Defunding of NUS Trans campaign

[FlawedAmazon]

Thanks to Rose of Dawn on Twitter for this, and apologies that it's so small.

I have a couple of other screenshots but they wouldn't attach. Hopefully you get the gist.

I'm calling it the Bradley effect

It has become apparent to me that it is both inclusive of the many trans gender identities and accurate to refer to male transperson/people and female transperson/people.

The pomo TRA language of NUS officers is exclusionary, pretentious, self indulgent and nonsensical.

#wordsmatter

September 2018
Article shared by Rose of Dawn:
'DISAFFILIATE NOW: A LIBERALIST TAKE ON THE FAILURE OF THE NUS – PART 1: FEUDAL FEUDING'

The author, Alison Ordnung exmines NUS representation from a liberalist perspective.
The section about the Liberation groups is particularly relevent to this thread:

Previously it has been discussed that is a person identifies as non binary trans woman and is attracted to women or queer they can represent NUS Trans, LGBT+ and Women's groups.
(extract)
"Consequently, the women’s society includes many who aren’t women by their own identification – they identify as non-binary, genderqueer, or genderfluid, but still have a seat at the table of the Women’s campaign. To say the NUS Women’s campaign represents women is deeply misleading. If you don’t share their identity politics, you will likely have nothing to do with them, beyond funding them.

The Liberation officers are voted in at their own conferences, attendance of which is de facto limited. Consequently, with identity politics in effect voting is also limited within the conferences caucuses – this results in tiny numbers of voters granting grand sounding positions:

NUS Trans Officer – (61 votes, ran unopposed)
NUS Trans Campaign – Black Students Officer (6 votes, ran unopposed)
NUS Women’s Officer – (111 votes, ran unopposed)
NUS Women’s Lesbian Officer – (8 Votes, unopposed)
NUS LGBT Disabled Students Rep – (14 votes, unopposed)
NUS LGBT Open Place – (144 Votes, Contested)
NUS LGBT Women’s Place – (56 Votes, Contested)
NUS LGBT Black Students – (14 Votes, Uncontested)
NUS Trans FE Representative – (2 Votes, Unopposed)
In the 2018/19 Women’s committee only 2 of the 9 positions were contested, the rest being mere formalities. Women make up the majority of students, but 111 votes in an uncontested election selected their representative." (continues)

liberalists.org.uk/disaffiliate-now-a-liberalist-take-on-the-failure-of-the-nus-part-1-feudal-feuding/

GahWhatever
I am listening to the video you shared of Eden Ladley and Rob Noon speaking.

Gosh.

It seems that the NUS trans officers have had a jolly time together.

What's so special about trans issues in Further Education settings (as opposed to LGB / women / BME issues) that they need a specific TRans FE officer?

Aimee Challenor is the Trans Students representative for Open University. Challenor's capability and failure to understand Safeguarding was identified in the recent Veritas Report commissioned by The Green Party:

"OU Student Association:
'In 2017, our student leadership team, Trustees and staff worked collectively to devise our strategic plan for the next three years through to 2020. The final strategy was approved by the Central Executive Committee and ratified by the Board of Trustees in July 2017.

Through the progression of the three core objectives contained within the strategy, we want to ensure that OU students get the most out of their time with The Open University and that their collective voice is heard and acted upon by the institution and by their Students Association. We aim to raise awareness of our services and achievements, provide a sense of belonging and connectedness and create a greater range of diverse opportunities for many more OU students than ever before. We also aim to be more effective at representing the OU student voice, not just within the University but in the wider external environment'

We believe that the student community and student voice are crucial aspects of what makes the OU a special organisation and we look forward to furthering the engagement and inclusion of all OU students in the transformation of this unique institution.

All of this couldn’t be achieved without the dedication of our numerous volunteers, as the Students Association is ultimately run by students, for students.'

INTRODUCING THE NEW COMMITTEE FOR PLEXUS - OUR LGBT+ GROUP
Following the recent recruitment campaign PLEXUS, our LGBT+ group, is pleased to announce the new members of your PLEXUS Committee 2018.

The Officers, including the Chair of PLEXUS are supported by five Caucus Representatives. Their role is to represent different communities within the LGBT+ community.

Top Right: Aimee Challenor, Trans Students

PLEXUS New Committee Member 2018 – Biographies
"Trans Students Representative – Aimee Challenor
Aimee is a trans equality campaigner from Coventry. In 2014 Aimee came out as transgender whilst at college aged 16. Since coming out Aimee speaks openly about her experiences as a young trans woman, and campaigns for acceptance without exception. She's a trustee of Coventry Pride, and a member of Stonewall's Trans Advisory Group. At the Open University she's studying for her BA (Hons) in History and Politics. You can find out more about her at www.aimeec.co.uk"

threads
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3474311-Veritas-report-due-tomorrow-Thursday-at-midday-re-Aimee-Challenor?pg=25

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3477761-Andrew-Gilligan-Times-Green-high-flyer-Aimee-Challenor-hid-father-s-rape-charges-David-Challenor-A-paedophile-rapist-posed-a-major-safeguarding-risk-for-almost-two-years

I think there's just been a new round of elections and Finlay Games is the new Trans Officer for the Open University for 2019 - 2021. Finlay is FTM.

Results of the election are interesting.

Katrina Swales (who is a non-traditional relationship with Aimee Challenor) also stood for the post of Trans Officer.

www.oustudents.com/_uploads/www.oustudents.com/PLEXUS%20Elections%202018.pdf

Small world, eh?

Finlay Games is a female transperson who describes himself as both camp and gay:
YouTube
'Coming Out As A Gay Trans Man'

www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=5wOtH7DuB_s

Finlay Games:
"Media Work
My ability to share transparently and passionately, means I am ideally suited to promote brands with a strong inspirational message. I have worked with the Open University in their recent media campaign to inspire new students to enroll. I am featured in their Open Diaries series, which is being shown across various social media platforms. I am also featured in their #whatsstoppingyou campaign in a series of Channel 4 adverts.

I have six years experience of creating videos for my YouTube channel and I have also acted in various student and amateur films. I am therefore comfortable in front of a camera and understand how to take direction.

Public speaking
I have spoken in schools on the topic of LGBT issues and at awareness events such as LGBT History month, on my experience of being transgender. I have also spoken at workplace conferences on topics of addiction. I presented a talk on transgender inclusion in recovery spaces for The Lifeline Project. Most recently, I took part in a number of radio interviews as an Open University student ambassador for mental health awareness day, on the topic of mental health and flexibility."

finlaygames.com/hire-me/

Results of the election are interesting.

Its interesting to note that the results of the elections are only given in percentages rather than actual votes cast.

A quick analysis of the type of language used in these statements is revealing. Very emotive. Extreme in nature. Light on facts and evidence. Key words repeatedly used:
Catastrophic
Killing
Crisis
Dying
Backlash
Slash
Transphobic
Transphobia

It will be interesting to see what other posts and committees/conferences are to go.
I assumed reading the votes that the officers were elected via their own caucus which signals how many attendees were from each group.
It's only 30 yrs since NUS had its first elected women's officer full timer.
Hard decisions will need to be made and will reveal the priorities of labour students and by default labour...

Looking at the tiny numbers of actual votes cast, do they not have any requirement for a quorute vote? Hardly representative is it.

Rose of Dawn's new YouTube video

Humberella exactly that. The letter escalates very quickly to apocalyptic language. It is emotional blackmail, a bit like the boyfriend who threatens to kill himself if you leave him (I left, he beat me up, he still seems to be alive🤷🏻‍♀️).

R0wantrees I think you could write a book with all this knowledge of networks and connected events.

Good for Rose of Dawn for the sterling work.

AC - "campaigns for acceptance without exception"

That IMO is called fundamentalism and is at the heart of the mindset which shuts down debate.

Does anyone know if the NUS trans conference is going ahead tomorrow and Thursday? I just had a look at their website and you have to sign in now to get any info - including the conference motions which were previously available. I know they were due to discuss a sinister 'T*S are fascists' amendment to a motion. But has the event been pulled?

It would be unlike them to be quiet if it's going on....

And I'd be broken, I do LOVE a good panto

Last years conference was the highlight of my year

#NUSsections19

Rejoice for that is the hashtag they are using

Nothing interesting happening yet, they are mainly preoccupied by mumsnet banning the pant wearing, baseball bat wielding Liz

Not RTFT but the quote on p.1 from the anti-NUS-defunding signatories is

Not all trans children will be able to access GIDS due to parental transphobia

GIDS in a NHS service. Accessed via professional referral via CAMHS or the child’s GP. Like any other health service referrals.

Parents don’t make NHS referrals and parents can’t block NHs referrals being made if there is identified clinical need for making the referral.

so what am I missing here?

You're missing the need for utter, dramatic, victimhood

I guess they mean some parents won't take their kids to the GP?

But I know when I was about 11, I had an issue that I wanted sorting. My parents were working/busy, so I called the doctor, sorted an appointment, and went myself. Yes, the doctor was a bit surprised, but I had the conversation I needed to. If you feel strongly, you can get stuff done.

And I'm a pretty anxious person naturally - I've had to develop a bulletproof persona over time to deal with it.

I tried that hashtag, Katvonfelttipeyebrows , but the page is a bit tumbleweedish with a handful of posts about a different conference. Have they gone somewhere else?

Has it been cancelled?