Trans activists, gender, and women's rights in Germany

[ArabeIIaScott]

https://genevievegluck.substack.com/p/germany-trans-activist-parents-publicly

This starts with a report of a young person who identifies as 'trans', and some concerning overlap between the child's parenting and their marketing of BDSM products and services.

It goes on to describe a little about the current state of 'gender' and women's rights in Germany, including attacks on a journalist who has tried to research the story. It ends by reporting on the following group for young people:

'Last month, a “BDSM Youth” group which promotes sadomasochism to teens was spotted at a Pride event in Munich, prompting criticism on social media. The organization, “BDSM Jugend,” is a registered non-profit that provides “youth work in the areas of BDSM and sex education,” and has chapters across the nation.'

This is the documentary mentioned. It's in German, but you can put on subtitles and select English translation. They won't be a perfect translation!

Wtaf.
i love in Germany and Trans Cultism is just becoming what it was in UK maybe 5-7 years ago so it’s disturbing luck gvtheough it’s growth again.
The BDSM aspect is disturbing. Germany is as a rule very openminded, which is great, but even my German family find this hair raising!

Live not love (well both 😀)

It's interesting to see how the narrative and situations are slightly differently weighted in different countries due to different context, history and social mores, Maggie.

And also to see the similarities and familiar scenarios - Drag Queen story hour, attacks on journalism - attacks on women.

Very depressing that the Germans and other continentals had the warning of what was happening in the US, Canada, Australia, NZ and UK, and chose to ignore it rather than try to control this ideology over there. I suspect that the Germans have had too much confidence in their stable liberal democracy.

I understand a fair bit of German, so am commenting now to remind me to watch it later when I'm at home. 👍

Just an update on this, the "Selbsbestimmungsgesetz" was discussed today in the German cabinet and agreed on. It will still have to go to the Bundestag where it will be waved through, I expect.

Just read this:

'Guardians of minors up to 14 years of age may submit the declaration of name and gender change to the registry office. In contrast, minors 14 and under may themselves make the declaration with the consent of guardians.'

https://expatcare.blog/self-determination-law-selbstbestimmungsgesetz/

Is there no age limit at all?!

I thought there was a concern raised by the German equivalent of the Home Office about criminals making use of the new law to hide their past. Looks as though they've decided not to worry about that though.

I'm not sure about age limit, Arabella, I need to see if I can find an article. I read one in Spiegel but it's quite vague.
There is actually a good number of people opposed to it on a German parenting site where I just had a quick read, more than I had expected.

The Ampelkoalition is an absolute disgrace, just waving through the Selbstbestimmungsgesetz, most people have no idea what is going on at all.

Someone confidently declared this on the German site:
".. das mit den Chromosomen. Das biologische Geschlecht definiert sich über die Reproduktionsfähigkeit. Ein Organismus produziert entweder Ei- oder Samenzellen, wer keine produziert gilt als geschlechtslos, wer beides produziert ist aus biologischer Sicht ein Zwitter und zwar egal, ob Blume, Fisch oder Mensch."

Basically: an organism either makes eggs or sperm (so far so good), if it doesn't produce either it doesn't have a sex and if produces both it's a Zwitter (hermaphrodite).

Some people really have only the vaguest idea about biology.

Isn't Germany where they fostered kids with paedophiles so that they would be loved?

(Just checked, and yes it was)

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/07/26/the-german-experiment-that-placed-foster-children-with-pedophiles

'The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.'

B Russell

That is such a true and useful quote @ArabeIIaScott

Someone on the German site posted a link to an article in Focus with an interview of a transwoman, Lisa, who is opposed to Selbsbestimmung. Link below, it's in German.
This paragraph:
"Zumal man die Entscheidung ja wieder zurücknehmen kann. Mehr noch: Einmal im Jahr soll künftig eine entsprechende Änderung qua Gang aufs Amt möglich sein. Mich macht das fassungslos. Es kann doch nicht sein, dass von nun an munter zwischen den Geschlechtern hin und her gesprungen wird!

This says that once a year you can go to the Standesamt (registry office) and choose your Geschlecht (sex). Seriously? You can decide once a year what Geschlecht you want to be for the next 12 month? Have they (German government) not thought that through at all or are they basically admitting that its all a bit flimsy and changeable and are offering an easy way out?

Focus interview here:
https://www.focus.de/panorama/trans-frau-ueber-neues-selbstbestimmungsrecht-ein-herber-rueckschlag-fuer-menschen-wie-mich_id_202603678.html

This is what SPD, one of the governing parties tweeted yesterday:

https://twitter.com/spdde/status/1694321733510078760

It lead to the former Vice-Chancellor and SPD member Sigmar Gabriel tweeting "Um Himmels Willen" (For Heaven's Sake).

Spiegel had a few articles over the last few weeks, including an interview with Alice Schwarzer.
Often, the comment section is opened but, imho, heavily censored. Slurs like Terf are okay to publish, polite comments without any slurs or offensive words are not released by the powers that be.

One of the comments was, essentially, repeating the lie that JKR is transphobic. I asked for proof including quotes from her essay. My comment was not published.

Under another interview someone mentioned Anne Andres, the power lifter. I listed a few more examples, my comment was not published.

Most articles published in recent weeks, though, were very pro-trans and "look how progressive we are".

@Igneococcus Thanks for the link, it was an interesting read.

I hope, probably against hope, that the Bundestag will not pass the new Selbstbestimmungsgesetz.

I clicked on the SPD link and embedded video, judging from the voices being showcased, this is a law made to benefit those born male. It’s utterly blatant, isn’t it?

They're really embarrassing themselves, when they were late to the party and could have learned some lessons from the English-speaking countries. If self-id is going to be allowed, then at least allow only 2 changes (the original change, and then a chance to de-transition).

Just read the article and was shocked to realise that I know the ‘queer commissioner’ for Berlin they mention!
What’s less shocking in his case is the behavior they describe, I can well imagine him behaving that way.
Why do extreme TRAs get so incredibly angry when faced with any disagreement whatsoever?

I think part of the problem is that few Germans spend a lot of time reading/watching/listening to news or current affairs in English, and the anglosphaere is where the GC discussion is mostly happening at the moment. Yes, I know most speak some English and many speak it well but I don't know many people who would read Helen Joyce's book for example or who would sit and watch all of one of the relevant Triggernometry interviews. And there is very little that is critical of this ideology in German. Which means a lot of the more recent developments in the UK and also Scandinavian countries have passed most Germans by.
Isla Bryson got a mention on the German site now, I'll keep an eye on what is happening there.

Yes, allowing yearly changes sounds like utter madness.

I think it's logical. If it's possible to change sex, it should be possible to change it as often and as many times as you want.

When I say logical, I mean within the frame of 'gender identity'.