Leaked recording exposes trans turmoil at The Guardian (Times, 12/09/23)

[BettyFilous]

Interesting to see this article surface.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b16ddb8a-50df-11ee-a518-203f78f24415?shareToken=77b1ad072e9c62fff94095120488bc5d

The Guardian is embroiled in more turmoil over its stance on the trans debate, with an internal meeting setting staff at loggerheads.

Four gender-critical speakers claimed they had been harassed because of their views, with one deputy editor noting that attempts to organise internal events had resulted in “efforts to loudly, even violently, protest or stop meetings taking place”. No one rebutted these views before 150 attendees.

However, the imbalance in speakers subsequently left many in the newsroom furious because it was held during the newspaper’s diversity, equity and inclusion week, Semafor reported.

LOL at that last bit.

You gotta love that a discussion on diversity equity inclusion was objected to when it happened during a meeting on...diversity equity inclusion.

There you have it, re GCs harassment at the Guardian...diversity for me, but not for thee.
Equity, but only for TRA views. Inclusion? Only if you agree with the party line.

One former staff member said: “As long as The Guardian bows to Guardian US, I don’t see much changing.”

very very interesting. so it is because of the Americans pulling the strings. that should be enough to make Brits think twice about the issue.

<<coughcoughBigPharmacoughcough>>

Yes this is the significant bit for me. Surely no self-respecting self-righteous professional lefty wants to feel like they're a puppet of the US?

There was once a slightly balanced look at the GRA legal situation which gave voice to both sides. But the twatty American Guardian "journalists" angrily wrote a diatribe condemning the U.K. Guardian.

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/02/guardian-editorial-response-transgender-rights-uk

That’s because, days earlier, the Guardian published an editoriall^ that we believe promoted transphobic viewpoints, including some of the same^ assertions about gender that US politicians are citing in their push to eliminate trans rights. Guardian journalists in the US had no input in the editorial, which we felt was misplaced and misguided, and nearly all reporters and editors from our New York, Washington DC and California offices wrote to UK editors with our concerns.^

The editorial was an attempt to make sense of a growing debate about trans rights in the UK. While focused on the Gender Recognition Act, the editorial and resulting conversations have exposed some of the fundamental divides between American and British feminism and progressive politics – and highlighted for us an alarming intolerance of trans viewpoints in mainstream UK discourse.

The editorial used a UK legal debate about IDs to argue that trans rights “collide” with cis women’s rights; that equality for trans women “could adversely affect other women”; and that allowing trans women to access public spaces threatens cis women’s “safety”. These arguments were met with particular dismay in the US as they echo the position of anti-trans legislators who have pushed overtly transphobic bathroom billss^.

As if the purpose of the U.K. Guardian and pertinent debates about U.K. law is to support the US readers. The article had fuck all to do with anyone in America. The arrogance was breathtaking.

It must be for funding reasons?

'The media group called an “untangling sex and gender” meeting in April so staff could discuss the way the newspaper covers women’s rights.'

'One former staff member said: “As long as The Guardian bows to Guardian US, I don’t see much changing.”'

Well, we'll see. The US is shifting on these issues in many areas, too. I mean, it's messy and ugly. But this situation won't last forever.

Sure, partly. But this is also very entangled with Republican/Democrat politics in the US. I don't pretend to understand it all, but it is a complicated and as I said, messy situation over there.

...attempts to organise internal events had resulted in “efforts to loudly, even violently, protest or stop meetings taking place”.

I want to know more about this. "Even violently"? In a newsroom?!

What did they try to do? Pen is mightier than the sword, and all that? Certainly doesn't make them sound very smart.

'....... subsequently left many in the newsroom furious because it was held during the newspaper’s diversity, equity and inclusion week'

We should compile a list of 'thought terminating' (or attempted) thought terminating phrases that TRAs trot out. This one is of the 'and in Pride month' variety.

I have a mate who observes frequently that for all the left's (her word) professed abhorrence of all things and movements and attitudes American, they seem remarkably keen to adopt some of them.

The amount of money “big pharma” makes from meds associated with gender reassignment is tiny in the overall scheme of their business.

Consider IDAHOBIT, Pride Season (summer), DEI week, non binary awareness day, etc, there is not a day of the year that these people won't try to claim that nobody is allowed to disagree with them because LOOK THE CALENDAR IS STRIPY TODAY.

Surgery makes lifelong patients. We have footage of a hospital boss enthusing about this, and the massive revenue forthcoming from the growth in 'gender affirming treatment'. I'll try and find it.

it does rather show up their a) lack of inclusion and diversity b) that they are idiots.

I have said it before and will say it again but if this happened to any other news source there would long articles in the Guardian about US cultural hegemony.

Can't find it right now, and I have to go out, sorry.

But in the meantime, there is this, among many similar articles:

'The Global Sex Reassignment Surgery Market Size accounted for USD 519.8 Million in 2022 and is estimated to achieve a market size of USD 3,171.3 Million by 2032 growing at a CAGR of 20.4% from 2023 to 2032.
An In-depth Understanding of the Sex Reassignment Surgery Market:Sex reassignment surgeries are intricate surgical procedures that change the physical appearance and functionality of an individual's existing sexual characteristics to mirror those of their identified gender. These surgeries play a crucial role in the transition process for many transgender individuals.The market for these surgeries is fueled by several factors. Societal acceptance of transgender individuals has been growing, and this has led to a rise in the number of people who identify as transgender and wish to undergo such surgeries. Furthermore, there have been significant advancements in the surgical procedures themselves, making them more efficient and safer, thereby increasing their demand. Better healthcare policies are now being implemented in various regions worldwide, which cover the costs of such surgeries and make them more accessible to those who need them.However, there are considerable challenges that could potentially impact the rise of the sex reassignment surgery market. These include the high cost of these surgeries, which can often make them inaccessible to many, and a significant shortage of skilled surgeons specializing in these procedures.Despite these challenges, the market for sex reassignment surgeries is expected to continue to grow in the years to come. This growth is anticipated due to the continued rise in the recognition of transgender rights, improvements in healthcare policies, and advancements in medical technology.
'

https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/06/08/2685095/0/en/Sex-Reassignment-Surgery-Market-Size-to-reach-a-remarkable-USD-3-171-3-Million-by-2032.html

The amount of money “big pharma” makes from meds associated with gender reassignment is tiny in the overall scheme of their business.

Yeah, I'd like to see the figures.

One individuals opinion isn’t much. The fact of the matter is the “big pharma” link is over-cooked.

Laura Snapes, The Guardian’s deputy music editor, gave Murphy’s Hit Parade a five-star rating, but noted that the singer’s comments that “mixed-up kids” needed protection meant that the album would be “compromised for many fans”.

not only was thid self indulgent childish nonsense but completely overestimated the influence that her media clique has on ordinary fans

Time was this would have made me sad and or angry

these days all I have is schadenfreude

comment is free eh?

Your individual opinion is that it's 'overcooked'. That's fine.

I've thought for a very,very long time that the Grauniad is writing primarily for US readership.It's where the money is , so consequently articles are written to appeal to a certain readership. It's one reason why i stopped reading it, the articles were of no interest to me and had little bearing on life in the UK. A lot of it is , what I will call, identity politics. There are very rare articles that are well written, i often feel an adolescent has contributed.

Let’s start meditating kids then! As long as no one’s making a profit out of it it’s a great idea amirite?!