UPDATE 300!! TAH DAH!! 🥳🥳🥳
Gosh, I had difficulty choosing one of my favourite film scenes. Some I have featured before such as the opening of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri ( most popular film clip of 2023!):
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/three-billboards
Or the classic ‘I coulda been a contender’ scene from On The Waterfront:
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/on-the-waterfront
But eventually I plumped for the scene below from one of my favourite films, Dead Man. I went to see the film with some mates. They complained at the end that it was too slow. Someone dies at least every ten minutes. In the clip below two people die! There is no pleasing some people 🤣
William Blake, an accountant from Cleveland, Ohio, rides by train to the frontier town of Machine to take up a promised accounting job in the town's metal works. Arriving in town, Blake then discovers that the position has already been filled, and John Dickinson, the ferocious owner of the company, drives Blake from the workplace at gunpoint.
Jobless and without money or prospects, Blake meets Thel Russell, a former prostitute who sells paper flowers. He lets her take him home. Thel's ex-boyfriend Charlie surprises them in bed, shoots at Blake, and accidentally kills Thel when she shields Blake with her body. The bullet passes through Thel and wounds Blake, who kills Charlie with Thel's gun before climbing out the window and fleeing the town on Charlie's horse. Company owner Dickinson is Charlie's father and hires three killers — Cole Wilson, Conway Twill, and Johnny "The Kid" Pickett — to bring Blake back "dead or alive".
Blake awakens to find aa American Indian man trying to dislodge the bullet from his chest. The man, calling himself Nobody, reveals that the bullet is too close to Blake's heart to remove, rendering Blake effectively a walking dead man. When he learns Blake's full name, Nobody decides Blake is a reincarnation of William Blake, a poet whom he idolizes but of whom Blake is ignorant. He decides to protect Blake. They head towards the Pacific Ocean pursued by the killers.
Nobody is perpetually looking for tobacco. They chance upon a trading station.
Johnny Depp is Blake.
Gary Farmer is Nobody.
Alfred Molina is the store owner.
And here is the opening sequence with the marvellous theme tune by Neil Young.
Mr Borg-Neal
This does not directly relate to gender ideology but I am sure you will see the parallels! Mr Borg-Neal was a manager of many years standing with Lloyds Bank. He was also dyslexic. During a training session on ‘race education’ provided by an outside provider, while asking a perfectly sensible question, Mr Borg-Neal inadvertently and partly due to his dyslexia used the ‘N’ word. However, even though he used the word, it was not meant in any malicious or insulting sense. The trainer from APS Intelligence claimed to be so upset that she had to take a week off work. She refused to allow Mr Borg-Neal to explain himself. APS complained to Lloyds who sacked him. He took a tribunal claim and was successful in his claim for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. He was awarded damages in the region of £500,000.
EDI Jester’s take on it is below. The judgment is here:
I think that this is such a significant case that I am going to attempt a separate analysis of it. Bear with me.
Wonderful Free Speech Union backed Mr Borg-Neal and here is an interview on GB News by Andrew Doyle with Toby Young of FSU.
The Referendum on the Irish Constitution
Some disappointing if predicable news care of Gript. The Irish National Women’s Council ( or the National Willy Council as many Irish feminists refer to them as since they have a trans identifying man on their board) are one of the NGOs referred to in this report.
Niamh Uí Bhriain (SHOCKER: NGOS WILL NOW SUPPORT THE MINISTER’S REFERENDUM 08 January) reports:
“The knives are out for Green Party Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman over his veiled warning to ‘progressive’ non-government organisation (NGOs) that they will have to explain themselves if they oppose the women in the home referendum,” wrote seasoned journalist John Drennan at the weekend.
O’Gorman was under fire, it seemed, with a senior Fine Gael figure telling Drennan: ‘It was an utterly stupid comment. We are going to have to build a civic coalition and cross-party support to secure this referendum”.
The Minister had said that organisations who “regard themselves as progressive would have to explain why they want to maintain the “status quo” if they campaign against a Yes vote in the referendum on removing the article from the Constitution”.
As I wrote on Gript last week, the vexed tone was palpable, as was the Minister’s annoyance at the thought that organisations who have had their coffers filled by public funding might now not live up to his expectations and support his proposal.
The errant NGOs would have to explain themselves – like bold schoolchildren – or get in line, fast.
Roderic O’Gorman has clarified for “progressive” NGOs who actually pays the piper, delivering an icy reminder that they will need to explain themselves if they oppose the government’s proposals.
A Non-Governmental Organisation is, as should be evidenced from the name, a body that is separate to and independent of the government, and, some would argue, which should assist in holding the government to account.
But many NGOs, as Michael McNamara observed, are now simply GONGOs – described in the Foreign Policy piece the Clare TD linked to as “government sponsored non-governmental organisations”, and yes, the contradiction is as risible as it sounds.
But the government politicians needn’t have worried. The NGOs heard O’Gorman’s message loud and clear. The least surprising headline of the week was duly delivered by the Business Post who declared: “NGOs row in to support government on referendums after initial misgivings”.
What a shocker. No-one saw that coming. As the Business Post also helpfully explained: “A failure to secure the support of NGOs would have made it difficult for the government to succeed in its own campaigns”.
All jesting aside, it’s a case of clear messaging, so we had Orla O’Connor of the National Women’s Council, in a remarkable piece of timing, out for a Yes vote in the Irish Times on Saturday.
It would be a “decisive signal to our nation’s daughters that a woman’s place is wherever she wants it to be”, she wrote, adding the usual demands for more of this and plenty of that and supports for everyone all around.
It sounds remarkably like the catchphrase used by the Minister back in December when trumpeting his “ground-breaking” referendum – “A woman’s place is wherever she wants to be, in the workplace, in education, or in the home”.
But that’s not plagiarism: its just the government and the non-government-body-funded-by-the-government all singing from the same hymn sheet as usual.
It’s worth pointing out that the funding enjoyed by the NGOs is not the Minister’s money, nor is it Leo Varadkar’s, or the Cabinet’s or the government’s. Its the taxpayers – you and me – who are forced to keep shelling out this ridiculous charade where we are being told what to think by people who neither represent us nor want to represent us.
Apparently, O’Gorman still needs to coax Labour and the Soc Dems across the line, but at this point, it looks like the usual referendum set-up in Ireland, with the entire establishment on one side and some few campaign groups on the other side, who’ll undoubtedly be called far-right and worse for going against the tide.
There is some prospect that there is enough anti-government sentiment to propel a No vote mostly based on the desire to give the establishment a bloody nose, and this Cabinet has certainly done more to annoy women who know the difference between the biological sexes is real, and referendum debates can take their own inexplicable turns.
Those debates, if they are to be worthy of the name, must examine issues which have been raised in respect of the proposed changes which may or may not have been foreseen by the Cabinet.
As reported by the Independent in December:
“Cabinet ministers have been told constitutional changes to the definition of a family could result in an increase in people seeking reunification with relations who emigrated to Ireland.
A cabinet committee examining the wording for next year’s referendums received official advice on the proposal to redefine the family in the constitution as being based on “marriage or another durable relationship”, in the context of immigration and the reunification of families.”
Though the memo added: “The State can continue to define ‘family’ for immigration purposes, but there would likely need to be an additional layer of consideration of Article 41 constitutional family right in immigration decision making.”
Another aspects to the changes to Article 41 might apparently be the effect on maintenance payments, which might come as a surprise to those arguing that the alterations would help women.
Barrister Geoffrey Shannon – the former special rapporteur on Child Protection, and now a judge – said in 2017 that the removal of the clause from the constitution “could affect maintenance payments in family law cases”, the Times reported.
But Minister O’Gorman can rest assured that the “progressive” organisations have come to heel. If there’s inconvenient truths to be said that might damage a Yes vote we won’t be hearing them from those funded by the government – the ‘non-governmental’ groups that are very frequently so curiously aligned with government proposals.
Thanks to a wonderful reader for the next three pieces! If you see anything interesting, please do send me a link. I regularly trawl through the worldwide web but I am not going to spot everything as you can see!!
Misgendering, the NMC and the Equality Act
This is an alarming report. I will comment on it at the end. Clive Simpson will be horrified since he used to be a nurse.
John Ely for The Mail Online ( Nurses and Midwifes face being struck off for intentionally mis-gendering patients under updated guidance that claims it's a 'BELIEF' that people can't swap sex 08 January) reports:
Nurses and midwives could face being struck off for intentionally mis-gendering patients.
Guidelines from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) regulator tells medics how they can 'express their beliefs appropriately' and when they run the risk of a sanction.
Under its latest update, it includes one example where a midwife who believes the Government is destroying the health service shares their opinion at a dinner.
Regulators would only take action if said midwife vowed to treat patients differently based on their political views.
But another example shared in the latest update has sparked concerns that sanctions could be dished out to nurses and midwives who address trans patients with the wrong pronouns.
In the hypothetical scenario, one nurse is described as deliberately misgendering a trans patient attending a diabetes clinic.
Despite the patient repeatedly asking the nurse to address them by their 'correct' gender, the medic refuses to do so, resulting in a formal complaint.
When the employer then confronts the nurse about her behaviour, she states that she was 'acting in accordance with her belief that human beings cannot change their sex or gender'.
The NMC concludes it would likely take action against the nurse for this act, though does not specify the exact penalty.
'Persistently and deliberately misgendering a trans person is contrary to the requirements of the code to treat people with kindness and respect,' the guidance reads.
'Although gender-critical beliefs are protected under the Equality Act, this does not mean that those with gender-critical beliefs can "misgender" trans persons with impunity.'
The NMC has the power to strike nurses and midwives off its register, barring them from working in the UK.
However, this is typically only dished out for severe breaches, such as a registrant having been found guilty of heinous crimes, or severely lacking the necessary skills to look after patients safely.
In other cases, the NMC can temporarily suspend nurses and midwives from working or require them to be directly supervised by another professional at work.
Organisations critical of the creep of gender-neutral language in the health sector have taken issue with the NMC's example, as well as framing the observation of the reality of a patient's biological sex as a 'belief'.
Stella O'Malley, psychotherapist and director of medical campaign group Genspect, said it was 'extremely concerning' language that could leave the NMC open to legal challenges.
She told MailOnline: 'Professionals, especially those working in healthcare where mis-sexing a person could have catastrophic implications, need to have the right to clarify and even highlight a person’s sex.
'For example, if a transman presents with stomach aches, the nurse might need to ascertain whether the transman, who is biologically female, could be pregnant.'
She added that the regulator needed to 'protect' the freedom to clarify important medical facts to keep patients safe.
'While a person’s gender identity might be important for some people’s sense of self, their biological sex can be a matter of life and death within a hospital setting,' she said.
Ms O'Malley also slammed the NMC for framing biological sex as a 'belief'.
She said: 'The NMC are incorrect to state that it is a ‘"belief" that humans are incapable of changing sex.'
'This is akin to saying it is a "belief" that water is wet.
'This is a fact, no person in the history of the world has changed sex – many have changed their gender identity but no one has changed sex.'
Shelley Charlesworth, spokesperson for Transgender Trend, a campaign group concerned about the sharp rise in young people changing gender, also told this website she was worried by the NMC's language.
She said: 'Nurses and midwives need to understand how male and female bodies differ and what that means for their patients' treatment.
'They should never be penalised for that knowledge or for speaking and acting on it.'
Firstly, though an acknowledgement of the fact that you cannot change sex is framed for the purposes of the Equality Act as a ‘belief’, the medical profession should be dealing with medical, biological and scientific facts and that is a pretty basic fact as stated in the article by Stella O’Malley and Shelley Charlesworth!!
I don’t think, therefore, that we ever get to the question of ‘belief’. However, if it is felt we do get to that question, the Maya Forstater and Allison Bailey cases involved expression of a GC belief in your own spare time. Denise Fahmy ( v The Arts Council) involved Denise expressing her GC beliefs in a meeting by standing up for LGB Alliance. I don't see why 'misgendering' should not be the same as that ( and see the draft schools guidance) but we should get the answer in former teacher Kevin Lister's case since he was sacked for refusing to use a new name and pronouns - so right on the subject! You can find my report on Mr Lister’s case here:
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/the-teahouse-of-the-august-moon-part-8b7
All thoughts gratefully received and I look forward to hearing from some of our GC lawyers such as Dennis Kavanagh and Sarah Phillimore.
The full article is here:
Pronouns and New Names
This is a FFS one!
Eirian Jane Prosser in The Mail Online ( Education charity is slammed for telling governors to use correct pronouns when addressing pupils - as MP blasts guidance for 'pushing divisive, radical and political' ideas about gender 07 January) reports:
An education charity that recruits school governors has been accused by an MP of pushing a 'divisive, radical and political' agenda after it told its volunteers to use the 'correct pronouns' and 'new names' when they address transgender pupils.
The advice from the Governors for Schools - an organisation which helps fill governor roles in England and Wales - published guidance for Trans Awareness Week in November to ensure trans pupils 'needs are represented'.
The recommendations, however, now contradict with draft guidance published by the Department of Education a month later in December which stated that primary school children should always be referred to by their biological pronouns.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan also made clear that schools, both for younger and older children, 'do not have to accept a child's request to socially transition, and that teachers or pupils should not be pressured into using different pronouns'.
Tory MP Miriam Cates has slammed the charity for its guidelines in the article called The Importance of Trans Awareness Week, calling the the advice 'extremely concerning'.
Miriam Cates MP
The full article is here:
State Sanctioned Sexual Assault
The Stasi - sorry, I mean the Police are at it again!! Well done to Women’s Rights Network for their hard work here. I note that Standing for Women have reported on this issue before.
George Odling in The Mail Online (Most police forces now allow trans officers to strip-search women as campaigners warn the move will lead to 'state-sanctioned sexual assault' 07 January) reports:
The majority of police forces allow trans-identifying biologically male officers to strip-search women, research has found.
Of the 43 forces in England and Wales, at least 34 have either implemented the policy or intend to, a report from the Women’s Rights Network revealed.
The feminist group's founder, Heather Binning, said the guidelines would lead to 'state-sanctioned sexual assault', and police leaders had failed the public by pandering to vocal lobbyists.
'Self-identification is not UK law and women should not be paying the price for policing beyond the law,' she said.
'Police chiefs have failed us again. This is not reasonable or lawful and we do not consent. It is state-sanctioned sexual assault, and it must not be tolerated.'
Guidelines are already in place that mean female officers are required to carry out intimate searches of a biological male suspect if they identify as a woman, with the officer facing possible disciplinary proceedings should they refuse.
The author of the WRN report titled State Sanctioned Sexual Assault, retired police superintendent Cathy Larkman, said dozens of female officers had approached the group to voice their concerns.
But there was a culture of fear within policing that prevented them from speaking out, she added.
One serving female police officer said when she questioned the policies she was threatened with disciplinary proceedings.
The full article is here:
Maiden Mother Matriarch
Given the role of the internet in the development of ‘Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria’ (see the research by Lisa Littman and Abigail Shrier’s book Irreversible Damage ), I thought many readers would be interested in this interview on Louise Perry’s channel.
Her guest is Sophie Windsor (née Winkleman), British actress, comedian, and star of the cult British TV classic 'Peep Show.' They speak about Sophie's campaign to get screens out of schools, and for greater regulation of children's access to smartphones, and particularly online porn.
Who exactly are your children, Sir Keir?
Very strange shenanigans here as I go to press. Over to Kellie-Jay:
The School Librarian
Excellent piece here in Glinner’s new ‘Whistle blower’ series:
https://grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/the-school-librarian
Endpiece
For my musical choice for update 300, I thought I would pay tribute to my Irish Mum. She was a very good piano player in a kind of honky tonk style which was perfect for old American country songs which she would play when I was a kid and both of us would sing along heartily. I think that is where I got my love of music and perhaps especially country music. Here are the Be Good Tanyas doing one of our old favourites, Oh Susanna 😎
Ahhh, it is Update 300 and we have dealt with some heavy duty subjects, so let’s have one more country love song from wonderful Nanci Griffiths 😎
🎉congratulations Dusty, what a fantastic achievement. Each of your updates is full of a wide variety of interesting subjects for debate 👏. I’ll have to digest this one later though. Treat yourself to a 🍻later… or now if you want 😄