email and reply from RSB

[sashh]

Do you remember the RSB tweet telling a biologist to take their transphobia out of the hash tag.

I got a reply to my email yesterday, it doesn't answer my questions but it sounds like whoever tweeted might be in a little trouble.

Email and reply here

Hi

I'd l;ike some clarification on a tweet sent on behalf of the RSB. I enclose a summary of the exchange here.

Today is #iamabiologist day - some would say, the BEST day in #BiologyWeek! We'll be showcasing some amazing biologists and the work they do, so make sure to share your selfies by tagging us and using the hashtag so we can share it too!

#iamabiologist who knows that sex is determined at conception, observed at or before birth and is immutable. I also know that #BiologyIsntBigotry and that women are #AdultHumanFemales.

Royal Society of Biology @RoyalSocBio Replying to @TriciaFrasman
Please take your transphobia out of our hashtag please. BYE

Please can you confirm whether the Royal Society of Biology believes it is abusive (transphobic) to state that in humans sex is determined in utero and that it is also bigotry? Or does the society believe adult human females are women?

At this point I'd like to take the opportunity to state that 'sex' is a protected characteristic in the Equality Act. The tweet replying to Tricia Frasman was not directed at me but was stated in a public forum, it is offensive to all women to call our existence 'transphobic'.

I look forward to hearing from you

Reply here - I have redacted my real name

Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. They have been raised internally and we will take them forward.

The Royal Society of Biology is committed to supporting and promoting an environment in which the development and sharing of knowledge about the science of life is open to all. We work to ensure that the biological sciences are accessible to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sex, ethnicity or nationality, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background. Increasing the understanding of life can benefit all, with the complex areas of sex and gender remaining areas of active research in their fields.

Our #biosciencesforall programme advocates for, and invites, the inclusion of everyone with an interest in the biosciences, and aims to address challenges to access at all levels. We are actively collaborating with other organisations to help make science more accessible and are a signatory of the Science Council’s Declaration on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.

Further detail of our work can be found on our website.

Best wishes

Laura

Dr Laura Bellingan FRSB

Director of Policy and Public Affairs

020 3925 3468

077 2059 2802

www.rsb.org.uk

Royal Society of Biology | 1 Naoroji Street | London | WC1X 0GB

Well done for replying again.

What they sent you obviously wasn't a reply, but their pre-approved internally statement on the incident.

I'm a biologist (animal sciences) and there is no woke nonsense in my company, but then not even TRAs seem to be suggesting that animals can experience gender so that's something

I am however fascinated by the research that might be going on into gender in humans. The danger is that if it proves what we all know that it's publication will be quashed.

dreads getting a reply with a link to a tweet suggesting calling my dog she/her is abusive

Good for you op

So how is biologists believing that biology is real stopping people from becoming biologists? Do scientists state that the earth is flat to encourage flat earthers to become scientists?

dreads getting a reply with a link to a tweet suggesting calling my dog she/her is abusiv

Well, in some contexts “dog” means “not a bitch.”

@Dreeple ...

We work to ensure that the biological sciences are accessible to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sex, ethnicity or nationality, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background

....and it really should be gender re-assignment, not identity. So I’m really not impressed by someone who is a director of policy, who does not use the law as the mainstay of the policy. You can add extra categories to policy, but should never take out those in law.

@Dreeple

dreads getting a reply with a link to a tweet suggesting calling my dog she/her is abusiv

Well, in some contexts “dog” means “not a bitch.”

What context?

Dog is gender neutral.
Bitch is female dog, Sire is male dog. Anyone thinking "Dog" = male is basically sexist...

They did not state that sex is female/male (with variations disorders) according to Science.

It that is representative, they do not deserve their Charter.

I did not know that about the word dog. I thought dog = male and bitch = female.

Wow. Every day's a school day.

Cat is Tom = male and queen = female yes?

Thanks! Love learning more things.

A male dog is called a dog. It's only referred to as a sire for breeding purposes.

not even TRAs seem to be suggesting that animals can experience gender so that's something

Actually and sadly you’d be wrong. Joan Roughgarden is a trans woman and biologist and her book (evolutions rainbow) is all about “gender” in the animal kingdom. things like How “sneaker male” In certain fish species are a different (third) gender compared to dominant males. And lots of other creepy anthropomorphosms.

How much more research does the RBS need to do before concluding that every human ever born had genetic input from two opposite sex parents, one with the ginormous gametes and the other with the tiddly ones?

Please don't anyone stand by when anyone shakes their head sagely and opines that "Sex isn't that simple." It is. It really is.

Gender and sociology and sexual preferences are fascinatingly complex and the reproductive process at cellular level is a lifetime's study, but sex? Perfectly straightforward.

If we really needed three or more differently sexed individuals to reproduce, there would be a heck of a lot fewer of us wandering the world. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ve just given up on Sara Pascoe’s ‘Sex Money Power’ book because her determination not to upset any trans people completely undermines the project. I hadn’t realised her completely unscientific machinations actually reflected the RBS’s position. How odd.

It’s a biology thread, so not totally off topic.
Dictionary.com says this. See third definition.

Dog
noun

1. A domesticated canid, Canis familiaris, bred in many varieties.

1. Any carnivore of the dog family Canidae, having prominent canine teeth and, in the wild state, a long and slender muzzle, a deep-chested muscular body, a bushy tail, and large, erect ears.See also canid.

1. The male of such an animal.

1. Any of various animals resembling a dog.

not even TRAs seem to be suggesting that animals can experience gender so that's something

Sadly no - Heather Peto has suggested that certain Primates have a gender identity.

Was stated during a discussion forum (alongside Dr Julia Long - cue eye rolling) if memory serves...