Giant trans flag in window of autism support centre near me

[Moanthensmum]

Hello, I'm new to Mumsnet and have been reading all the different threads and I came across this one and was really shocked by all the revelations on it re. gender ideology. I don't think I appreciated how insidious it all is.

Being from Scotland I have been aware of and worried about the impact of the self id bill, most friends and parents I've talked to have been on the same page, seems to be a big safeguarding red flag and so odd that it was pushed through with such fervour.

Anyway, the more I've become aware of all the stuff that's been happening in my country the more I've started to worry. I joined Mumsnet because I have a DS who is 5 in two months and is autistic, with limited speech, hearing aids and other additional support needs. My other DS who is almost 2 is at the moment presenting as neurotypical.

The difference in them is so noticeable. Anyway sorry, I'm digressing. The point of this thread is since I've become more aware of (and more concerned by) the gender ideology push up here in Scotland, the more worried I am about my DS who is autistic. He is so trusting and so naive which shows even without speech. This whole movement appears to target vulnerable children, a friend recommended that I read the time to think book about the Tavistock scandal and it is devastating. I haven't finished it yet but it's eye opening.

I want to start getting support for DS but today when I went to the support charity in the nearest town to me (autism support, partnered with the council's carer support centre) I stopped short before going in the door.

Because there in the window was a massive and I mean massive flag with the trans triangle (and whatever all the other colours mean).

I find that deeply troubling that a support centre set up for the purpose of supporting people with autism and children with autism is displaying this really prominently. I think I would have maybe been a tiny bit more forgiving if it had still been June (the month of Pride), but it's not. It's August tomorrow. This makes me realise how captured my country is. Will it soon be like Canada? Probably. How will I get support without this sneaking through to preach to my v vulnerable son? I'm scared.

Sorry if that sounds hyperbolic.

You have my sympathy. I have autism and am appalled at how transideology is being linked to this condition.

Is it a support centre to support other things other than autism? In which case they should be seen to be inclusive

Why ? Do they also have a huge Christian cross ? Or Muslim flag ? Or the Red flag of communism ?

If the facility is purely about providing support to people with autism then I'd be seriously concerned by this.

If however it's a facility that supports various causes then I'd simply dismiss it.

If they were supporting other people then why just a giant progress flag and not posters or adverts for that other support?

I feel your pain. My boy is out of school as no school can meet need. I've fought for 18 months to get him education provision, went to visit what sounded like a great alternative provision for him to actually attend and me not to have to attend with him I was soo relieved to get the invite to look around. I got bad vibes from the people they didn't seem to be caring or even really interested in my boy then we got to a room where shoes were not allowed and there was a row of trans flag crocs for the kids to wear inside. It just cemented my decision that that place wasn't right for my kid. It really did feel like targeting the most vulnerable children intentionally and I just wouldn't risk it

Yes this was what I noticed, I'll need to go online and look up properly what exactly type of services it promotes but the flag covered the entire window and nothing else.

The other two windows just had the signage about autism support.

I found it deeply troubling. It's the one support centre for our area so I'm thinking it probably will be somewhere I'll need to use in future. Eek.

God that's terrifying! Trans crocs???? WTF?! In a special needs provision???

This is so worrying. A deliberate targeting of vulnerable children and adults.

Also what worried me today was the fact that this autism support office is part of the council approved carers support centre as well is a concern! I need to go online research it a bit more. So basically this is council approved.

@Moanthensmum as a mum of an autistic child, my experience is that unfortunately all of the autism societies in my own local area are unquestioningly embracing the "link" between autism and gender identity as if it's a positive to be celebrated and supported, rather than something to be curious about and investigated to understand why. They are not asking what might lead autistic children to identify as a "gender" that "doesn't align with" their birth sex. Instead, it's just accepted that they are coincidentally transgender and autistic, presumably under the misapprehension that this is similar to a coincidence that someone would be gay and autistic.

Could you maybe join a parents' group there for idea sharing on how to support your child? That way he's benefitting from the charity, albeit indirectly.

My advice would be try to expose your kid to gender non conforming people/characters/books/etc that are clearly their birth sex. So he understands if he likes 'girl stuff' that's completely fine and he's still a boy. That way if he is exposed to gender ideology it's not all he's exposed to.

Good idea re. parents group etc. I think we have a walking group we've been invited to join that's parents of pre school and young ASN kids for parents so I can go with DH and DC and see what it's like.

We are very much at the start of our journey into autism/ASN as DC has not long had his paediatric assessment and we are in fact still waiting for the neurology appointment. His hearing problems are confirmed and he wears aids plus SLT have been working with us for about a year now. I would really like a support network hence why I went to visit this office today but ideally my preferred support would be from other parents in a similar boat to me.

I don't think that organisations should have flags/emblems to promote a particular group unless they have a whole range of flags and emblems - I feel the same about lanyards

Unfortunately it gets worse when you go in or sign up for emails.
All the emails are about pushing autism Scotland/1stop autism shop lectures and "support groups". These talks are always along 1 of 2 lines, type 1 is asd is a super power and anyone who disagrees is an abilist bigot. Type 2 is transing the asd away (though they don't actually use those words anymore).
The other thing is you will find that they veiw asd as an identity and have added us to the new progress flag (that new emblem on it) its really fucked up in Scotland now.
I advise take a good long look before you get involved with them @Moanthensmum because they can be very abusive to those of us with ASD and or are parents to asd kids who don't tow the line

All service providers I interact with on behalf of DS have pronouns in their signatures. The advocate that has been of most help to me is fiercely pro-trans, with a huge following. I'm very concerned about it.

I’ve refused to participate in the delusional ideology that has captured our autism/ASD societies - they were asking for my 5 year old’s pronouns and gender identity in their initial forms, ffs!

My ASD DS has always been able to play with/wear/etc whatever he wanted, and I refuse to allow any captured organisation to twist his liking pink or wearing beautiful fabrics as part of dress up play into a signal to push bodily mutilation and the concept of transgenderism.

You don't need a trans flag to be seen as inclusive! Do they say that they support people with other disabilities? Or various religions? Or have a flag supporting women? Or black people? They are targeting children with autism because over 30% of so called 'trans' children have autism. I wouldn't go anywhere near the place, your child will be 'transed' before you know it.

Maybe someone needs to start an autism charity that doesn't toe the 'trans' line, but good luck getting funding, especially in Scotland. Virtually all the feminist groups accept men now as that's the only way they get any govt. or council funding.

That’s appalling. My son has Asperger’s and is strongly gender critical. Surely such places should not be showing any political allegiance, but should welcome all children with autism.

Isn’t it No Autism without the T now, though?

They are fucking barmy, sad to say.

I’ve had to stear well clear of many autism support groups because of this, and because many of them also think that autism is a magical gift that should only be celebrated and that learning basic hygiene is the work of Satan (as in ABA).

I detest them. Nothing magical about being up at 3 am for the 1000th night in a Row cleaning faeces of a happily singing teenager and changing the sheets for the 4th time that 23-hour cycle.

So, be warned.

I would not be comfortable accessing a support centre that was a supporter of transideology.

This is so scary. Kids with autism are so vulnerable to this and it is appalling that the charities use public and charitable funds to push them towards medical sterilisation. At least you have spotted this and I hope the tide is turning but yes, keep your DS well away from this and teach him about GC stuff

All these replies confirm it to me, I've been worrying since reading up on the ideology and particularly since my friend advised I read the book about the Tavistock scandal that it targets autism and there is a risk.

And yep, I researched the centre online and it is national lottery and Scottish government funded. There were also links to other autism support places on the site which also must subscribe to this ideology.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed about it all; I'm so glad my friend warned me, I had no idea it was like this! I now don't know what I'm going to do. My DC is so innocent, he's a happy boy, in his own wee world 90% of the time, screeches and flaps and runs about in circles at nursery. It's like he is a 1.5 year old in a 5 year olds body. Sorry, almost 5.

The thought of organisations that are set up to support us and him throughout his life deliberately promoting an ideology that suggests his beautiful wee body is wrong and should be permanently disfigured/hormonely altered is just awful. I think I'm going to be relying on the SN section on here a lot now, I want to support him and get advice about all the various issues we have but I will have to be careful. I actually feel like crying. 😢

@Moanthensmum unfortunately you are in the same boat as most of us here, we just want a support group that actually supports our kids rather than pushing dangerous ideological retoric and castigating any parent/carer who queries the super power/ gift nonsense or tra propaganda.
The sen board here is quite good though you do still get the odd captured parent however they are mostly called out for the dangerous bs that they peddle. If you want to talk feel free to dm me

Yes exactly it, I just want support (practical support) without strings attached. Thankfully DH is in agreement with me, he's not quite as appalled yet as me, but that's because I've just started learning about it all thanks to my friend's warning and he's just catching up. Also he is a man and seems to be a bit oblivious to the misogyny of the movement; it's me that pointed out to him how our language was being changed but his wasn't. Also being a man he has never felt vulnerable in a shared changing room space or unisex toilets the way I have. I've been followed into both and assaulted and generally being a women you are always on the lookout for "odd" behaviours.

Add an autistic DC into the mix and I am much more anxious now about it all. Especially here in Scotland where our government appears to have lost the plot.

@Moanthensmum I'm glad that your dh is on the same page as you. If he's interested in learning more about the harms that gender identity does to women and girls can I suggest Irreversible Damage by Abergele Schiver(sp).
Unfortunately it's not just the government up here that's captured they have infected all walks of life especially schools please look at the scot gov guidance for schools and check out your dcs school policy