Rachel Rooney criticised by Philip Pulman

[HecatesCatsInXmasHats]

Rachel Rooney who wrote a delightful book about children feeling comfortable with their bodies has been described as 'hateful' by author Philip Pullman in response to a tweet by Clara Vulliamy. Rooney has written about this on Twitter. I'm so upset for her:

twitter.com/rooneyrachel/status/1335610842222653441?s=21

twitter.com/philippullman/status/1335523666847813632?s=21

So mean spirited.
Right I’m buying it now hes said that.

There is a video of Rachel reading the book.

I aam not the intended audience, but I found it charming and cute and can't think of it as controversial in any way at all - just suggestng that the reader should take care of their body.

TRAs seem to be all about guilt by association - the crime seems to be who published it rather than what is in it?

CV talks about a son and a daughter in early interviews, now she has two daughters...

My daughter is 5 she loves stuff like that I also gave a donation I cannot stand bullies

People on Facebook calling the Observer article about Keira “hateful” has also really hacked me off today

im also blocked by clara vuillamy who i dont know and despite never saying anything on twitter except about books 🤷🏼‍♀️ what is the matter with these people?

I really don't understand how anyone, even the most vehement supporter of puberty blockers could have a problem with Rachel Rooney's lovely, positive book.

(I also don't get why there aren't any trans allies up in arms after the KB case because of the appalling lack of diligence that seems to have been present in the medical care of gender non-conforming children. Lack of evidence of longterm effects, poor data gathering, no following up of patients - that's what they should be furious about. These kids deserve much better).

I know very little about this debate but can highly recommend this book. I bought after seeing a thread on Mumsnet about the author being bullied which I can’t stand. The book is my sons absolute favourite and we read it frequently, he joins in with all the words and it fills my heart with joy to hear him saying such positive affirming things. How anyone could possibly see it as anything but a joyful positive book for tiny children is beyond me.

Interesting moral compass, Mr. Pullman.

No word of thanks that the Court of Protection has extended, well, protection to those kids?

Has anyone been able to see CV's original tweet?

Well thanks PP I have now just bought all of the books by Rachel Rooney in my children's age range. I already had my body is me, it is a delightful book to encourage kids to love who they are. Only a truly terrible person would be offended by the message. What is their alternative? "Doubt and question your body and take experimental drugs/cut off healthy body parts?". These people are mad and bad.

I’d never heard of CV but reading between the lines she may have had a “trans” child and obviously those who have a “trans” child tend to be extremely invested in the ideology.

(I also don't get why there aren't any trans allies up in arms after the KB case because of the appalling lack of diligence that seems to have been present in the medical care of gender non-conforming children. Lack of evidence of longterm effects, poor data gathering, no following up of patients - that's what they should be furious about. These kids deserve much better).

Yup. Keira was “trans” at one point. One page I follow on FB was called hateful for sharing an article about her. I give up. This is all they have now. “Mummy you’re a poo I hate you”

Rachel's book sounds absolutely lovely. My DC are all a bit old for it now so I've bought a copy just for me 😊.

Thanks Philip Pullman, if it wasn't for your pathetic bullying behaviour, I probably would never have heard of it.

@inkylines

CV talks about a son and a daughter in early interviews, now she has two daughters...

I have just verified this with a quick search.

This is the 'Susie Green' effect in action. When one is so invested in the ideology and has taken one's own children down this path, there is no going back, and all one can do is try to persuade the world (and possibly oneself) that one has done the right thing.

I believe that this is one of the reasons for the trans lobby being so keen to get into schools and recruit as many children as possible. When nearly everyone has a 'trans child' in their family (if not their own child, another relative such as a nephew, niece or cousin) it makes it so much harder to argue against the ideology because so many more people are personally involved with such children.

When nearly everyone has a 'trans child' in their family (if not their own child, another relative such as a nephew, niece or cousin) it makes it so much harder to argue against the ideology because so many more people are personally involved with such children.

It does, I find it very hard to speak out because a couple of women I like very much have transchildren and have fully bought into the ideology and i don't want to hurt them. :(

I believe that this is one of the reasons for the trans lobby being so keen to get into schools and recruit as many children as possible.

Just to add to this, in case it sounds a bit conspiracy theorist. TRAs have talked about this being their aim. Here is a partial transcript of a now deleted YouTube discussion between TransYouth Family Allies executive director Kim Pearson and transgender activist Autumn Sandeen (in the US):

Autumn Sandeen: “I’ve always said there are two groups that are going to make change in transgender legislation and the “gender identity and expression” related language in legislation. It’s going to be trans youth because … they demystify it and take the sex right out of the trans experience.”

Pearson responds with: “Right. And it’s hard to say no to kids, and the needs of kids and “keeping kids safe”. And you know, “being respected in schools” and things like that. It’s really hard for people to say no to that.”

From Miranda Yardley's site.
mirandayardley.com/en/this-is-an-all-out-political-war-the-gender-recognition-act-and-beyond/

Totally agree OldCrone.

We have the book and I bought some for my DC's primary school - anonymously. God knows if they're used or were binned as they were listed as a Stonewall Champion school

@Helmetbymidnight

When nearly everyone has a 'trans child' in their family (if not their own child, another relative such as a nephew, niece or cousin) it makes it so much harder to argue against the ideology because so many more people are personally involved with such children.

It does, I find it very hard to speak out because a couple of women I like very much have transchildren and have fully bought into the ideology and i don't want to hurt them. :(

I hate to say it, but everyone who fails to criticise the ideology because someone thay know at work has a friend who knows someone who's sister has a child who's being hudged along the route, is failing to speak up for all the kids who are being harmed.

"I dunno. Are you really sure that the human sacrifices to Amon-ho-Pek, the Great Frog, really work? Maybe the internet won't permenantly shut down if we stop them. Maybe?".

@Europilgrim

I really don't understand how anyone, even the most vehement supporter of puberty blockers could have a problem with Rachel Rooney's lovely, positive book.

(I also don't get why there aren't any trans allies up in arms after the KB case because of the appalling lack of diligence that seems to have been present in the medical care of gender non-conforming children. Lack of evidence of longterm effects, poor data gathering, no following up of patients - that's what they should be furious about. These kids deserve much better).

This is the irony. Clearly, anyone who actually cares about these children will not want them taking drugs with side effects as serious as potential lifelong sterility, loss of sexual function, not to mention other cognitive issues, bone issues etc.

But parents who bought into this at an earlier point, possibly being misled by the ideologues and lobbyists, have now got a vested interest in not admitting to anyone - least of all themselves - how far they have cocked up their child's lives and neglected their responsibilities as parents (maybe in many cases with good intentions).

[quote OldCrone]I believe that this is one of the reasons for the trans lobby being so keen to get into schools and recruit as many children as possible.

Just to add to this, in case it sounds a bit conspiracy theorist. TRAs have talked about this being their aim. Here is a partial transcript of a now deleted YouTube discussion between TransYouth Family Allies executive director Kim Pearson and transgender activist Autumn Sandeen (in the US):

Autumn Sandeen: “I’ve always said there are two groups that are going to make change in transgender legislation and the “gender identity and expression” related language in legislation. It’s going to be trans youth because … they demystify it and take the sex right out of the trans experience.”

Pearson responds with: “Right. And it’s hard to say no to kids, and the needs of kids and “keeping kids safe”. And you know, “being respected in schools” and things like that. It’s really hard for people to say no to that.”

From Miranda Yardley's site.
mirandayardley.com/en/this-is-an-all-out-political-war-the-gender-recognition-act-and-beyond/[/quote]
Horrific.

But then recruiting the young into extreme ideologies has always been the modus operandi of dictatorships.

I won't name them, but I think people might be able to think of a few good 20th century examples.

@skandalous

There is a video of Rachel reading the book.

I aam not the intended audience, but I found it charming and cute and can't think of it as controversial in any way at all - just suggestng that the reader should take care of their body.

TRAs seem to be all about guilt by association - the crime seems to be who published it rather than what is in it?

Yup.

If Rachel had just published it but tied it publicly to the 'Body positivity' movement rather than the GC movement, she'd probably be facing none of this.

@DidoLamenting I'm the same. I have never heard of her before and I'm blocked too.

Just because some parents have made terrible choices for their children (even if they were led to think they were doing the right thing) doesn't mean we all have to or we should let off the hook those that encourage parents to make dreadful choices for their kids.

Yeah, if you'd been persuaded to give your kids a few mgs. of lead a day to tone them up and improve their complections, you'd feel a bit crap if you discovered it wasn't a good idea.

Oddly, it's as though the Bell court case hadn't happened, or it had led to exoneration of the Tavistok.

Are there no apostates, no-one now expressing contrition and regret?

@Helmetbymidnight

Has anyone been able to see CV's original tweet?

I can. Has anyone else?

Corexion. Complexion.