Don't ask Richard Madeley! My autistic teenage cousin wants to transition, what do I do?

[lcakethereforeIam]

I'm utterly aghast! Does Partridge Madeley have any qualifications for doling out this advice? Aside from minor celebrity and a long gone career as a chat show host.

https://archive.ph/gNrcX

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/parenting/dear-richard-autistic-teenage-cousin-wants-to-transition/

Has he been living under a rock? It's obvious he hasn't read Cass but did he even read the letter? The child is in care, probably with SWs enthusiastically waving the progress flag, parents too ill to look after her. None of that seems to register with him. He can't see the red flags. Isn't aware of how 'looked after' Children were massively over represented at the Tavistock. How, isolated from her family, she's more vulnerable to social contagion and a 'glitter' family prowling, ready to fill the void.

I agree that as a cousin the writer's influence may be limited. If he'd advised them to step back for the good of their own mental health, that would have been one thing, but that's not what he's done!

Having read the second letter as well, I also have a one-word note for Richard. Or possibly two words, ending with 'off'.

I don't know what's worse. A newspaper paying him for his advice, or someone approaching him for it.

It would have been more helpful if he'd pointed out that this poor girl's situation - in care of the state and autistic - makes her hugely vulnerable to the attention of trans zealots selling the "born in the wrong body " line. She's lost her parents and family and must feel so alone. No wonder she thinks transitioning is a solution. Children in care of the state have been cynically and relentlessly targeted by trans extremists from the get go.

Re his advice about the limitations of the cousin's role. It's brutal but he's right. Of course, an alternate response would have perhaps challenged what C and the wider family are doing to support her? Can they offer to give her a home? I completely understand C's concerns but if they want to influence, maybe they could offer some direct family support so she doesn't have to remain in care?

I realise that without background info, the above might not be appropriate suggestions but this is a child desperate for change and more control over her life. C is right to be concerned but complaining from the sidelines won't help this girl. She needs the active love, care and family life that she's currently not getting.

Edited to add it's a poor response to the concerns and suggests he's done little research or given it much thought.

Ha, yes, I feel for the wife of the guy in the second letter!

Reminds me of a friend whose husband couldn't work full time because he had to follow his passion for ceramics - producing lots of things no one wanted to buy. As soon as he produced something marketable, which was in great demand and could be produced and sold in good numbers - he stopped making it, because it would be "selling out" and not true to his artistic passion. FFS.

I must admit, in the context of his reply to the first letter, his comment in the second letter made me laugh.

Showing your bias there, Richard?

"Something else to remember. Some of the world’s best-selling writers received lukewarm or even downright dismissive responses from publishers to their debut novels. JK Rowling couldn’t get arrested for her Harry Potter opener "