gay Information.

“We have three legal/social questions to win: custody rights for gay men and lesbians; the legal right of pedophiles and their young lovers; and, finally, the sexual rights of children as a whole. Those gains must be won for the kids, too. We need to protect the youthful partners in pedophilia against the legal and social management systems which treat them as delinquents.”

Dr Dowsett wrote that many mothers and fathers found their children “sexual” and activities such as cuddling, bathing and breastfeeding “generate sexual responses in their parents”.

“How different, then, is that gentle, tentative sexuality between parent and child from the love of a pedophile and his/her lover?” he wrote. “From all accounts, and from many academic studies — some worse than others — that kind of love, warmth, support and nurture is an important part of the pedophilic relationship.”
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/education/irate-coalition-mps-plan-safe-schools-rumble/news-story/fc73368f197f12f01381ea339c783821

Dr Dowsett has refused to comment. He remains a successful academic at the Centre for Sex, Health and Society, with grant receipts in the many millions. These stories seem to have received astonishingly little coverage – I could find a blog by the well-known conservative Christian Bill Muehlenberg (which contains lots of information), some comment by a right-wing columnist in the mainstream press, Andrew Bolt, a highly watered down version of the allegations by our national broadcaster, and the above linked article.

So yeah, it's here.

Im aware of safe schools and am against it. None of my childrens schools are part of the programme which could be why as yet trans is still almost a non issue. It is coming though. Slowly but surely.
I wonder if the safe school website have removed the link to pornography that was there at its beginning.
I cant help wonder if one reason the tra need handmaidens is so when they are all exposed for the sex abusers they are that they can then turn and say 'its all the womans fault, they wanted it" Just to be clear i dont think tra s people are sex abusers, just the TRA.

Ive just gone on the SS coalition website to doublecheck our schools not on it and am surprised by how few schools have signed up for it. Only four states and territories are listed with SA, NSW, Vic and ACT missing. NT has only one school listed and QLD none but a bit of waffle in place of schools. A poor uptake for something thats meant to eradicate bullying. Can it be that princibles see through the bullshit.