The Dad who gave Birth 'Seahorse' Documentary

[OtepotiLilliane42]

McConnell, 32, started taking testosterone at 25 and had “top surgery” to remove breast tissue a year later. He considered a hysterectomy, but never went through with it – partly because he had not ruled out the possibility of having children. In the film, we see how discombobulated McConnell becomes when he stops taking testosterone as he tries to conceive, using a sperm donor, and his body, in effect, goes into reverse. He starts having periods again (“I don’t like the idea that I’ve got tampons in my bag,” he winces); his facial hair gets wispier, his hips broaden, his tummy softens and he starts to speak less from his chest and more from his throat. “Every time I think about it, I think, ‘What the fuck am I doing?’” he says. At one point, a tearful McConnell sobs into the camera in the middle of the night: “I feel like a fucking alien.

Throughout, he is encouraged by his mother, Esme, who tells him: “I loved being pregnant. Everybody should experience it – especially men.” McConnell tells me she used to say this to him when he was a child, long before she had any idea that her son was trans. On screen, his mother supports him with a mixture of tender loving care and the odd no-nonsense kick up the arse. Occasionally, when he’s feeling sorry for himself, she loses patience: “Why are you making such a fuss? It’s what you wanted.” Then she relents. “But, actually, it’s not as simple as that. It’s such a brave and amazing thing to do. I’m in awe of him, basically

This such a dishonest piece of reporting - Freddy may be a transman, but he is not the father of his baby, and shouldn't be reported as such, any more than the other transmen who have given birth over the past few years. I could say more, but it honestly it gets really tedious reading stories like this. (And 'brave and amazing - why? There seem to be so many psychological issues here, yet we are expected to view it all as the new norm.) The Guardian really should stop writing such drivel.

www.theguardian.com/society/2019/apr/20/the-dad-who-gave-birth-pregnant-trans-freddy-mcconnell

I also note the guardian reports on the story, bit doesn't link to the judgment. I wonder why?

Because they are not a 'news' paper. News is not reported but presented in a way that they like. The won't like this therefore is its not news (and most certainly didn't happen).

They are probably busy sharpening their green crayons and waiting for stonewall to tell them what they think.

Based on a review of available research, Professor Sally Hines identified the negative impact on a parent’s psychological ease and parental security, together with the potential for deep psychological distress to the parent by no longer being able to maintain a fully masculine identity.

Freddy did not maintain a 'fully masculine identity' while pregnant. The child having the correct details of their birth recorded on their birth certificate does not stop Freddy from having a 'fully masculine identity' (whatever that is) after the child's birth.

There is a material difference between a person’s gender and their status as a parent. Being a ‘mother’, whilst hitherto always associated with being female, is the status afforded to a person who undergoes the physical and biological process of carrying a pregnancy and giving birth

This could impact on the surrogacy consultation I think?

The Government rely upon the expert evidence of Mr Peter Dunne who has concluded that in almost all countries within the Council of Europe a trans-man who gives birth to a child will be registered as the child’s ‘mother’. The small number of European states, and the small number of states in the US or Canada who take a contrary position, fall well short of establishing a European or international consensus.

Slightly off topic, but I wonder if this small number of states are the same ones which are used to illustrate 'International Best Practice' when it comes to gender self ID.

I see Sally Hines was an expert witness for McConnell

The professor of bantz and feels? Which area of her expertise did she treat the court to I wonder?

62. The court also had the benefit of expert evidence commissioned by each side: a) Professor Sally Hines, Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at the University of Leeds (Claimant); and b) Peter Dunne, Lecturer in Law at the University of Bristol (Government). In the event, the expert evidence did not feature prominently in submissions. I will not therefore take space here summarising it, but will, so far as it is relevant, refer to it during the later stages of this judgment.

Although Sally Hines appears to be referred to quite a bit in the rest of the judgement

Although Sally Hines appears to be referred to quite a bit in the rest of the judgement

I don't think so. Only 4 mentions, 3 of which just mention her as an expert witness and one paragraph (219) which I have quoted part of above.

Yeah, sounds like most of Sally''s gender twattery didn't make it into the approved judgment.

The judge seems to be a gentleman who can spot bollocks when he sees it.

Wonder who paid for all this?

Us?

So Hines’s testimony was that McConnell would be really sad if the law didn’t go along with their beliefs?

And that this was a good reason to change the meaning of the word mother?

Post modernism: I’ve said it before, but it’s bad for your brain innit? Just say no kids

Perhaps it was just unsummerisable?

Argh.

Female sex organs are necessary for conceiving and giving birth to a child. This person does not have sperm, which comes from a biological male, which is how someone becomes a father, which is the formalisation of the word "Dad".

Sperm = biological father = Dad.
Egg = giving birth to child = biological mother = Mum.

It's not hard is it?

It is scientifically impossible for them to be the biological and therefore legal father.

The judgement timeline is interesting -
September 2016 - Freddie suspends testosterone to start fertility treatment
January 2017 - Freddie applies for a GRC
April 11th - GRC granted
April 21st - has IUI and conceives

A cynic would say that this had all been planned

So Hines’s testimony was that McConnell would be really sad if the law didn’t go along with their beliefs?

Key word there is "beliefs". They are confusing their beliefs with scientific fact.

Sally Hines: “In my professional opinion social stigmatisation of children of trans parents could be exacerbated if gender markers of parents do not conform with their gendered name, presentation or parenting role”

How would anyone even know what 'gender marker' for their parents is on the child's birth certificate?

And the rest of that is just sexist bollocks (pretty much what you expect from Sally). More proof that the genderists just want to catapult us all back to the 1950s.

Ben Hunte's report for the BBC includes a typical bash at people for being transphobic: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49828705

They don't even pretend to be objective any more

That BBC article

Legal representatives have told me that they are hopeful that if Freddy does not appeal, other transgender parents will continue with their fight for equality

Equality =/= people pretending that your internal life is reality

Good heavens

Chin, chin Sally!
Will be poised for some intoxicating tweets later.

motherhood was about being pregnant and giving birth - Good to see there's some sense creeping back.

I thought a GRC is granted on the condition that the person intends to permanently live as the opposite gender?

I don't know what's so 'brave' about this person. Freddie was soooo dysphoric that they wanted to abandon womanhood, cut off their breasts and become a man, yet still wanted to go through the most defining feature of womanhood - being able to conceive and give birth to a child.

Timeline seems quite planned to me.

Should a legal case now be brought against Freddie for having demonstrated that they clearly had no intention of living permanently as the opposite gender and therefore the GRC was obtained by deceit?

How would anyone even know what 'gender marker' for their parents is on the child's birth certificate?

Mine just has the name of my mother, no sex (like everyone else's). If she had been called Freddy, then it would have said 'Freddy Smith' If my mother had been a man, he would still have been my mother. If I gave my birth certificate to anyone, it would say 'mother' 'Freddy Smith' and they would just think it was an odd name for someone born in 1945.

From the BBC article The ruling means that transgender people will not be recognised as their trans identities in all areas of their lives; in some circumstances, like this, they will now be forced to "out" their birth gender.

I'd say having a baby would be pretty outing about your birth Sex

Well, you know, men have never, can never, will never, give birth

I must admit that I’m not a big one for feeling sorry for other people’s children, but in the case of McConnell’s poor son, I make an exception

Attempting to use your child as a prop for your ‘gender identity’ to their obvious disadvantage is pretty low

No they shouldn't, Joystir. Don't be ridiculous. This is a wanted child born to an imperfect (aren't we all?) but well meaning parent and doesn't remotely meet the threshold for SS intervention.

But yes, obviously there is no way he should be removed from his parent based on this. A bit over dramatic Joy