Truly brave and stunning piece by Sarah Phillimore: What My Artificial Leg Taught Me About Artiface

[GrinitchSpinach]

Brava, Spero! You have been and continue to be such an important, expert voice challenging gender identity ideology in the law.

This is going much further into the personal nature of your own challenges, and it’s something none of us could ask of you to share, but you did. Actual fucking stunning courage there.

My lack of leg does not prove that humans exist on some exciting spectrum of available legs. We are a bi-ped species. Any deviation from that does not disprove the binary — it is defined by reference to it.

medium.com/@SVPhillimore/what-my-artifical-leg-taught-me-about-artifice-a64ca6f3b658

Thank you R0 for pointing me towards this fantastic article, especially the post script.

The 'born in the wrong body' thing has irked me for some time as I teach children with autism as well as others with global developmental delay, some genetic conditions, epilepsy and adhd.

Some are painfully aware of their cognitive limitations or the different needs they have to children in "mainstream school," especially some of the children with autism. The idea you can be given the wrong body or wrong brain is frankly offensive. Not least as many have particular talents and certainly have great value in the world.

If this bloody judgment is ever delivered then we will need to have further discussions win or lose.

If we win - what are the ramifications for ALL the terrible guidance and policies currently floating around schools etc

If we lose - how quickly we can appeal and on what grounds!

I have had hypothyroidism since my late teens which has been difficult to manage post baby and at other times of my life; there's been many times I'd wish for a different body. But at the same time I recognise that I've developed coping skills, grit and and understanding of others' difficulties as a result which has been if great value to me.

Just cried reading the postscript on the train - absolutely beautiful Spero.

Excellent.

Plus, your surgery enhanced your life. It did not make you at risk of long term conditions which would do you harm.

Fantastic piece of writing.

That there are surgeons amputating healthy body parts for 'feelings' beggars belief.

Thank you for this. A great article.

If this bloody judgment is ever delivered

Any insights on what is taking so long Spero ?

It makes me concerned that the judge is under pressure, since it's obvious what impact this outcome could potentially have.

No clue I am afraid. Just want the waiting to be over !

Spero, will show that to my GC DD who has two conditions that she can’t identify out of. She has spoken out a bit but is in the thick of the woke

I hope she finds it helpful. It does get better!

I have hope that the late teen generation she is among see much of the self ID and NB stuff as ridiculous.

Fantastic piece of writing.

Love it love it love it!

Ah, this is a powerful piece of writing. Thank you Sarah.

What needs to change is your ability to love and accept yourself, to look those who judge you unfairly straight in the eye and say ‘fuck you’.

^ This, all the way.

This is so brilliant. Thank you

I've thought about not responding to this thread, but I need to.

“My artifical limb is absolutely necessary for me. Without it I could not walk, I could not claim any role in mainstream society. “

I don't know if you've given any thought to how that line reads to someone who cannot walk. The implication that there is no role in mainstream society for people like me was almost certainly not what you meant, but it is still bothering me days later.

So much about your article is good and useful and insightful. And yet.

Of course I have. I received a message asking me to change it.

I said no. I tweeted along these lines

How many barristers do I see on the Western Circuit in wheelchairs - none.
How many people do I see on my morning train commute in wheelchairs - none.

I have absolutely no doubt that if I was in a wheelchair I could not live where I do, travel as I do or do the job that I do. Many courts are simply inaccessible - there is only one disabled parking space within half a mile! or the lifts don't work etc.

I do not wish at all to diminish the achievements and the struggle of those disabled people who cannot walk. But it is simply dishonest to pretend that there is a level playing field that that people who cannot walk have the same access to employment and opportunity as those who can.

So I don't change a single thing about what I wrote. I stand by it. Disabled people need an honest appraisal of what life is really like, not some sugary message of inspiration which is NOT supported by the infrastructure of the society in which they attempt to live.

Eloquent piece that's especially powerful at the end.

@spero Sarah: you're a warrior. One who keeps talking in your own rational, common-sense way and calm, detached, polite style, despite the vilification you're constantly subjected to on Twitter.

It's very difficult to find yourself the butt of that level of negativity for any duration. I doubt many of those who are lambasting you could do it, despite their claims to victimhood at all costs (which you proudly reject).

The difference is marked, and noticeable. A million X Kudos to you.

'necessary for my life[style]', then?

I get what EHopes means, I think. I have a close friend whose entire job can be done sitting down. But once she needed a wheelchair, she could no longer get into the office to do it. And after a while, she was managed out of working remotely from home, despite being as good at her job as ever, with a loss of 'self' that's taken a long time to get past.

Thanks Mariel- supportive words mean a lot in current climate.

I am not changing my piece. I see no wheelchair users in the world around me. I travel to courts from Plymouth to Swindon. That's mainstream enough for me.

If anyone wants to read into that belittling wheelchair users, I can't stop them. But I don't agree that this is what I am doing. I am rather expressing my anger at the limitations imposed on the disabled by a society that is rarely constructed to meet their needs.

If it said 'the role I have in mainstream society' my then I wouldn't have felt gut punched.

ANY role in mainstream society is a massive statement.

And I fucking add value to this world despite not being able to walk.

I don't want sweet and sugary. I know exactly what you mean when you talk about 'almost' passing for so called normal. I'm glad you accessed the supports you did and have the roles you have.

I am sorry you felt gut punched. I have no desire to hurt anyone. But sometimes the cost of truth is pain. I do not see wheelchair users in mainstream society and the reasons for that are obvious - and not due to any 'fault' of theirs.

And I don't ask you to change anything. It's your piece and your reality.

I just needed to say how I felt. Because if that line was less strident then I would have agreed with almost all you said. And it hurts that nowhere that I've seen it shared (always positively) have I seen a single critique of the way you claimed that walking was necessary to any role in mainstream society.

Yes.

There are massive systemic barriers that mean that for someone who uses a wheelchair to be many places is unusual. Smaller barriers for those who use crutches full time.