Go N-éirigh An Bóthar Leat
Update 328 Irish Terf Special
HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!🧡💛💚💙💜🤎
Though the final result is not yet in it’s now absolutely clear from reports from around the country that it’s a win for the No No vote in the Irish Referenda!! I am over the moon!! Well done to all those who voted No and especially all the Irish Terven ( Irene, Liz Riley, Irish Gal and many more), The Countess (Laoise de Brún, Sandra Adams et al), Gript News (John McGuirk, Ben Scallan and the team), Free Speech Ireland, Not All Gays…and me in my own small way - I have been banging on about this since soon after this substack began!! Thanks for putting up with me! What a great day! Maybe the tide is beginning to turn in captured Ireland?
Thanks to St Patrick and my Mum (RIP) who must have had a part in this 😊
Here is the latest update from Gript:
https://gript.ie/a-landslide-no-no-ireland-rejects-changes-to-family-and-women-at-home-provisions/
And great take from Gript on how RTE ( the state broadcaster) are spinning it:
https://gript.ie/the-political-class-not-the-public-didnt-understand-the-referendums/
“…across the country poor hairy baboons coming down from their mountain mud huts had walked into polling booths and cast a “no” vote because of their unenlightened state.” 🤣🤣🤣
Please spread this around if you can, Terven!
I’m off to watch the rugby - will be keeping an eye open for messages😎
A pause in our Leading Female Season.
Go n-éirigh an bóthar leat means “May your journey succeed.” The song ‘shoulder to shoulder’ is sung at the games of the Irish Rugby teams since they represent both the Republic and Northern Ireland. If it is a home game you also get the Republic’s national anthem 😎
Thank you from me
To avoid repeating myself, one wonderful reader has directed me to several of the reports in this edition and I am very grateful indeed to her. I would appoint her deputy editor but, unfortunately, the salary is not very impressive 😂
ACTION ALERT: Please respond to DfE consultation on "gender questioning children" by 12th March.
An important reminder from Parent Power.
This is a call to all who are interested in the welfare and safeguarding of their children, to respond to the Department for Education's public consultation on their draft "Non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England" on "Gender Questioning Children". This guidance, which can be accessed here, was issued jointly by the Dept for Education and the Secretary of State Gillian Keegan, and Women & Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch on December 19th 2023. You can read the Government press release here.
Many of us working in this field think that this is the most significant and helpful guidance in the 5 years since compulsory RSE (Relationships & Sex Education) came into effect in 2019. That guidance gave rise to a whole RSE industry, which, by the Government's own admission, unleashed a tsunami of activist practitioners and resources – many supported by the Department for Education itself — which have bombarded schools with programmes and materials that have caused significant distress and harm to children, and alienated their parents. This has included the promotion of transgender ideology and transitioning to children even in the youngest years of primary school. In consequence, referrals of children for transitioning treatment skyrocketed 4,400% between 2008-18 and a report last year from Civitas found that one in ten school children now want to change gender.
Therefore, it is critically important that when the Government have finally shown some understanding of the problem — offering guidance on how schools should deal with what are helpfully referred to as "gender questioning", rather than "transgender", children – that we should all respond to support what is positive about the Guidance, whilst offering constructive suggestions on how it should be improved.
The positives of the guidance include:
Parental consultation required for all decisions regarding the gender questioning child’s social-transitioning requests and welfare.
Recording of biological sex/legal name — every school must record the legal name and biological sex of every pupil in the admissions register. It is not acceptable to record a male child as a girl and vice versa.
Preferred pronouns — use of opposite-sex pronouns effectively banned in primary schools and recognised elsewhere as a significant decision requiring consultation and great discretion; no-one (staff, other pupils, etc) should be COMPELLED to use “preferred” pronouns. Religious objections to their use should be respected on equality grounds.
Single-sex toilets — schools and colleges cannot allow a child to use a space solely designated for use by the opposite sex.
Protection of other children must be major factor in decision making — where a child questioning their gender requests alternative arrangements, these can be considered but should not compromise the safety, comfort, privacy or dignity of the child, or other pupils.
Uniform and clothing – in general, a gender questioning child should be held to the same uniform standard as other children of their sex.
Physical education and Sport – allowing a gender questioning child to participate in sport with the opposite sex should not be permitted if it risks safety or fairness.
Single-sex schools – in line with the Equality Act 2010, single sex schools can refuse to admit pupils of the other biological sex, regardless of whether the child is questioning their gender.
Transition is NOT a neutral act — there is no general duty to allow a child to social transition. Schools must take a cautious approach in recognition of the negative impact such decisions could have on the child and other pupils in the school, especially in light of the fact that "better information is needed about the outcomes of children" who socially transition.
We do, however, have certain concerns with the Guidance and identify areas where it could be improved, including:
“Social transitioning” of pupils has not been banned outright – and this remains of major concern, allowing, as it does, the possibility that the wishes of parents may continue to be side-lined or ignored. It appears the Government received legal advice that an outright ban would contravene existing law — it so, it is incumbent on the Government to legislate accordingly.
No parental veto / final decision on a child's social transitioning — although it is stressed throughout the Guidance document that parents should be consulted on most matters in this area, we have seen from parents' experience of RSE consultations how loosely both schools and the Government interpret what constitutes a "consultation", and how the final say normally rests with the school. It is the child's parents, however, who must have the final say and be able to veto any decision in favour of a child's social gender transition (note - ParentPower does not support parents who wish to change their child's gender to that of the opposite sex, as that is never an authentic parental right or ever in the child's best interests).
Undefined "exceptional circumstances" are given as a reason for when a school need not consult parents on socially transitioning a child. Unless such "exceptional circumstances" are clearly defined (eg. evidenced threat of violent abuse) this could be liberally interpreted and provide a loophole for trans-affirming schools not to inform or involve parents.
Status of Guidance as "non-statutory" — the largest teaching union (NEU) has already advised teachers that they can ignore the new Guidance. Unless the Guidance has legally-binding status then children, and the rights of their parents, will be left unprotected from trans-affirming schools and activists.
Gender neutral toilets in schools still permitted — although the Guidance rightly states that pupils should not be allowed to use the toilets and changing facilities of the opposite sex, it does not address the growing problem of schools abolishing male and female toilets altogether in favour of only providing gender-neutral toilet and/or changing areas with single cubicles. Single-unit disabled-access toilets may still be gender-neutral, but otherwise the Guidance should require schools to provide only separate male and female toilets spaces, which can only be accessed by biologically male or female pupils respectively. This respects the privacy and dignity of both sexes, especially girls.
You can read Parent Power's full submission to the consultation here.
We urge you to respond by 12 March to the consultation which you can access here. You can read the DfE's Draft Guidance document here and the DfE's explanation document about the consultation here.
You can use any of the above points, if you wish, in your response. You are also welcome to take further ideas from ParentPower's consultation submission. However, please on no account use exactly the same wording, as identical responses may be discounted. Your submission will be much more effective if using your own words.
The UK Labour Party - The Orcs Are Coming!!
Labour’s Gender Policy Adviser
Labour are, so the polls predict, likely to form the next Government. Just in case you, despite being part of the Terf Resistance, were tempted to vote for them, cop a load of this:
https://twitter.com/angelaeagle/status/1765795128407388651
In terms of conversion therapy and a criminal (!) offence of misgendering, if brought into force by this totalitarian mob, I think we would need there to be a challenge to the actual legislation itself and this would be a challenge based around the legislation being incompatible with Article 9 of the Human Rights Act ( freedom of thought , conscience and religion) and Article 10 (freedom of expression). This would be a high court challenge. It would be big and expensive. We would need cases grouped together, all prosecutions halted and the backing of Free Speech Union and everyone else on the Terf Resistance side. As you can see, I am gearing up already!! Nil desperandum!! All thoughts gratefully received, of course.
With regard to gender recognition, the Labour proposals are the next door neighbour of self ID!! See my previous report on that here:
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/the-road-to-wigan-pier
However, that doesn’t mean that men with gender recognition certificates should be allowed in single sex spaces and we need the Equality Act clarified in that regard as For Women Scotland are seeking to do. I reported on their appeal to the Supreme Court here:
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/water-from-the-well-part-2
Chins up, Terven 😊
The WPATH Files continued
In case you haven’t caught it yet (it has come out earlier than usual), excellent analysis of the Files by Clive Simpson and Dennis Kavanagh on Queens’ Speech.
Though the NHS in England has recently distanced themselves from WPATH, a report in The Mail Online reveals the extensive influence of WPATH in the NHS and in the UK in general.
Alex Ward and Martin Beckford ( EXCLUSIVE How influential trans health doctors and activists have secretly shaped NHS policies for more than a decade 08 March) report:
Influential transgender health doctors and activists successfully helped shape NHS policies for more than a decade, it can be revealed.
Standards of Care documents, produced by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, have been used as a basis for guidance to medical practitioners across the NHS.
Such was the level of WPATH's influence it saw a director of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust tell a committee of MPs its treatment protocols were based on the organisation's guidelines.
It was previously reported hormones blocking the onset of puberty were given to almost every child referred to specialists by the Tavistock clinic.
The NHS gender identity service’s own data showed 96 per cent of children sent for assessment to endocrinology clinics were given puberty blockers - 98 per cent then went on to be given cross-sex hormones.
This aligns with the seventh version of WPATH's Standard's of Care - relied on by the NHS and others - calling for trans people to have 'gender-affirming care', including treatments such as hormones, surgeries and puberty suppression.
Its eighth version, which was published to widespread criticism, included an entire chapter on Eunuchs and advocated for medical professionals to consider whether they should castrate a person who identified as such.
Former Tavistock director, Dr Bernadette Wren, told the Women and Equalities Committee in 2015 the clinic's protocols were 'based on WPATH guidelines which are almost universally observed in Europe'.
At the time Tavistock was the largest provider of transgender services in England – it is currently earmarked for closure, to be replaced by regional hubs, this year.
NHS guidance documents for staff, published in 2013, repeatedly make reference to WPATH and state they are 'informed' by the organisation's seventh edition of its guidance.
Contracts for NHS England's Gender Identity Development Service, covering 2016-2020, state services 'will be delivered in line with… relevant national and international guidelines for the care of children and adolescents with GD such as the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards Of Care'.
The document goes on to cite the seventh version of WPATH's standards of care.
It states: 'When assessing children and adolescents who present with GD, the service's mental health professionals will broadly conform to the following guidelines taken from the WPATH SOC v7.'
WPATH has since updated its Standards of Care document, with a 'version eight'.
These are still signposted to as guidance for professionals by some trusts in NHS England.
WPATH's Standards of Care document has been criticised for pushing a model where clinicians facilitate patients' transitioning, rather than providing objective healthcare.
The organisation refers to its Standards of Care as 'internationally accepted guidelines' and discusses at length medical interventions for children and adolescents.
Professional medical bodies have also published guidance either endorsing or signposting their members to WPATH's guidance.
The GMC [ General Medical Council] and BMA [ British Medical Association] have directed their members to WPATH's standards of care, while the BMA cited them in its 'core principles of supportive care'.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists made repeated reference to WPATH's Standards of Care in its 'Good Practice Guidelines' report in October 2013. A review of the document was planned in April 2023, although it is unclear when it was due by.
The Scottish Government recommended the adoption of Standards of Care in 2012 and in 2021 advised the guidance should be updated.
In 2022 it reviewed whether to implement the eighth version of WPATH's Standards of Care, but stopped short following a backlash.
Last year, Dr Hilary Cass submitted her interim review to NHS England on gender identity services for children and young people.
The Cass review criticised the Tavistock clinic – the sole provider of specialist care in England – as 'not a safe or viable long-term option'.
The full article is here:
Excellent interview on this by Julia Hartley-Brewer on Talk TV with Helen Joyce.
Meanwhile Aidan Radnedge in The Mail Online ( Fury on International Women's Day over Care Quality Commission report on NHS maternity services referring to females as genderless 'people' 08 March) reports:
There has been fury on International Women's Day as a Care Quality Commission report on NHS maternity services referred repeatedly to genderless 'people'.
Campaigners have accused officials of not only downgrading a hospital trust found to be failing patients but also 'dehumanising' women with their choice of language.
The CQC announced it was dropping its overall rating for maternity services at Great Western Hospital in Swindon from 'good' to 'needs improvement' after an inspection.
But throughout its findings the commission often used the word 'people' when referring to those treated at the maternity unit - a choice critics called 'enraging'.
At other times the word 'women' was used but most often in sentences such as 'women, people using the service and their babies'.
Announcing today's downgrade, CQC's deputy director of secondary and specialist healthcare Carolyn Jenkinson said there had been a deterioration in the level of care being provided to women, people using the service and their babies'.
Among the criticisms, she said: 'People had experienced 3 and 4 degree perineal tears and bleeding during birth, but these had been downgraded in severity, which meant they were not investigated as thoroughly as they should’ve been to keep people safe.'
She went on to say: 'We also found staff didn’t always assess people when they arrived or note how urgently they needed support.
'This meant people weren’t always seen in order of clinical need and staff could miss if someone’s condition worsened.'
Trina Budge, director of campaign group For Women Scotland, responded by saying: 'It's just enraging. Men's healthcare campaigns have no problem using clear language, but women are constantly dehumanised and reduced to body parts.
'Clear language is really important in medical information but where women are concerned, this is forgotten.
'There is a long history of misogyny in medicine and of women's issues being ignored or overlooked - this is the latest iteration.'
There was also a backlash on social media, with one response on X, formerly Twitter, saying: ‘Every… single… person in the human race, in all of time was borne by a woman!’
The full article is here:
I am still working through the WPATH Files - bear with me!!
Women’s Golf
Some more good news here.
Beth Ann Nichols in Golfweek ( Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson banned from NXXT after Florida-based mini-tour changes gender policy March) reports:
Painted fingernails. Must be a woman then! © Golfweek
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson’s playing options just got significantly smaller. NXXT Golf announced on Friday that, effective immediately, competitors must be a biological female at birth to participate. A statement from the tour notes that it underscores the organization’s commitment to
“maintaining the integrity of women’s professional golf and ensuring fair competition.” The news comes on International Women’s Day.
“As we navigate through the evolving landscape of sports, it is crucial to uphold the competitive integrity that is the cornerstone of women’s sports,” said NXXT Golf CEO Stuart McKinnon in a statement.
The full article is here:
India Willoughby Wasting Police Time
Kevin E G Perry in The Independent (India Willoughby’s JK Rowling complaint did not meet criminal threshold, police say 08 March) reports:
Northumbria Police has stated that India Willoughby’s accusation that author JK Rowling misgendered her [ Dusty- HIM] online did not “meet the criminal threshold”.
Earlier this week, Willoughby, a trans woman and broadcaster, reported the Harry Potter author to the police for calling her [ HIM] a man.
On Sunday, Rowling posted a criticism on X/Twitter, of trans women being allowed into women’s changing rooms and mentioned Willoughby in her thread.
The author wrote: “India didn’t become a woman. India is cosplaying a misogynistic male fantasy of what a woman is.”
In an interview with Byline TV, Willoughby, 58, said of the posts: “JK Rowling has definitely committed a crime.
“I’m legally a woman. She knows I’m a woman and she calls me a man. It’s a protected characteristic.” [ I DIDN’T KNOW THAT BEING STUPID WAS A PROTECTED CHARACTERISTIC. YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW…].
Willoughby added that she [ HE] had contacted Northumbria Police to report Rowling’s comments, which she described as a “hate crime”.
“I don’t know if that’s going to be treated as a hate crime, malicious communications, but it’s a cut-and-dry offence as far as I’m concerned,” she [ HE] added.
In a statement given to the PA news agency on Friday (8 March), a Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “On Monday, March 4, we received a complaint about a post on social media.
“While we recognise the upset this may have caused, the post was reviewed and did not meet the criminal threshold.
“The complainant [ THINKS: IF I SAY ‘COMPLAINANT’ I WON’T HAVE TO SAY ‘SHE’] has been updated of this.”
After Willoughby announced she [ HE] had reported Rowling, the author said that Willoughby appeared to have forgotten the Forstater ruling, which “established that gender critical views can be protected in law”.
The full article is here:
Endpiece
My Irish Mum loved the Sound of Music so, for the Irish Terven Hordes and for my Mum, here is Julie Andrews:
Wow and wow and wow! I'm singing through the night like a lark that's learning to pray!
Fabulous news, Dusty. Couldn’t be more thrilled. The politicians & pundits have been given a bloody nose by the women of Ireland 🇮🇪. In the same week as the WPATH report.