The stranglehold of GI in Australia - finally an article/opinion in a major newspaper that sets it out

[SeethingHarpie]

We have long been arguing against the thrall of GI ideology in Australia, only to have laws passed and sex-based rights obliterated by stealth by unheralded and undebated policy at all levels of government and society.

Australian children are totally unprotected against both the raging transagenda and extreme transmedical conveyer belt that has harmed so many children and youth.

GI ideology is rampant throughout political, social, educational and media spheres - with the punishment for dissent or merely stating biological reality sufficient to be prosecuted.

In many states:

birth certificates can be changed (to falsify natal sex, or even to classify a person as X ie. non binary), with people allowed to change their “gender” once every 12 months, parents can change the sex on birth certificates of their children up to age 10, and children over 10 can do so themselves.

parents can be prosecuted and have their child removed from their care if they disagree with affirming medicine and care.

teachers are obligated under law and educational guidance to report parents who do not immediately affirm a child declaring they are transgender, are expected to assist social transitions, and to keep the information from any parents who are “unsafe” and would not be open to their child transitioning.

students who declare themselves as transgender at any age (primary or secondary) are immediately permitted to use the opposite sex facilities, and any child who is uncomfortable or parent who objects or even questions are threatened with being reported to the Anti Discrimination Commission for prosecution.

the media has been totally captured - they have gleefully dismissed the Cass Report as irrelevant to Australia, and have continued to push the narrative that “transgender children will die if denied lifesaving gender affirming drugs and surgeries”, that protesting for women’s rights is “anti-trans”, and that people can actually change sex and only bigots say otherwise (and those bigots should be prosecuted/punished).

Given all the above, I couldn’t believe this article/opinion condemning issues regarding transing children, gender affirming medications and surgeries, and GI ideology has actually been published in my state newspaper. I sincerely hope it shocks, frightens, and encourages all who read it to find out more about the reality of GI Ideology and the damage it is doing to children, to women and to basic concept of biological reality.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/des-houghton/des-houghton-gender-activists-have-scored-a-resounding-victory/news-story/90e8973db6e4d031f170716a8b7d3ff4

Link without paywall:
http://archive.today/PRTzq

Thank you @FeralWoman - I can never remember how to archive…

@SeethingHarpie It’s taken repeated examples on here for me to learn. Go to archive.md and paste in the link you want to archive. First though paste it in lower on the page where you can check if it’s already been archived. The article you linked had already been archived. Once you have your archived version go to the share button just above the article and choose which link you want to copy. I chose the short link. There’s a longer version and about two others.

Sadly that article will be dismissed as right wing, especially with him mentioning Putin in the same breath, and Dutton becoming PM.

Hope this isn’t a derail but I find this fascinating since in general Australia has always seemed more small-c conservative to me (I’m watching from the UK). Eg with immigration etc. So how is it that this particular ideology has flourished seemingly without opposition?

Its good, unfortunately though it is Des Houghton, an ultra ultra conservative, in a Murdoch paper in a state that has no alternative to Murdoch press. I will cheer when its in The Age (fat chance!) or Sydney Morning Herald. I know I'm being pessimistic, but its like praising Rita Panahi for writing an article in The Herald-Sun - a major newspaper.

Yeah, I know we have to take what we can get, but as a politically progressive (who lives in Qld) I find it incredibly demoralising the more conservatives talk about it - precisely because it feel it is re-confirming in people's minds that its a 'conservative issue'.

I could be wrong: my guess is because sexism and misogyny have oak tree-sized roots in Australia. The real fun in transactivism is the highly virtuous ticket it hands out enabling the trashing of women.It's a movement that a) requires very little action because it involves a tiny minority, b) requires no personal changes from almost anyone because see previous, c) provides the slickest excuse against feminism which was on the verge of requiring precisely that.It it's purpose wasn't antifeminism, transmen would be more than a sudden afterthought for "balance."

It's because about 1/100th of the population even knows it's happening.
I've had conversations where I mention that something has happened and people say "oh but that's not happening here". They are truly shocked when I point out a changed law that happened ever so quietly.
It's true that it's not happening - it's already happened. The Denton's document has been followed perfectly. Many government departments are run by prominent trans activists, eg the head of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission is they/them Ro Allen.
Our public broadcasters are completely captured and don't report anything but positive stories. (Some prominent ABC personalities have trans children).
Children's gender clinics refusing to acknowledge the latest research are run in major public hospitals. The affirmation only model ("anti conversion therapy") is law in several states.
We had a referendum about same sex marriage, but it's not even reported that a judge ruled that sex doesn't exist (not in those words, but that's the end result see :Tickle v Giggle).
People internationally know more about what's happening in Australia than Australians do. I give you Genevieve Gluck's article. The photos have been removed (due to copyright, lol, not reputational damage of the persons posting to their public profiles), but they were very nsfw and frankly disturbing.

genevievegluck.substack.com/p/trans-identified-male-hired-by-australian

There is a widespread belief that Australians are too sensible to accept that people can change sex at whim. I think that's true, actually, but Australians are also, on average, more interested in going to the beach than in politics, so it's easy to pass laws that hardly anyone knows about.

It’s a bit of an odd situation. Every city is different, but the day to day impact of transgender ideology has been limited for the average person, at least where I’m from. This meant that various institutions could bring in a lot of pro transgender policies that nobody cared about because no one knew any transgender kids or adults.
From my own experience, I’m in a liberal area of a conservative city, and while many of the liberal mums proclaim to be very supportive of transgender ideology, this extends to letting their kids change their pronouns and get a haircut, not getting them puberty blockers.

Haven't read the article. Just a heads up the Courier Mail is the equivalent of the Daily Mail...

Holy cow, OP. That's a terrifying situation.

All I can suggest is that I've always thought a country that really goes all in with genderism, as Australia seems to have done, will quite quickly start to see the consequences. Unfortunately, thise involve harm being done. Ans if you don't have effective media, the harm will go unreported.

The biggest fight is the media, getting this reported. As is noted, many people arent aware.

One effective way to approach this is to make use of message boards, comments, letters to editors. Make the most of any journos who will listen or report. Many people use X for news.

What is needed more than anything is sunlight, information, open and free debate.

If you can establish that the issues are serious enough to merit discussion, that's a very good start. 'No debate' is a hugely dangerous situation.

Kate Emery, Shouter-in-Chief for The West Australian, said in November it’s “an issue that means nothing to most people but targets some of the state’s most vulnerable” so wonders why the opposition is “inflaming a US style culture war” ahead of our election in March but when she posted it in her twitter feed, she got some good push back.

Another example thenightly.com.au/opinion/kate-emery-why-giggle-v-tickle-is-no-laughing-matter-and-nothing-to-worry-about-c-15832567?utm_campaign=share-icons&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=clipboard&tid=1724675399065

That correlation doesn't mean the message is false. Try reading it before you judge.

I have family and friends all over Australia and agree with a previous poster- they've no idea that this tsunami has already taken over their country. It's been so well hidden that even those with interests in current affairs are more focused on climate change etc than a "few confused kids". Plus, as another poster has already pointed out, Australian culture as I'm familiar with it has deeply embedded, unconscious sexism right down at the tap root.

Peter Dutton is aware and Michaelia Cash is all over Giggle v Tickle. But she says nothing can be done until the outcome of that.

Meanwhile, states continue on their merry way. WA is about to turn its birth cert from a record of historical fact into fantasy.

Which media do you value more:

a) the publications that raises concerns about the hugely concerning impacts of the medical transition of children, regardless of its other articles or
b) the publications that ignore this, regardless of its other articles?

Quite…

Also, even this “Daily Mail equivalent” has previously either not posted about this issue, or has been entirely captured and only gushed about GI and transgender issues. That ANY news outlet is posting something about the dangers of transgender medicine/drugs and lack of safeguarding vulnerable children is a positive I will gladly welcome.

Is there a link to this information, please? I would be very interested to know Dutton’s stance.

@SeethingHarpie I am reporting to you from contemporaneous notes made elsewhere.

No link except me being face to face and asking him at a Liberal Party morning tea in late October. I am on an email list somewhere now so received an invitation.

He was aware of the issue but says Labor and the Greens together own the Senate so changes will be difficult. He wants to wait and see (G v T, I assume) whether a new bill will need to be written, whether alterations can be made or whether a private members bill needs to be introduced (and I expect a lot of Teals are on the woke side so will side the Greens and Labor on this. But Zali Steggle and David Pocock should be au fait with the sports arguments). I asked who I should approach re a private members bill and he suggested Michaelia Cash as Shadow AG. So, I toddled across the room to Michaelia.

Michaelia never minces words but said the court process (being Sall Grover's Giggle v Tickle) must play out. Putting the definition of a woman back into the legislation can't be considered until after that.

I didn't get to speak to Dean Smith but others have and I am told he is on board with biological definitions.

However, if you care to put pressure on or provide support, the Liberals have received a lot of information over the past twelve months and One Nation, I believe, are making gender ideology a very strong issue. My understanding is that Peter Dutton is wanting to get the ideology out of schools.

Pauline Hansen did try to bring up a private motion but Labor and the Greens voted her down. However, no Liberal voted against her. The behind the scenes work with the Libs (of which I am somewhat aware) seems to be having an effect. It was something about the timing or the way she went about it that meant she would get nowhere - and probably knew it, too - but she got it into Hansard anyway.

@TheSandgroper You’ve met the potato? Does he look like a potato IRL? Is Michaelia as loud IRL and as harsh on the ears as she appears to be on TV? That’s good to hear that they’d be on board with biological definitions but the cost to the economy, society and the vulnerable of having the LNP in government doesn’t seem worth the damage. Bad enough that my state government is now LNP. Lying pack of bastards that they are. Hopefully Pauline can get it through without the LNP having to be in government. Zali Steggle is a no go. She’s as woke as woke can be and on board the gender ideology bandwagon. Sadly I think David Pocock is the same. I think he voted against hearing Pauline’s bill about putting sex back into the SDA and removing gender.

@FeralWoman He looks and sounds quite normal, actually. I had read media reports that in private he is very bright and very witty and I am now prepared to believe them.

Michaelia has long been best described as forceful. But she had no hesitation discussing the G v T situation with me. She was all over it. However, she has grown up inside the Liberal Party as her dad was a MLA and MLC in WA ( and I suspect has even so been given few favours so has had to work hard on her own behalf). I rather think I would like her as a friend.

Re your lying pack of bastards, I have decided I am a single issue voter until events make me otherwise. Nuance has got Australia nothing except an unenviable reputation and birth certificates that are nothing but flights of fancy.

Yeah, it seems you are right about Pocock Hanson's bill to change the Sex Discrimination Act has failed

@TheSandgroper - thank you so much for sharing that.
Also, (genuinely) thank you for your advocacy and discussion regarding these issues - it is so easy to feel so helpless and ineffectual, hearing about someone brave enough to raise the topic in circles that might effect change gives me hope!

Ans if you don't have effective media, the harm will go unreported.

The media here is effective. Effective at reporting what Murdoch dictates, and hiding or misrepresenting whatever he doesn’t support.

There’s virtually nothing in the mainstream media about the harms of gender ideology or the Cass report or the increased restrictions in the UK, unless it’s to paint the UK as a government of transphobes. It’s crazy.

I’m on a parenting forum in Australia that is predominantly women. The forum is virtually affirmation only. Anything else gets a pile on attack and people I thought I “knew” come out with some vile hateful things towards the people brave enough to post factual up to date info about the harms of affirmation only. Many intelligent insightful women have been banned from the forum for speaking up. Some have had their IP address blocked from even being able to read the forum. It’s disgraceful. Coming to Mumsnet is a breath of fresh air where it can be discussed openly in this (naughty) corner of the boards. Over on my Australian forum I have to bite my tongue.

I hope that forum is still active when the harms of affirmation only are exposed in the mainstream media, when the Australian Medical Association changes their stance, when psychologists no longer have to affirm, and when the legislation and policies go back to being sex based and gender pisses off into history, to be remembered like the misguided medicine of lobotomies. I want them to realise the damage they’ve supported being done to their children and grandchildren, how they answer the questions from them about why did they go along with sterilising them, with robbing them of any chance of sexual pleasure and sexual function, with the removal of their opportunity to breastfeed in the future, to have their brain mature fully, to dealing with early osteoporosis and the limitations and disability that come from that, and everything else like that. I want to know how they’ll justify ignoring the updated models of care and not applying a little bit of common sense and critical thinking to what they’re supporting being done to children and teens.

I know that there will likely be screenshots taken of my post by some of them. Do it. Give it 5 years and we’ll see if affirmation only is still the standard clinical practice or if will be acknowledged for the harm it has done to so many vulnerable children, teens and young adults. If affirmation only becomes acknowledged as conversion therapy of gay children and teens who just needed some more time to get comfortable with themselves, and of children and teens who don’t conform to gender stereotypes who get told that they must be transgender.

I’ll be damned if my DD buys into this gender bullshit. She started saying some gender ideology crap from school. I’ve talked to her about how gender is bullshit and sex is real. That genetics can’t be changed no matter what operations people have, what hormones they take or what clothes they wear.

DH swings between being gender critical and “be kind”. He swung way over to gender critical the other week. We used the toilets in a building after we had appointments in it. He came out of the men’s toilets looking confused. He wanted to know why women’s pads and tampons were provided in there. They were in the women’s too and provided by a national charity. I pointed out the official gender neutral toilet option to him. More confusion from him. Then I pointed out the government teenage mental health service in the building and it all fell into place for him. He said it was fucked up and that they should be leaving teenagers alone. Leave it until they’re adults.

Misogyny has always been more open in Australia.

No idea about your political parties but I used to vote Labour and decided I couldnt vote for those who supported child abuse. Now I spend money I would normally have given them at election time supporting court cases that expose this shit.

Does Australian law require you to vote? If not sitting on your hands is a perfectly legitimate choice. If enough do so then it starts to call into question the legitimacy of governments. The Guardian even did an article about it but of course didnt look at voting rates by sex. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jan/01/turnout-inequality-uk-elections-close-to-tipping-point-ippr

Maybe the Daily Mail's not as bad as I keep hearing then. Thanks for the tip : )

@anyolddinosaur Yes voting is compulsory in Australia. You get fined if you don’t. Well, you have to present at a voting location, have your name marked off, be handed the ballot papers, go to a booth to vote on your papers, and place those papers in the ballot box. Whether you actually vote, draw a picture, write rude things or leave it blank is up to the individual and no one but the individual will know what they did.