Thanks, Igneo. Two excellent articles. How absurd Robin Harper's story is, and how frightening.
'the ever-present danger of the trans lobby gaining any more of a foothold than it already has in Scottish politics demands a bigger share of my attention than I would wish. Trans people deserve respect in our society, but not at the expense of women’s rights, or anyone else’s rights for that matter.'
This all isnt about trans people; it's about power. A movement that coerces people into mouthing untruths and chanting absurdities is doing it to flex. 'Trans' is just a vehicle. It's a way of ensuring allegiance to the in group. Proving obeisance.
The fetishised idea of 'LGBTQIA' rights hasn't got much to do with helping people. Anyone can identify into the sacred caste - its a meaningless classification. But declare oneself a believer, an 'ally' and you can thus be part of the Right Side of History - people who are utterly convinced of their righteousness and who use self justification fallacies like they drink water.
This is part of the authoritarianism of how a cult operates when formalised. By holding power in a tiny group, by 'othering' anyone who questions dogma, by control, coercion, threats, smears, attacks. By secrecy, smokescreen, gaslighting and lies.
It takes most people by surprise - I think 'bewilderment' is the right term. Because its not how most people operate- Robin Harper's story is a great illustration of how it's happened.