Another reason why the BBC tread so lightly?

[AlwaysLeftie]

There has often been discussion around why some institutions seem to be so easily captured by trans ideology. Well-regarded people within the organisation having a family member who is trans-identified is often thought to be one reason. No one wants to upset or offend, so the 'be kind' culture gets established, and no one wants to be the meanie pointing out the elephant in the room.

I've been following a certain cute-adopted-dog-from-abroad story featuring a BBC journalist. It appears the journalist has a trans-identified son. The story is absolutely heart warming, and the family seem completely lovely.

But I can't help thinking - this is a long-standing, well-loved journalist. Is this one of the reasons BBC editors have been quite so blind to the realities of trans ideology?

I have to say, they don't treat lightly at all on women's issues, voices, needs, lived experience.... bloody size 13 beetle crushers and heavy jumping up and down.

And I'm sure they have lovely mums, aunties, daughters, sisters, grans, many of whom are going through highly emotive stuff you could make a very touching news report about. Doesn't seem to make much odds, does it?

No one has to nice to the women, obvs!!

But if your colleague has a trans identified family member, then let's just be nice, ok?

Do you mean #sophiefromromania? I hadn't spotted a trans person on there (but I haven't watched all of it).

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c845bae2-9377-11ed-beb4-99fcdfa7645c?shareToken=217d9586d687af757742096583505820

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5905129/BBC-chief-stunned-secret-staff-sex-survey-reveals-417-workers-transgender.html

'The BBC has more than 400 transgender staff, a confidential internal survey has revealed.

The figure represents more than one in 50 of the workforce – about four times higher than the proportion in the population at large.'

2018 figures. May well be different now, of course.

I've been following a certain cute-adopted-dog-from-abroad story featuring a BBC journalist. It appears the journalist has a trans-identified son. The story is absolutely heart warming, and the family seem completely lovely.dopted-dog-from-abroad story featuring a BBC journalist. It appears the journalist has a trans-identified son. The story is absolutely heart warming, and the family seem completely lovely

Ahhhh. So I’m probably going to explain this badly but, I know about this bit, I didn’t know about the other bit you’re alluding to but there’s every chance there might be
parallels with regard to attitude.

I, and my DDs, are all involved heavily in animal rescue and volunteering and have been for years. My personal area of knowledge is dogs. I am experienced in training and specifically the behaviour of rescue dogs and their often complex needs. I’m a member and associate and fundraiser for more than one UK based dog rescue. Whilst I recognise that there are humanitarian reasons for wanting to rescue dogs from all over the globe, and I don’t disagree with those reasons, there are literally thousands of dogs in the UK that need homes. Thousands. They need the right home, not any home. The amount of people that claim that they tried soooo hard to get a dog but they just couldn’t so they had no choice but to import one, not their fault, the rescues fault, is large. They aren’t interested in the fact that the people gatekeeping are totally dedicated to the welfare of the dog and not the needs of the would be adopter. This guy you’re talking about said as much himself. Whiney, but we tried everywhere in the UK to get a rescue dog but they were toooooo strict. Boohoo. Nope. They were protecting the dog, you weren’t acceptable as per their policy so you went elsewhere where the standards were lower.

I see parallels. Does that make sense? Argh, I feel I’m explaining myself badly.

So trans people and their families are lovely when you get to know them and it makes people not want to be mean to them? How dreadful. And I won't even bother with the hilarious idea that the BBC are ever kind about trans people.

Wow @ArabellaScott

Those are incredible figures.

Certainly raises lots of questions in my mind!

Thank you for finding those articles.

@MandyMotherOfBrian

Thanks for your post. Thanks for the work you do too.

I think I understand what you were saying, but don't feel i know enough to have an a opinion - either on the issues of dog adoption or the attitudes of those that do.

All I have observed from following the dog story is that the people seem well intentioned.

Certainly that has parallels with the 'be kind' movement. Perhaps prioritising the individual over a wider analysis?

But I can't help thinking - this is a long-standing, well-loved journalist. Is this one of the reasons BBC editors have been quite so blind to the realities of trans ideology?

Sorry but this is just silly, and it actually makes me laugh to think anyone can editorially control every single news editor across one of the largest news organisations in the world?

No, news editors/reporters are not in any way influenced by the fact that one solitary journalist within an entire organisation has a trans child, it’s really quite an insane suggestion. Most probably also have no idea this is even the case.

@SlowDog one of the sons in the family. Mid/early 20s. Gamer, coder.

I only noticed because the prof put a post up recommending him for work. Otherwise he doesn't feature in their social media.

I'm sure he's a lovely individual and all that. My broader point was that anyone knowing the family would most likely be hesitent in being anything other than performatively supportive, which makes reality-based conversations and output very hard.

It all contributes to the bigger issues not being brought to the sunlight.

Quick reminder not to feed the trolls who misrepresent, exaggerate and distract!

The BBC do seem geared towards promoting the 'trans child' narrative, including the drama 'Just a Girl', made with Susie Green and Mermaids involvement that ran for several series in the Woman's Hour radio drama slot.

I believe that this is a well known issue - parents in a senior position with a "trans child" and then everyone self silencing and feeling intimidated about speaking up when the women's changing rooms / toilets are converted to mixed sex and the words women and mother are removed from maternity policies etc. And in the BBC, the determination of an internal self appointed lobby demanding influence over editorial policy and decisions and voila - women & countless other protected groups are deprioritised.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4715957-bbc-ongoing-impartiality-regarding-gender-identity-ideology

Don't lets forget exposure of the toxic influence Stonewall had on the BBC:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09yk3vq

The BBC were captured in the sense that those defining how the BBC handled gender identity ideology made a show of being true believers. There were plenty of non-believers but either their voices were marginalised or they knew that they'd best keep silent if they wanted to not damage their careers.

But things do seem to be changing, and non-believers are speaking out a bit and do have some tiny platforms. Take the past week, on Thursday, Fags, Mags and Bags made a number of pointedly satircal pokes at identity politics and then late on there was a new 11pm comedy programme called Unsafe Space that is not on board with the ideology. There is also some skepticism coming from News although, ironically, that fact-based organisation that is supposed to support courage in uncovering that which is hidden, does still seem to be highly captured.

Wasn't there a piece just a few days ago about the incredibly well organized queer staff network at the BBC demanding editorial input? Though I may have seen that on Twitter. In any case, seems like there's much more to it than diffuse sympathies for co-workers.

I disagree with this to an extent I'm afraid.

We've got rescue dogs from abroad - had absolutely no issues, great dogs matched to us, careful vetting and back up, video calls to check in etc. Their standards were in no way low. We were turned down for some we applied for as they had not checked them with children for example. Our dogs arrived well treated by vets, in good health, spade, lead trained, good with the children and smaller animals, house trained...they are an important and beneficial part of our family. They lead a wonderful life with an outdoorsy family and a ft WFH presence.

Our last rescue from the UK was a disaster, behavioural issues for life and in such poor health that she nearly had to be put down not long after we had her. When she died, no rescue would let us past registration because of the age of our children and our local shelters had very few dogs, all with lists of requirements and behavioural concerns as long as your arm.

It is fine to have standards and be stringent in vetting. I heartily approve and support that. But UK rescues are both only likely to have dogs that have issues in the first place, and unrealistic about the homes available. Foreign rescues are dealing with different dogs and circumstances. And to suggest anyone in the UK who adopts from abroad is doing it to be slack or a less good pet owner is wrong and offensive.

nauticant · Today 12:11

The BBC were captured in the sense that those defining how the BBC handled gender identity ideology made a show of being true believers. There were plenty of non-believers but either their voices were marginalised or they knew that they'd best keep silent if they wanted to not damage their careers.

Yes, just look at what happened to Suzanne Moore and Hadley Freeman, when they were at the Guardian. Never mind Kathleen Stock, Alison Bailey, Lineham - people see what happens if they put their head above the parapet.

It’s purely an LGBTQ staff network, it has no editorial influence or control whatsoever.

It’s purely an LGBTQ staff network, it has no editorial influence or control whatsoever.

Don't lets forget exposure of the toxic influence Stonewall had on the BBC

And don’t forget that the BBC has since pulled out of collaboration with Stonewall entirely.

That’s not my experience of U.K. rescues at all!

We got our dear dog when my kids were 5&7, he’s got no behavioural issues (well he steels food of left on the side - but that’s a breed issue) and he is brill on the lead, had no health issues etc. In fact the rescue we got him from won’t adopt our dogs with health issues they raise money to keep them in foster.

However we waited 9 months to find the right dog. And that’s what people get frustrated at.

I think these are the most pertinent points.

@MorvenOfMalvern sorry tgat was in reply

Looked it up now and it appears you are mistaken - at any rate this mere staff network has been quite explicitly demanding editorial input.

"Such emboldening was evident in June 2021, when leaked minutes of BBC Pride’s board showed they were demanding to “attend commissioning meetings” and play a role in “editorial processes” on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme."

archive.ph/SK9mg

They can ‘demand’ all they like, doesn’t mean the group has any editorial control or influence.

If you read further…

This escalated in what was reportedly a tense video call between Fran Unsworth, the former director of BBC News, and BBC Pride’s board in November 2021, when the BBC quit Stonewall diversity training.
Members of BBC Pride were “disappointed and frustrated” but Ms Unsworth was said to have told staff “you’ll hear things you don’t personally like… and you have to get used to that”.

A BBC spokesman said: “BBC Pride is a volunteer-led staff network which aims to support all LGBTQ+ staff. It is not an editorial team, has no role in directing editorial content and like the Telegraph Group’s ‘Out Loud’ LGBTQ+ network, our staff networks help ensure the BBC is an inclusive organisation.
“Editorial decisions about what the BBC broadcasts or publishes are made in accordance with our editorial values and standards, including our commitment to due impartiality.”