This great poem by the author of the Alice books, Lewis Carroll (it first appeared in Through The Looking Glass) was brought to my mind by another substacker who began her piece today with ‘oh frabjous day!’ This also links in for me to the poem Parasite that I featured in a recent update. For us, of course, the Jabberwocky is gender ideology.
Gender Clinic
This excellent piece care of wonderful Feminist Legal Clinic by clinical psychologist, Sandra Pertot is very apposite as we await Michael Shellenberger and his friends publishing the WPATH files.
Standard variation – Gender Clinic News by Sandra Pertot ( 20 November)
Medical and surgical interventions for those who wish to live as the other gender have always been controversial. However, a major difference between WPATH’s current standards of care and the very first set of standards (SOC-1) is that the early authors were aware of and open about the difficulties inherent in helping gender-questioning people.
Those first standards, published in 1979, cautioned that hormonal and surgical “sex reassignment” was extensive, invasive and not readily reversible; therefore, it should not be performed on an elective basis; it could be sought by people experiencing short-termed delusions or beliefs which might not persist; and there were known cases of regret.
These strong words of caution in SOC-1 were repeated in standards published by the organisation now known as WPATH in 1980, 1981 and 1994—but this prudence was removed thereafter. Children and adolescents were first included in SOC-4 (1994).
When health professionals first offered what is now known as “gender-affirming” medical and surgical treatment last century, gender dysphoria was considered a mental disorder. However, in the early 2000s, there was a movement to depathologise those whose “gender identity” is different to their biological sex. This began in SOC-7 (2012) with a shift of emphasis in requirements for treatment eligibility.
In 2013, Hidalgo et al, a group of clinicians who worked with gender-questioning young people in the US, outlined what they called the “Gender-Affirmative Model”
In 2018, an argument was made for “informed consent” to be sufficient for adults to access cross-sex hormone treatment with no requirement for a mental health assessment or a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
It is a significant departure from accepted clinical practice to assume, without a comprehensive assessment, a specific outcome for a complex set of signs and symptoms. For this reason, a new narrative to support the model of GAC with informed consent was developed, and this is found in SOC-8.
In contrast to SOC-7, WPATH’s current standards strongly emphasise the risk of suicide, which is weaponised by trans activists and GAC health professionals with the unethical line, “Do you want a dead cis [or non-trans] child or a live trans child?” to convince reluctant parents to agree to treatment. SOC-8 repeatedly stresses that GAC is “medically necessary” and, for the first time in the history of WPATH standards, describes it as “lifesaving”.
To summarise the SOC-8 position on mental health concerns—a person seeking GAC is likely to have significant mental health problems but, ignoring all other possibilities, we should conclude these are most likely caused by untreated gender dysphoria, so mental health problems should not be a reason to withhold GAC.
Significantly, the authors of SOC-8 acknowledge that little research has been conducted to systematically examine variables that correlate with poor or worsened biological, psychological, or social conditions following transition.
Never in my decades working in health care have I experienced such an arrogant refusal to acknowledge flaws in a health policy and to dismiss any adverse outcomes as rare and not worthy of consideration.
Source: Standard variation – Gender Clinic News
Free Speech
Excellent piece from Gript highlighting the threats to free speech in Ireland. One of the main targets for these threats? Gript themselves, possibly the only reliable media source of information in the Republic at present.
THE ANTI-FREE SPEECH ECOSYSTEM ( 21 November)
Did you know that there are far-right people gathering, somewhere, maybe under your bed, perhaps in a shed right now and ‘spreading misinformation’ and hate? Honestly you cannot swing a cat these days before you hit someone who is spreading hate or misinformation or disinformation or indeed conspiracies. They seem to be everywhere. As such you must have people, self-appointed people, authorities who can counter all of this hate and do some fact-checking.
This is according to the Irish national broadcaster, RTÉ, who have run with a report from a group called, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.
Unsurprisingly it was also the lead in a slightly hysterical report from the Irish Times.
The name Institute for Strategic Dialogue sounds really fancy, really serious, what with using the words strategic and dialogue, which is much more complex and cleverer than just normal dialogue, conversation, talking, chit-chat or mere gossip.
They must know what they are doing. They have just released a report called an Investigation into online mis- and disinformation ecosystems in Ireland.
Sure enough, RTÉ ran with it like it was gospel. RTÉ, “New research on the spread of online misinformation and disinformation in Ireland has revealed that the influence of the far-right is growing.
The study by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) also shows that tech companies are failing to enforce community guidelines to curb the spread of false, misleading and harmful content on social media platforms.”
In other words, the self-appointed ISD would like more online censorship of views they don’t like. Who do they not like? They don’t like Gript media that uppity start-up that gets quite a lot of traffic online, to name just one.
The ISD, “Gript has emerged as a prominent entity within the Irish mis- and disinformation ecosystem, with their posts consistently gaining some of the highest interactions within the topics analysed. The site was also the most shared media platform for seven out of the nine topics analysed. Please see the appendix for Gript’s response to the claims made in this report.” The report outlines the links that some of Gript’s people have to previous pro-life campaigns in Ireland, so obviously they are the bad guys. Can’t have people who campaign on important issues of justice and human dignity running a media outlet and spreading all that ‘disinformation.’
More from RTÉ, “The study found that activity within the mis- and disinformation ecosystem is growing across all platforms with the number of posts and engagement levels, as well as the number of active accounts, increasing year-on-year between 2020 and 2023.
According to the report, there are clear and obvious enforcement gaps on platforms that allows false, misleading or harmful content to survive. Researchers found that Twitter, now called X, was the platform where the most activity within this mis- and disinformation ecosystem occurred for eight out of the nine topics analysed.”
So there is now a “mis and disinformation ecosystem” and it’s growing. Why can’t they just call it, lies on the internet? And who says and who gets to label what is and is not mis and disinformation?
It seems the likes of the ISD and then taken up by the state broadcaster, who is never ever guilty of spreading misinformation unless you are dealing with a hospital in Gaza being bombed by Israel when in fact it was Hamas.
But I digress! The critical line is: there are clear and obvious enforcement gaps. In other words, the State broadcaster is pushing the line, pushed by the ISD that we need more online censorship of views they don’t like, which are usually most often conservative views.
There may include some low hanging fruit in the form of obvious extreme views to make their call for online censorship look more palatable, but these guys at the Institute for Strategic Studies, along with others such as the Centre for Countering Digital Hate are part of the dangerous pro-censorship and anti-free speech ecosystem, according to me, and I am an authority on these things. I engage in strategic dialogue all the time, I can tell you.
Before and during the war the Nazis used to prevent anyone listening to foreign radio broadcasts in Germany. This call for online censorship is part of the same play book, and it shouldn’t surprise us that state broadcasters lap it up. Who wants the competition in information?
So just who are the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. You can find them and their people here. https://www.isdglobal.org/about/
Their funders include the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and the Open Society Foundation. I’m sure you are just shocked by that.
https://www.isdglobal.org/partnerships-and-funders/
Transhausen By Proxy
This is a fascinating and very important article in Epoch Times. It is also very long but I would urge you to read the whole piece.
Parents' Personality Disorders Driving Surge in Trans Kids: Psychiatrists
'Transhausen by proxy' describes narcissistic parents who may push transgenderism because they enjoy the attention from having a 'trans kid.' ( 17 November)
By Darlene McCormick Sanchez
"Transhausen by proxy," a term coined for narcissistic parents who push so-called "gender transitioning" on their children, may be playing a role in the sudden rise of transgender children, some experts say.
Celebrities are increasingly in the limelight with announcements about their children who come out as transgender or nonbinary. Nonbinary individuals identify as neither male nor female.
"Transhausen by proxy" isn't an officially recognized psychological condition; it's a play on an official condition known as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP). MSBP is a mental illness that's also sometimes called medical child abuse or factitious disorder imposed on others. It's exhibited mostly by women seeking attention by exaggerating or making up an illness of children or others in their care.
Transhausen by proxy has very real effects on society, experts told The Epoch Times.
They point to headlines such as the one on Pride.com in May, which gushes: "15 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids." The article praises stars such as Cher, Sade, Jennifer Lopez, and Charlize Theron for supporting their children who reject their biological sex.
All thoughts on this gratefully received. The full article is here:
Transing History
Andy Jehring in The Mail Online ( Cross-dressing Roman Emperor was transgender, woke Hertfordshire museum declares: Elagabalus, the savage teenage hedonist who once set leopards and snakes on dinner guests for a prank, 'must be referred to as she' 20 November) reports:
A Roman emperor has been branded transgender by a British museum, provoking uproar among historians.
The North Hertfordshire Museum has decided to refer to the 3rd-century AD ruler Elagabalus as 'she' to be 'sensitive' to his pronoun preferences in a display.
The council-run museum in Hitchin, which consults with the LGBT charity Stonewall, owns a coin minted in the reign and uses it in LGBT-themed displays.
The decision is based on the account of Roman chronicler Cassius Dio, who claims that Elagabalus was 'termed wife, mistress and queen', told one lover 'Call me not Lord, for I am a Lady', and asked for female genitalia to be fashioned for him.
But Dio served the emperor Severus Alexander, who took the throne following the murder of Elagabalus, and historians believe the accounts were simply a character assassination.
Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, a Cambridge classics professor, told The Telegraph: 'The Romans didn't have our idea of "trans" as a category, but they used accusations of sexual behaviour "as a woman" as one of the worst insults against men.'
As EDI Jester often says: ‘Get in the bin, North Herts Museum!’ I know how I will be referring to the Museum but I can’t print it here 😊
The full article is here:
Update from The Countess
STATEMENT FROM THE COUNTESS
November 20, 2023
On Friday evening, 17 November, we held an Information Evening at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel in Carlow, despite a concerted campaign by trans extremists to de-platform us. The hotel received a barrage of calls, emails, and threats, with activists threatening to picket. We were determined to go ahead for the sake of free speech, the exchange of ideas, and, most especially, to advocate for the rights of women, children, vulnerable young people and LGB youth. It is now evident that the The Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022, if enacted, will be used by trans extremists to silence women speaking.
We had to pay for a team of private security guards for four hours to ensure the safety of this in-person event.
The evening featured a panel of experts from various Countess working groups, who provided insightful presentations on our Pillars of Concern.
Laoise opened the evening with an overview of the law and the legal landscape.
Sorcha, lead of The Countess Sports working group, discussed male incursion into sport both globally and in Ireland. Her presentation was expertly researched and relatable.
Karen spoke for the first time on behalf of the Lesbian Erasure working group. Her searing first-person account, as well as her incisive explanation of the questionable diagnostic tools used for gender dysphoria, were both powerful and emotive, leaving no doubt that “they are transing gay kids”.
Colin spoke for the first time on safeguarding, specifically on the risk and harm caused by making toilets and changing rooms mixed-sex. It was powerful to hear a man speak up for the privacy and dignity of women and girls.
Sandra, our Schools & Safeguarding lead, gave an in-depth analysis of the capture of the NCCA and their embedding of trans ideology into the curricula.
Laoise closed the evening on a hopeful note with news of the prison amendment Bill, which aims to remove men from female prisons.
Questions from the audience included concerns from teachers who do not want to teach children gender ideology in the new curriculum, but who equally don’t want to lose their jobs. Attendees said the event was informative and powerful, leaving them with the tools and the confidence to speak up effectively.
We want to offer our heartfelt thanks to the Woodford Dolmen Hotel for standing firm in the face of mobilisation and efforts to de-platform us. We ask all our supporters to thank them for standing for freedom of speech. You can email them here: info@woodforddolmenhotel.ie. Also please consider booking this wonderful venue for any event, party, or meal.
Finally, we need your help to put on more events like this one and to recover our losses due to necessary security precautions based on threats by trans extremists. Please help us recoup costs and build towards our next big event in April in Dublin. Details to be released soon. https://www.gofundme.com/f/fnt8m-the-countess
We are never cowed, and we always keep going. Every event makes us stronger and better. We now have a total of seven polished, expert spokespeople. We have a dedicated team for the production of future events. We are proud of what we can achieve as a group of volunteers.
Gender ideology is harmful to women, children, vulnerable young people and LGB youth. We must grow awareness and empower people to resist. We must meet, learn, and connect.
The Countess Didn’t Fight For This!
Well done to The Countess on what sounds like a great event. Please consider making a donation.
Women’s Sport
Two bits of good news and one bit of bad news (and thanks to a wonderful reader for the two newspaper articles).
Sam Brookes for The Mail Online ( Cricket chiefs BAN transgender players born as men from international women's cricket to 'protect the safety' of female players 21 November) reports:
The ICC has banned transgender players born as men from playing international women's cricket.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning, the governing body concluded that they had made the decision following a nine-month consultation process to protect the safety of female players.
The statement read: 'The new policy is based on the following principles (in order of priority), protection of the integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness and inclusion, and this means any Male to Female participants who have been through any form of male puberty will not be eligible to participate in the international women’s game regardless of any surgery or gender reassignment treatment they may have undertaken.’
The full article is here:
Bethan Sexton for The Mail Online (Transgender swimmer at New Jersey liberal arts college, Meghan Cortez-Fields, smashes women's 100 yard butterfly record after competing in men's team for three years 21 November) reports:
A transgender swimmer at a New Jersey liberal arts college has broken her [ Dusty - HIS!!!!] school's record after transferring from the men's team.
Meghan Cortez-Fields smashed Ramapo College's record for the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 57.22 which earned her first place.
She also scooped the top spot in the 200 yard individual medley and second in the 200 yard butterfly at the Cougar Splash Invitational, a two-day meet between six schools in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
The full article is here:
Women’s Football
EDI Jester reports on women’s football clubs in Sheffield refusing to play a team that includes a trans identifying man who had previously put a woman player out of action for a long time.
Endpiece
Another heavy duty one. Bring in a dog and a parrot!
I have paid work tomorrow so the next update is likely to be Thursday.
Have loved The Jabberwocky since childhood, Dusty. Thanks for the link.
Sandra Pertot is right; we need more voices like hers to counter the lying narratives used by trans publicists.
Agree with TT about Transhausen by proxy; the fawning pride I’ve seen displayed by some celebrities transing their kids is nauseating in the extreme.
The jester’s video on Elagabalus was fabulous; the claims of trans pirating history & historical figures to legitimise their perversions is risible.
The Countess is doing sterling work in Ireland; will send a thank you note to the hotel.
Mixed news on the sporting front. Good progress in cricket & local football. Thanks for the update, Dusty.
Thanks Dusty, there’s a lot to digest here.
I do think that transhausen by proxy is a thing amongst parents who like to think that they are different and special, especially women. Celebrities are very prone to it. Some children just don’t have a chance.
Thanks for the dog and parrot ❤️ Pearl Moon will love that.