The Trans Agenda: Kemi Badenoch reveals an unlikely trans ally as the papers bore on
The Trans Agenda: Kemi Badenoch reveals an unlikely trans ally as the papers bore on
News you need, the perspective you won't find anywhere else. The trans community's guide to UK news, media and politics and our place in it.
The Trans Agenda
[14 October 2024]
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Full paper review below.
NEWS
Crickets at the LGB Alliance conference
The LGB Alliance, an organisation predominantly made up of straight people by its own admission, is complaining about a homophobic hate crime after members of the group Trans Kids Deserve Better released 6,000 crickets at their annual conference, which featured an appearance from cis-het JK Rowling via video.
Interestingly, none of the papers covered this incident in their print editions. In the past, an action like this would have garnered significant media attention, especially with Maya "I have a hotline to the Telegraph" Forstater also calling it a hate crime.
Butlins security guards suspended after allegedly assaulting trans women in bathroom
Butlin’s has suspended security staff after an incident at its Skegness resort, where five transgender women were allegedly "violently" removed from a women's bathroom. The holiday camp franchise later apologised, emphasising its commitment to inclusivity. GCs are, of course, furious, because this is exactly how they want trans women to be treated.
Helen Joyce reveals plans to use fears around trans kids as stepping stone to eliminate “trans” in public life [Trans Safety Network] [Genspect]
Helen Joyce, director of Sex Matters, spoke at a Lisbon conference by Genspect, and outlined her plans on how to end medical transition for both trans children and adults. She proposed a step-by-step approach, starting with regulated environments like prisons and workplaces, ultimately aiming for the elimination of trans recognition from public life. As Mallory Moore puts it in the Trans Safety Network article linked above, “In the speech, Joyce lays out her motivations for a step by step campaign to radicalise society against transition, how to work around the empathy people have for trans people in society, and use existing concerns to lead them along a path to total exclusion.”
Prominent GC mourns death of ‘inspiration’ accused of 14 sexual assaults
Ex-MP, Joanna Cherry, took to Twitter after the death of anti-trans former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, to say, “Sadly, he was ill used by some of his former comrades, and I am sorry that he has not lived to see his vindication. I shall remember him as an inspiration and a loyal friend.”
Cherry, of course, has repeatedly said she is not anti-trans. She is just worried about the safety of women. Just not the women who accused Salmond of assault, apparently.
Hilary Cass doesn’t know how numbers work
In an article in Thursday’s Times [see Paper Review below], Dr Hilary Cass is quoted as saying that the BMA’s stance on her stitched-up review represents only a “small minority” of the medical profession. There are 195,000 BMA members. Only 900 back her. That’s 0.46%. Cass also says she finds it ‘puzzling’ that the BMA should have any problem with the review she was hand-picked to lead by Kemi Badenoch from a shortlist of one, that refused to include any trans leads, and which has been rejected and derided by institutions around the world.
Psychiatrists cut Stonewall links over trans policy [Telegraph]
The Royal College of Psychiatrists (Rcpsych) has decided to end its affiliation with Stonewall with the Telegraph claiming the move is due to concerns over the charity’s stance on trans issues. The college’s chief executive announced that the membership would not be renewed when it expires in December. This move follows similar actions from other organisations, including government departments and NHS bodies, distancing themselves from Stonewall as trans rights continue to be targeted relentlessly and more organisations allow themselves to be captured.
The quote from the Royal College of Psychiatrists' chief executive, Sonia Walter, and its president, Dr Lade Smith, as reported in the Telegraph, said: “Stonewall helped us to become a more inclusive organisation. However, we are acutely aware that there is a risk in being affiliated with an organisation that may speak on matters relating to the professional practice of our members, but over which the college has no direct control. The college has evaluated its membership of Stonewall and decided not to renew when it expires in December.”
Was Sue Gray a trans ally?
Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch took to the Daily Mail on Monday to discuss Keir Starmer removing Sue Gray as his chief of staff. Badenoch wrote of Gray, “When I worked with Sue Gray (who, by the way, I quite like), she tried to pressure me into dropping my opposition to the SNP’s crazy Gender Recognition Bill. This was the very bill that, if not blocked by Westminster, would have allowed 16-yearolds to ‘self-identify’ as the opposite sex – no medical diagnosis required. Many ministers might have bowed to such pressure from a senior mandarin. But I stood firm. For me, this was a matter of principle, not politics. Ignoring Sue Gray’s advice turned out to be one of my best decisions.”
The Mail have been gunning for Gray ever since the days of her report into Partygate, whilst also using Rosie Duffield to attack Starmer for removing Gray because he ‘has a problem with women’.
MEDIA
Telegraph can’t get enough Rosie Duffield
The Telegraph are doing their best to turn Rosie Duffield into a better-known public figure, using their Wednesday edition to publish a massive feature on the MP who has been described by many as one of the laziest they have ever encountered. If it wasn’t for her GC views, nobody would even know who she is. Those views are, of course, why the Telegraph love her.
Efune nears deal to buy Telegraph [Times]
Dovid Efune, owner of The New York Sun and honorary chairman of the Algemeiner Journal, a newspaper focused on American and international Jewish and Israel-related news, is set to enter exclusive talks to acquire the Telegraph for more than £550 million.
Discussions with RedBird IMI are reportedly in advanced stages, with Efune offering a higher bid than rivals such as hedge fund manager and GB News funder Sir Paul Marshall. Marshall recently acquired The Spectator for £100 million, potentially allowing RedBird IMI to recoup its initial £600 million investment. Efune has secured financial backing from Oaktree, Hudson Bay Capital, and Michael Leffell’s family office.
Sandi Toksvig: ‘I’m so distressed by anti-trans ‘radical feminists’ I could weep’ [inews]
There’s just not scientific evidence that gender medicine for teens should be restricted [Slate]
One in four trans kids have attempted to take their lives in the past year [Erin Reed]
JK Rowling’s feud with Butlin’s is a sad new low – and tells us everything we need to know about her [Independent]
WHAT’S ON IN PARLIAMENT
Select business. Full House business can be viewed here.
Monday 14 October
House of Lords, oral questions, Independent Pornography Review [more here]
House of Lords, oral questions, Current negotiations on ending the Gaza crisis [more here]
Wednesday 16 October
House of Commons, 12pm: Prime Minister’s Question Time
House of Lords, oral questions, Legal recognition for humanist weddings [more here]
House of Lords, oral questions, Raising statutory limitation period for bringing a claim for medical product liability from 10 years to 20 [more here]
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Labour halts implementation of Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act [UK Parliament]
Labour has announced changes in higher education regulation, including halting further provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. Sir David Behan has been appointed interim chair of the Office for Students, with a long-term chair to be decided next year.
THE PAPERS
In total, there were nine articles this week, which is less than the Telegraph managed to produce on its own last week. The Telegraph, once again, is responsible for the bulk of the articles (5).
The Guardian/Observer, meanwhile, have not published an article about trans people for 23 days, with their last coming on 20th September when they published two, neither of which an attack.
As usual, it’s all nonsense in the papers but, as we’ve seen since the Tories were removed, the tone remains somewhat subdued, even if the attacks haven’t stopped.
THE PAPERS Monday 7th October - Sunday 13th October
Monday Total: 0
Tuesday Total: 1
The Guardian [0]
The Times [0]
Daily Mail [0]
Telegraph [1]
![School allows primary pupil to identify as an animal Scottish council confirms second case of ‘species dysphoria’ after another child came out as a wolf The Daily Telegraph8 Oct 2024By Daniel Sanderson SCOTTISH CORRESPONDENT A PRIMARY pupil has been allowed to identify as an animal in a Scottish school, it has been revealed. A council has admitted that “one or more [primary school] pupil(s)” had been officially recognised as having “species dysphoria”, despite psychologists warning that the supposed condition has no scientific basis. It follows the case of a pupil at a secondary school in another part of Scotland, who it emerged last month had been allowed to identify as a wolf. Species dysphoria is a non-clinical condition in which an individual insists they do not identify as fully human. Claims that children are being recognised as alternative species such as cats in classrooms have previously been dismissed by transgender rights activists as conspiracy theories. However, two Scottish councils have now officially confirmed cases of “species dysphoria” in their schools. The council disclosed the second case to the Daily Mail in response to a Freedom of Information request. It refused to state the animal that the child or children identified as, citing privacy concerns. It also refused to confirm whether there was one or multiple cases of species dysphoria in pupils, saying it was one or more but fewer than five. “Schools should not be aiding and abetting a child’s mental health crisis,” said Chris Mcgovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education. “They need to get a grip and show some common sense. Pandering to what often amounts to mischievous behaviour is pointless and undermines discipline.” Hundreds of primaries and secondaries north of the border are signed up to a Snp-backed charter scheme run by LGBT Youth Scotland, the controversial taxpayer-funded charity. An article posted on its website states that people should be able to identify “however they want” and promotes the concept of “xenogenders”, an umbrella term that is often considered to include those whose gender is influenced or related to animals. The organisation told The Telegraph that it did not “recognise or support cases of species dysphoria”. The second council to admit to a case, which is not being named, said that no arrangements had been made to accommodate the condition and that teachers had not been issued specific guidance on how to deal with children claiming to identify as animals. It added: “Advice would be sought from our educational psychologists or similar if required.” The council that includes a school with a child identifying as a wolf confirmed last month that the pupil was part of a group called “furries” who adopt a persona based on an animal or mythical beast. Tommy Mackay, a Dunbartonshire-based clinical neuropsychologist, has previously said that species dysphoria does not exist and children should be told to “snap out of it”. However, growing numbers of children are taking on personas of animals such as dogs, cats, foxes and birds, with some posting guides to “coming out” to parents online. According to an article about “non-binary identities” posted on LGBT Youth Scotland’s website, people can be “both a man and woman at the same time” and those who do not identify with existing labels can invent their own. It states that “these genders are referred to under the umbrella term of xenogenders”. The term xenogenders can be recognised in the trans community as including animal identities. The article adds: “People can use any pronouns and terms that they want, they can identify however they want.” A spokesman for the organisation said: “LGBT Youth Scotland does not recognise or support cases of species dysphoria. In addition to this, LGBT Youth Scotland has never offered guidance to schools on this matter. Article Name:School allows primary pupil to identify as an animal Publication:The Daily Telegraph Author:By Daniel Sanderson SCOTTISH CORRESPONDENT Start Page:9 End Page:9](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8cac24a4-d98e-4057-94e1-d6fe1a4b2548_252x608.png "School allows primary pupil to identify as an animal Scottish council confirms second case of ‘species dysphoria’ after another child came out as a wolf The Daily Telegraph8 Oct 2024By Daniel Sanderson SCOTTISH CORRESPONDENT A PRIMARY pupil has been allowed to identify as an animal in a Scottish school, it has been revealed. A council has admitted that “one or more [primary school] pupil(s)” had been officially recognised as having “species dysphoria”, despite psychologists warning that the supposed condition has no scientific basis. It follows the case of a pupil at a secondary school in another part of Scotland, who it emerged last month had been allowed to identify as a wolf. Species dysphoria is a non-clinical condition in which an individual insists they do not identify as fully human. Claims that children are being recognised as alternative species such as cats in classrooms have previously been dismissed by transgender rights activists as conspiracy theories. However, two Scottish councils have now officially confirmed cases of “species dysphoria” in their schools. The council disclosed the second case to the Daily Mail in response to a Freedom of Information request. It refused to state the animal that the child or children identified as, citing privacy concerns. It also refused to confirm whether there was one or multiple cases of species dysphoria in pupils, saying it was one or more but fewer than five. “Schools should not be aiding and abetting a child’s mental health crisis,” said Chris Mcgovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education. “They need to get a grip and show some common sense. Pandering to what often amounts to mischievous behaviour is pointless and undermines discipline.” Hundreds of primaries and secondaries north of the border are signed up to a Snp-backed charter scheme run by LGBT Youth Scotland, the controversial taxpayer-funded charity. An article posted on its website states that people should be able to identify “however they want” and promotes the concept of “xenogenders”, an umbrella term that is often considered to include those whose gender is influenced or related to animals. The organisation told The Telegraph that it did not “recognise or support cases of species dysphoria”. The second council to admit to a case, which is not being named, said that no arrangements had been made to accommodate the condition and that teachers had not been issued specific guidance on how to deal with children claiming to identify as animals. It added: “Advice would be sought from our educational psychologists or similar if required.” The council that includes a school with a child identifying as a wolf confirmed last month that the pupil was part of a group called “furries” who adopt a persona based on an animal or mythical beast. Tommy Mackay, a Dunbartonshire-based clinical neuropsychologist, has previously said that species dysphoria does not exist and children should be told to “snap out of it”. However, growing numbers of children are taking on personas of animals such as dogs, cats, foxes and birds, with some posting guides to “coming out” to parents online. According to an article about “non-binary identities” posted on LGBT Youth Scotland’s website, people can be “both a man and woman at the same time” and those who do not identify with existing labels can invent their own. It states that “these genders are referred to under the umbrella term of xenogenders”. The term xenogenders can be recognised in the trans community as including animal identities. The article adds: “People can use any pronouns and terms that they want, they can identify however they want.” A spokesman for the organisation said: “LGBT Youth Scotland does not recognise or support cases of species dysphoria. In addition to this, LGBT Youth Scotland has never offered guidance to schools on this matter. Article Name:School allows primary pupil to identify as an animal Publication:The Daily Telegraph Author:By Daniel Sanderson SCOTTISH CORRESPONDENT Start Page:9 End Page:9")
Wednesday Total: 2
The Guardian [0]
The Times [0]
Daily Mail [0]
Telegraph [2]
Thursday Total: 4
The Guardian [0]
The Times [2]
![‘No basis’ for BMA to reject trans findings Eleanor Hayward - Health Editor Dr Hilary Cass has criticised the British Medical Association for its “puzzling” decision to oppose the findings of her review into NHS services for transgender children. The paediatrician said that the doctors’ union had no evidence to back up its critique of her review, and that the BMA’s stance represented only a “small minority” of the medical profession. The Cass review, published in April, recommended an end to prescribing puberty blockers to children outside clinical trials, and called for a more “holistic” model of care. The NHS and government accepted the review but the BMA raised concerns about “weaknesses in methodologies” used by Cass and “unsubstantiated” recommendations, saying it would lobby the NHS to halt its implementation, prompting criticism from its own members. Cass told BBC radio’s Woman’s Hour: “The BMA haven’t actually said what it is they object to ... Do they object to better training? Better research?” Cass said the BMA’s critique was based on “online sources mainly from the US”, adding: “When thinking about evidence-based care, they haven’t produced any evidence that the review should be stopped.” She added: “I’ve spoken to hundreds of doctors [and] clinical staff during and since the review. The vast majority of those people are really supportive of the approach.” The four-year review by Cass, a former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, was the biggest into the treatment of children struggling with their gender. Cass said it was important that the BMA’s critique, which will be published in January, did not “cherry-pick a small part of the experience and the evidence”. Cass’s comments yesterday are the first time she has publicly spoken about the BMA and her review. More than 1,400 doctors, 900 of whom are BMA members, have signed an open letter calling for the BMA to drop its opposition to Cass. Some resigned from the union after being members for up to 50 years. The BMA’s governing council voted to reject the Cass review in a private meeting in July, but the membership base of 195,000 doctors was not consulted. The council held a further vote last month to say it would approach its critique of the review “neutrally”. Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the BMA council, said: “The chair of our ‘task and finish’ group has set out to [the] council how we will listen to those with experience as patients or clinicians, consider the link between evidence and recommendation, and compare the recommendations with the actions or strategies that have arisen from them.” In a separate development, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has cut ties with the Stonewall charity amid concerns about its stance on transgender issues.](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd9205eb5-ac4c-4160-9f9d-7b63f295c256_508x726.png "‘No basis’ for BMA to reject trans findings Eleanor Hayward - Health Editor Dr Hilary Cass has criticised the British Medical Association for its “puzzling” decision to oppose the findings of her review into NHS services for transgender children. The paediatrician said that the doctors’ union had no evidence to back up its critique of her review, and that the BMA’s stance represented only a “small minority” of the medical profession. The Cass review, published in April, recommended an end to prescribing puberty blockers to children outside clinical trials, and called for a more “holistic” model of care. The NHS and government accepted the review but the BMA raised concerns about “weaknesses in methodologies” used by Cass and “unsubstantiated” recommendations, saying it would lobby the NHS to halt its implementation, prompting criticism from its own members. Cass told BBC radio’s Woman’s Hour: “The BMA haven’t actually said what it is they object to ... Do they object to better training? Better research?” Cass said the BMA’s critique was based on “online sources mainly from the US”, adding: “When thinking about evidence-based care, they haven’t produced any evidence that the review should be stopped.” She added: “I’ve spoken to hundreds of doctors [and] clinical staff during and since the review. The vast majority of those people are really supportive of the approach.” The four-year review by Cass, a former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, was the biggest into the treatment of children struggling with their gender. Cass said it was important that the BMA’s critique, which will be published in January, did not “cherry-pick a small part of the experience and the evidence”. Cass’s comments yesterday are the first time she has publicly spoken about the BMA and her review. More than 1,400 doctors, 900 of whom are BMA members, have signed an open letter calling for the BMA to drop its opposition to Cass. Some resigned from the union after being members for up to 50 years. The BMA’s governing council voted to reject the Cass review in a private meeting in July, but the membership base of 195,000 doctors was not consulted. The council held a further vote last month to say it would approach its critique of the review “neutrally”. Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the BMA council, said: “The chair of our ‘task and finish’ group has set out to [the] council how we will listen to those with experience as patients or clinicians, consider the link between evidence and recommendation, and compare the recommendations with the actions or strategies that have arisen from them.” In a separate development, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has cut ties with the Stonewall charity amid concerns about its stance on transgender issues.")
![I wanted a trans woman in my novel, says Lorraine Charlotte Alt Lorraine Kelly has said that she wanted to include a transgender character in her debut novel because “there is a lot of misunderstanding and toxicity” around the topic. The television presenter said she decided to write about a trans woman in The Island Swimmer to show that gender is the “least interesting thing” about a person. The romance novel follows the journey of Evie, who joins a cold-water swimming group in Scotland led by her old friend Freya who is transgender. Speaking at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, Kelly, 64, said: “I wanted people to get to know [Freya] and make up their mind about her and then it just so happens that at one time when she was little she was called Magnus, but that’s the least interesting thing about her, the least interesting thing is that she happens to be trans. “I really wanted to write that because there is a lot of misunderstanding and toxicity around the whole issue, we know that, I think personally you have your absolutely own opinions but you have to judge people on their own merit, as who they are as a person and it was important for me to just show a character [like that in the book].” Kelly is a vocal supporter for transgender people and often interviews activists on her eponymous ITV programme Lorraine. In an interview with The Guardian, she explained that while growing up in South Lanarkshire her school bus driver was trans. Kelly said: “[The bus driver] was a trans woman and she was going through the process of transitioning. And you can imagine the abuse she got because it was the Seventies. But I used to chat to her, and she was a brilliant woman.” On her show three years ago Kelly hosted Kathleen Stock, the former professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex who resigned after a backlash over her gender critical views. Afterwards she wrote on Twitter/ X: “I believe transwomen are women and transmen are men. Dr [Kathleen] Stock doesn’t and we disagree on that.”](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F68392dc0-c179-44f3-9492-685ee8cf1cca_207x864.png "I wanted a trans woman in my novel, says Lorraine Charlotte Alt Lorraine Kelly has said that she wanted to include a transgender character in her debut novel because “there is a lot of misunderstanding and toxicity” around the topic. The television presenter said she decided to write about a trans woman in The Island Swimmer to show that gender is the “least interesting thing” about a person. The romance novel follows the journey of Evie, who joins a cold-water swimming group in Scotland led by her old friend Freya who is transgender. Speaking at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, Kelly, 64, said: “I wanted people to get to know [Freya] and make up their mind about her and then it just so happens that at one time when she was little she was called Magnus, but that’s the least interesting thing about her, the least interesting thing is that she happens to be trans. “I really wanted to write that because there is a lot of misunderstanding and toxicity around the whole issue, we know that, I think personally you have your absolutely own opinions but you have to judge people on their own merit, as who they are as a person and it was important for me to just show a character [like that in the book].” Kelly is a vocal supporter for transgender people and often interviews activists on her eponymous ITV programme Lorraine. In an interview with The Guardian, she explained that while growing up in South Lanarkshire her school bus driver was trans. Kelly said: “[The bus driver] was a trans woman and she was going through the process of transitioning. And you can imagine the abuse she got because it was the Seventies. But I used to chat to her, and she was a brilliant woman.” On her show three years ago Kelly hosted Kathleen Stock, the former professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex who resigned after a backlash over her gender critical views. Afterwards she wrote on Twitter/ X: “I believe transwomen are women and transmen are men. Dr [Kathleen] Stock doesn’t and we disagree on that.”")
Daily Mail [1]
Telegraph [1]
Friday Total: 1
The Guardian [0]
The Times [0]
Daily Mail [0]
Telegraph [1]
Saturday Total: 1
The Guardian [0]
The Times [1]
Daily Mail [0]
Telegraph [0]
Sunday Total: 0
TRANSWRITES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
JK Rowling’s latest anti-trans rant is 292 words long but you can debunk it with 2, by Gemma Stone
Mridul Wadhwa quits Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre after sustained anti-trans campaign against her, by Gemma Stone
“Transitions The Unheard Stories” review; A useful resource hampered by an inconcise introduction, by Laura Kate Dale
Enraged industry professionals slam The Bookseller for promoting anti-trans social media accounts, by Gemma Stone
When was the T added to LGBT? A quick history, by Sarah Clarke
Trans people are the greatest assault on women in JK Rowling’s life time, apparently, by Gemma Stone
The 32 things The Cass Review recommends and why they are concerning, by Gemma Stone.
NHS & puberty blockers: Former GIDS patients reflect on long wait times, invasive assessments, by Sasha Baker.
The Cass Review: A government-sanctioned attack on trans lives, by Lee Hurley.
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