We Women Will Not Make It Easy For You
Update 629. This Is Terf Month. #BeMorePorcupine.
This is another long one, dear readers!
This is the last speech of Terf Month ( which we have created to counteract Queer Month) and we have been featuring great speeches on the theme of women’s rights. Hope you have enjoyed them. Thanks to those readers who sent in great suggestions.
The first ( amazing) speech of the month was at the Melbourne Let Women Speak event from the woman I have dubbed ‘The Unknown Soldier’: https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/a-woman-saying-no-888
Also speaking at that same rally was Moira Deeming MP who was subsequently expelled from the Liberal Party on trumped up charges of being supportive of Nazis (!?), who then had to take a (successful) defamation action against the leader of the party, Mr Pesutto and who has now been re-admitted to the party. So I think it is fitting that Moira should provide is with our final speech of this month.
In July, we return to Dusty’s Film Season. https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/empire-of-light-dustys-film-series
We are going through the films alphabetically and, at the end of May we had got to D and had got as far as The Deer Hunter. However three new suggestions have come in in the meantime that were prior to D - see films in bold in the list at the link above. So next up is American History X. A very powerful film about racism - well, in my opinion anyway! Keep the suggestions for films coming in. Please check the list first to see if the film has already been included 😊
As a taster, here is one of my favourite scenes which is from The Long Good Friday as gangster Harold Shand ( Bob Hoskins) realises he has finally come to the end of the road - acting by expression only, a masterclass!
Thanks to two wonderful readers for suggested pieces.
Some of the linked pieces below may be behind a paywall.
A reminder that I always recommend Nutmeg’s Week on the Glinner Update and here is the latest edition:
The For Women Scotland Judgment - Northern Ireland
One piece from the latest Women’s Rights Network newsletter ( 29 June).
Northern Ireland is not covered by the Equality Act so, strictly speaking, the Supreme Court judgment does not apply to them. However you would imagine that the obvious thing for their Equality Commission to do would be to say that NI should follow the judgment. I’m afraid not!!!!
Women: “People” or Not
Deciding whether women in Northern Ireland are “people” deemed “nuanced and complicated”
The latest resistance to clearly stating that women’s rights only depend on being female, has come from the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland (ECNI). The Commission said that the Supreme Court Judgment would have applied to Northern Ireland were it not for the Windsor Protocol. [ for details of the Windsor Protocol or Windsor Framework , see here: https://www.nicustomstradeacademy.co.uk/overview-of-windsor-framework/ ].
The Equality Commission’s page on the Windsor Framework says:
Article 2(1) of the Windsor Framework says that the UK government has made a commitment to make sure that people in NI do not lose certain equality and human rights because of Brexit.
Today’s statement found the Equality Commission unable to say that the “people” referred to in the Windsor Agreement include women and women’s rights – because that would stop men who call themselves women being able to opt-in to women’s rights.
Chief commissioner Geraldine McGahey said she wanted to avoid "the toxicity which has sometimes characterised the debate around how to balance the rights of biological women and transgender women by creating a space for debate and adjudication by the courts.
“In short, it may be that the meaning of ‘sex’, and related terms, should be interpreted differently in Northern Ireland and whether this is so requires clarification.” That clarification will come from Belfast’s High Court, and could take around a year.
Until the court process is completed, the commission can only issue “interim guidance” to employers and service users. So far, one suggestion in the interim guidance is for employers to consider universal shower and toilet facilities, consisting of self-contained lockable rooms that can be used by one person at a time, regardless of their “gender”.
The intention of this would be for these universal facilities to be designed “so no one could infer a person’s gender or sex simply because they were selected”, thus avoiding risking “outing” transgender people. So, placing erroneous notions of “inclusion” (of men in the female estate) above the safety and well-being of women and girls.
Kirsty Montgomery, WRN NI Equality and Legislation Spokeswoman, said:
‘Today's statement from the ECNI, while it offers some clarity, does not go far enough to protect women's rights in Northern Ireland (NI).
‘We are now in a position where women in NI have fewer rights than women in the rest of the UK. We are continuing the dark history of failing women in NI by allowing our rights to lag behind.
‘Organisations here have fallen victim to a dangerous ideology which has forced them to believe that gender self-ID should come before the law. This misinterpretation is now being allowed to continue as the ECNI have not taken a firm stance.
‘We are also concerned that the ECNI will not be able to represent women in cases of discrimination which is also one of their responsibilities.’
Ireland - ‘Gender Affirming Care’
Great work here by Senator Sharon Keogan and an appalling performance from the Children’s Ombudsman!
Image: Oireachtas TV
Maria Maynes in Gript News ( Children’s Ombudsman grilled on puberty blockers 26 June) reports:
The Ombudsman for Children has told an Oireachtas Committee that he cannot say whether puberty blockers should be banned for children in Ireland, with the head of the Government office being pressed this afternoon on whether children can change their sex.
The exchanges happened before the Joint Committee on Children and Equality which met on Thursday to discuss his Annual Report for 2024 and priority topics and issues facing the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, and related matters. Senator Sharon Keogan, a member of the Committee, had asked Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon a range of questions relating to Irish referrals to Tavistock, and whether his organisation had considered concerns relating to the ability of children to give informed consent to what she deemed “significant legal and medical changes.”
‘DO YOU BELIEVE CHILDREN CAN CHANGE THEIR SEX?’
“I spent, I think, 26 minutes reading out all the different genders that are listed in the Seanad when we were dealing with a piece of legislation,” Senator Keogan said. “I would ask you not to get captured by this. I want the children to receive the care that they need and the support that they need as they navigate their early years, and their teenage years. I want that support and I want that counselling to be given to our children. But I don’t want children to believe that they can change their sex. I don’t want children to believe that. Do you believe children can change their sex?”
“Can you tell me what your position is in relation to children changing their sex?” the Senator asked.
“I’ve always said we look to each child to provide their rights. The State needs to provide the opportunity for every child to reach their potential – and that’s different for every child,” the Ombudsman replied.
“Reach their potential? So you believe that every pathway should be given to that child – if a child says at five years of age, I don’t want to be a girl, I want to be a boy? [Do] you believe that the State should intervene there and go along?” Keogan asked in response.
“I’ve given you my answer,” Dr Niall Muldoon said. Earlier in the exchange, the Ombudsman was informed that he did not have to answer Senator Keogan’s questions if he didn’t want to, because it related to his personal beliefs.
“He’s the Ombudsman for children,” Senator Keogan insisted.
“That says it all,” she added. “Thank you, that’s fine.”
The Senator also asked for Dr Muldoon’s views on gender self-identification and consent.
“In your submission to the LGBT+ Inclusion Strategy, your office expressed unequivocal support for gender self-identification laws, including their extension to minors under the age of 16. Has your organisation considered concerns raised regarding such laws – particularly the ability of children and adolescents to give informed consent to significant legal and medical changes?” she asked.
“You also voiced support for what effectively amounts to increased access to so-called “gender-affirming” care for minors. Has your office considered the potential risks and long-term impacts of treatments such as puberty blockers, mastectomies, and hormone replacement therapy – especially given that many clinicians argue that these interventions remain experimental? Furthermore, has the OCO considered the implications of the irreversibility of such treatments for those who later choose to de-transition?”
Senator Keogan brought up the 2022 Cass Review, which found that the Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service was not a safe or viable long-term option.
“Yet over a year later, your office released a statement expressing concern about the absence of similar services in Ireland. Has your organisation taken into account the findings of the Cass review and the Tavistock controversy when advocating for the establishment of such services here?”
The Senator noted that between 2009 and 2023 approximately 240 Irish children were referred to Tavistock by the HSE. 182 were aged 15 or younger, while 58 were aged 16 or older. Twice as many girls as boys were referred, and as of early 2023, 72 Irish children remained on the Tavistock waiting lists.
OMBUDSMAN ‘AWARE OF CONCERNS’
The Ombudsman said that he was aware of concerns raised by the head of the National Gender Service, Professor Donal O’Shea, who raised concerns that ideology was directing clinical care.
“Given the growing number of individuals reporting irreversible negative outcomes post-treatment, has your office undertaken – or considered undertaking – a review of the impact of these referrals on Irish children?”
“That’s something we haven’t considered,” Dr Muldoon said. “I would engage with Professor Donal O’Shea on a regular basis around this. As you said, he identified concerns. I would be aware of those concerns, and I would have engaged with him around that.”
“Our point of view is always that children, and the Government have promised to provide appropriate care for all of our children – mental health care, physical care, medical care, and the best possible care. What has happened here is that we have let our children down, who, for whatever reason, are asking questions. We’ve let that down and we haven’t provided that service. We outsourced it with Tavistock. Tavistock has been closed,”
Dr Muldoon continued: “We’ve created a new individual lead and we’re creating a new team now. But throughout that period of time, there’s [been] a range of children – I don’t know what the numbers are – who are constantly asking themselves questions. We don’t have anywhere to bring them, anyone to talk to them, or a multidisciplinary team to work with them.”
“Do you believe actively endorsing a pathway for children questioning their gender, that you’ve actually harmed these vulnerable children [by] leading them down a path that is irreversible? Do you think Ireland should ban puberty blockers for children?” Senator Keogan pressed.
“I don’t believe I’ve actively caused any harm to children. What we’ve always done is promoted a child’s right […]”
In relation to the banning of puberty blockers, Dr Muldoon said: “I won’t be answering that question, because that’s a medical question to be considered, and other people can decide that.”
The meeting also heard that the hiring of security guards to restrain children in State care during violent episodes is ‘horrendous.’
Dr Muldoon was answering a question from Senator Sharon Keogan, who referred to a report, published in the Irish Times today, that Tusla is to begin security guards to restrain children during violent episodes, with the agency to spend about €1m on ‘close protection’ personnel to work with staff in violent situations.
“There’s a report today in the newspaper that security guards will be hired to restrain children in State care during violent episodes. Tusla have confirmed that they are going to be spending €1 million on close protection personnel to work with staff in violent situations,” Senator Keogan said.
“Do you find that worrying?” the Senator asked the Ombudsman.
Responding, the Children’s Ombudsman said: “Of course, absolutely. We’ve said before that it’s a failure of the system if we have to go down this route. […[ These systems are built around relationships, and the trust that comes from working with a good staff to feel secure and attached. If you’ve a big, burly security guard, it sends out the message that we don’t trust you. No matter what we say here or how we’re trying to create an attachment, we’re still worried that you might hurt us.
‘I FIND IT HORRENDOUS’
“So they’re [security] are going to be assigned to other off-site care units as well […] that is really worrying,” Independent Senator Keogan said. “It is hard being a foster parent, having a child who may have violent episodes and may present in your home.
“It is hard being a foster parent, but then to move that child into a residential care setting where they are cared for by individuals who are coming in who have no real link to that child, I find it horrendous to think that this is going to happen – that children would be restrained. It is not the environment – residential care is not the place for a child. It shouldn’t be a place for a child, those homes should not exist. It is not the right care path as far as I am concerned.”
EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN IN STATE CARE
Earlier, the Senator had brought up a 2023 report from University College Dublin which had detailed organised and systemic sexual exploitation of children in State care, including cases of children being trafficked to hotels.
Referring to the lack of “sufficient Garda and Tusla responses,” the Senator asked: “What has your response been to it, and what actions have your Office taken?”
“This is a really urgent issue, and I just want to know what your Office has done to highlight this crisis,” the Senator said, echoing calls for the establishment of a central national review mechanism.
“In regards to the UCD report, I would have had a number of engagements with the researchers,” the Ombudsman said. “And again, from my point of view, in England, probably about ten years ago now, the Children’s Commissioner would have done a similar kind of report and found really serious concerns about children in care [using] the same methodology and the same rationale.
“Similarly in Northern Ireland, that concept of children in care being abused was also identified and uncovered. This did not come as a surprise to me. I think it’s part and parcel, unfortunately, of the way bad actors will look for vulnerable children. We engaged with UCD and gave them whatever assistance we could give them. We also discussed it with the Minister for Children at the time, and asked him to move forward with that and support the UCD researchers with the next phases […] I understand at that stage, there was a discussion about further funding for new research.
“It’s an unfortunate thing that can happen, and it does happen. I can remember one particular case, probably 15 years ago, of a young person in the North West who was the key witness in a number of men being arrested and convicted of rape.
“She was a child in care, and she kept a diary of these men and how they met her, and what they looked like. That was the only time that I remember of a real case being brought forward in that sort of grooming scenario. I do think there’s more that can be done from that point of view, but I haven’t chatted to those researchers now in probably about a year. But I can link in with them now in the future and see where they are,” Dr Muldoon added.
New Zealand - Women’s Refuges and Rape Crisis Centres
In NZ larping men can access women’s refuges and rape crisis centres, as reported by Katrina Biggs on her substack, A B’Old Woman:
NZ’s Women’s Refuges and Rape Crisis Centres are for any Tom, Dick, and Mary.
And it seems their finances improve alongside Tom and Dick.
Jun 27, 2025
Once, New Zealand’s Women’s Refuge took in traumatised women in need of a sanctuary from abuse. Most of that abuse was at the hands of men. Now, Women’s Refuge takes in men, too.
All it took for that to happen was for an unholy decision to be made, by those at the helm of Women’s Refuge, that the word ‘woman’ could mean anything that anyone wanted it to mean. Men said thank you very much, knocked on the refuge doors, and were assiduously attended to.
And to get the inevitable “whatabout” out of the way, yes, men can get abused and need a safe place to go, too, but that place is not a women’s refuge. Men are quite capable of organising those places for themselves.
It was tough going to get women’s refuges established. One of the numerous reasons for that, was there were both men and women who didn’t believe women should be able to get away from abusive husbands. Funding never flowed too freely for the refuges, either, although in an interview in March 2023, Dr Ang Jury, CEO of the NZ National Network of Independent Women’s Refuges, reportedly said their finances were in good shape. Perhaps they improved alongside allowing men in?
The full piece is here:
The States - The Capture of the New York Times
In an as ever forensic piece ( first of a two parter) on his substack, The Secret Gender Files, Malcom Clark details the capture of the once esteemed NYT by the Gender Woo. Part 2 will also look at the now famous Mr Skrmetti, the Attorney General of Tennessee.
How the New York Times Failed America.
Two damning accounts of the trans lobby only highlight how cowardly the New York Times has been up to now in the face of the biggest medical scandal of our time.
Jun 28, 2025
Yesterday’s ‘Guest Essay’ in the New York Times by gay rights icon Andrew Sullivan dismantled the history of modern LGBTQ+ activism as invented and approved by ….the LGBTQ+ lobby.
For the first time the paper’s over eleven million subscribers heard from the Times a gay equivalent of Khrushchev’s denunciation of Stalin. No, the trans agenda is not the natural successor to the campaign for gay marriage. No, the LGBTQ+ lobby isn’t a social justice fount of wisdom. It’s a politically toxic personality cult.
As for ‘sex changes for children’ they aren’t just insane. They are rooted in homophobia. Who knew? Anyone who has been reading the British press for the last five or six years perhaps?
Sullivan’s essay follows hot on the heels of a shocking account of the trans lobby’s defence of so-called “gender affirming healthcare” at the US Supreme Court. Spoiler alert: the case did not go well for those who favour sterilising children.
Does this mean liberal America has finally woken up from its long gender identity fever-dream? Perhaps. Though this is not the first time the New York Times has raised doubts about the official trans narrative including “gender affirming healthcare for children”.
Yet ….every time it plucked up the courage in the past the Times ended up pulling its punches, equivocating in ways it would never have done about any other medical scandal involving thousands of children. In its zig-zagging, its hesitation and its refusal to be fully honest, the Times failed both its readers and America.
What explains this cowardice? This is the story of how the pursuit of commercial success led to one of the most respected media brands in the world abandoning its mission.
The full piece is here:
New Zealand - Vanessa’s Story
I have carried this harrowing story recently - see here, for example:
There is an excellent further examination of this tragic story on the Resist Gender Education substack:
Transgenderism enables anorexia
The ideological blind spot that took Vanessa's life.
Jun 29, 2025
Two weeks ago, the tragic story of Vanessa’s short life was told in an article by Ruth Hill on RNZ [ Radio New Zealand]. Vanessa had died of starvation, alone, in emergency accommodation after her long-diagnosed anorexia nervosa was overlooked and ignored by the State agencies tasked to care for her. Meanwhile, her other delusional mental illness -gender dysphoria - was focussed on, affirmed, and fully-supported without question by the very same agencies. Vanessa had left home and been under complete State care for the nine months before her death.
While hundreds of people responded to the story humanely, by expressing their shock and sympathy, trans activists swiftly and unconscionably attacked Vanessa’s parents, suggesting perhaps that their bigotry and 'transphobia' was the root cause of her death.
All of the ensuing accusations, demands, and complaints amply illustrate the main point of Ruth Hill’s article, say Vanessa’s parents:
“There was a complete and total focus on the 'gender identity' issue to the detriment of all of Vanessa’s other psychological needs, while she lived. And now, even after her death, these 'activists' perpetuate the same dialogue by elevating her 'gender dysphoria delusion' over that of the 'starvation is ok delusion'. They see what they want to see in their obstinacy, and appear blind to reason, reality and alternative viewpoints.”
Keen to avoid looking in the mirror at their own culpability, trans activists have studiously ignored the fact that Vanessa had a raft of other serious mental illnesses; OCD, ODD, autism and the well-documented and long-standing anorexia. It was only towards the very end of her short life that gender dysphoria manifested itself.
The full piece is here:
Australia - Billboard Chris
Human Rights Law Alliance in Australia ( nice to see a group that does what it says on the can unlike other such groups!!) have assisted Billboard Chris in backing off Brisbane Council and represented him in an important case against the awful Australian eSafety Commissioner. Here is the report on the HRLA website:
Billboard Chris beats Council’s free speech overreach
Team HRLA June 26, 2025
Chris Elston, better known by his online moniker ‘Billboard Chris’, scored a big win this week when the Brisbane City Council dropped its fine against him for simply speaking the truth about gender ideology.
In March, Chris was threatened with arrest and fined $806 in Brisbane just days before his trial against Australia’s eSafety Commissioner began in Melbourne.
Chris was standing peacefully with his billboard, offering to have conversations with willing passersby about the harms of gender ideology and hormone or surgical treatments for children.
As seen in the videos on his social media, he was not bothering anyone or disturbing the peace.
He was forcibly moved on, and while he avoided arrest, the fine remained.
With the assistance of HRLA, Chris submitted his footage of the incident to the council and appealed the fine.
As a result, the fine has been withdrawn.
Chris acknowledged the help of HRLA in his announcement of the Council’s capitulation:
‘With the help of my excellent lawyers led by John Steenhof at the Human Rights Law Alliance, we appealed. I sent the Council all of my video footage leading up to the alleged infringement.
‘Today, I received this letter.
“After reviewing the file and giving consideration to the facts and circumstances surrounding this matter, I wish to advise that Infringement Notice 8000030612317 has been withdrawn.
“There is no further action required by you and this matter is now closed.
“Please note, any further infringements issued to you for similar offences will be reviewed on their own merits.”
‘It almost sounds like they expect me to come back. And they’re right. I’ll be back. Standing in the same spot.
‘Children Cannot Consent to Puberty Blockers!’
While the news is welcome, the freedom of everyday Australians is in jeopardy when police, bureaucratic overreach, and the threat of court is used to intimidate those who speak the truth on controversial issues like gender ideology.
We remain concerned at the increase in two-tiered justice when it comes to policing free speech
HRLA is proud to have assisted Chris to have this unjust fine withdrawn, and continues to work with him on his case against the eSafety Commissioner after she censored his social media comments criticising the appointment of a transgender activist to a World Health Organisation panel.
https://www.hrla.org.au/billboard_chris_beats_council_s_free_speech_overreach
Is The Trans Movement Losing?
Excellent interview by Jonathon Van Maren on his podcast, The Bridgehead with Jennifer Bilek and Brandon Showalter. They cover; the Trump executive orders; transhumanism incorporating surrogacy; the ‘trans industry’ fightback especially targeting adults; don’t declare victory prematurely; legal cases against clinics; send some of the major culprits to prison. And much more. All thoughts gratefully received.
The Trans Filter
Very interesting article by SEEN In Journalism about the use of AI to change depictions of (so called) trans people. This could lead to impressionable youngsters believing it was really possible to ‘pass’ as the other sex.
The power of the trans filter
Naive editors can encourage a narrative of 'passing' via picture use
Jun 27, 2025
Should media organisations republish submitted photographs of transgender individuals, or use images from their own socials?
Taking pictures from socials where no editorial images are available is common practice, despite the known ethical issues. But using these from the accounts of transgender people gives another set of problems.
‘Gender-swapping’ face filters have been around since at least 2017 with the launch of FaceApp, with a massively popular Snapchat filter added in 2019. Models such as Madison Werner have spoken freely of their routine use of apps such as Facetune to make broad shoulders narrower, lips fuller and hairlines more appealing.
Werner has also written of being very reluctant to give up control of this image to other professionals, however well-meaning, and feeling uncomfortable with the results.
Trans people are strongly motivated to control this ‘passing’ narrative, and many media professionals may not realise how far this can go.
The full piece is here:
https://seeninjournalism.substack.com/p/the-power-of-the-trans-filter
Cancelled By Lies!
Excellent interview on The Dumb Ages by Jack David and Clive Simpson with The Famous Artist Birdy Rose and her partner, Doozer McDooze. An amazing story of the construction of a completely fictional story by the trans rights activists which is then used to prevent Birdy and Doozer getting work. It never ceases to amaze me how often TRAs are willing to use straight and outrageous lies to further their cause:
International Report
I haven’t yet read this very comprehensive report as reported on by Feminist Legal Clinic:
Evolving national guidelines for the treatment of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria: International perspectives | International Journal for Forensic Health (published November 2024) (25 June)
Abstract
From the early years of this century, many Western countries adopted the “Dutch Protocol” as a new medical pathway for treating children and adolescents with childhood-onset gender dysphoria. On this approach, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) were used to suppress puberty, followed by cross-sex hormones (testosterone or oestrogen). This perspective article traces—in each of the countries where we, the authors, live and work—how the Dutch Protocol came to be incorporated into clinical practice or formally adopted into national guidelines. Over time, guidelines across different countries were progressively shaped by a rights-based approach that removed previous safeguards and increased availability of gender-reassignment medical interventions for children and adolescents. From 2010 onward, two developments raised new concerns, generating alternate perspectives and wide-ranging differences in clinical approach. Numerous countries reported an unexpected increase in adolescent-onset presentations, especially among girls. During the same period, an increasing number of individuals who had undergone gender-reassignment medical interventions as minors reported harm and regret. Worldwide, questions were raised about the safety of clinical guidelines for children and adolescents presenting with gender dysphoria. Government bodies in Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. state of Florida commissioned systematic reviews pertaining to hormone treatments and issued formal reports. In a parallel process, “conversion therapy” laws, passed in many countries, closed access to exploratory psychotherapy that enables exploration of gender-identity issues from a neutral therapeutic stance. Taken together, these three developments introduced evidence-based and legal considerations into the debate, resulting in tensions that remain unresolved.
Endpieces
I’m joining in.
From Liz
Otter Day Of Visibility
From Tenaciously
From Dusty
Care of Trish Dynes
#BeMorePorcupine
#LiesAreNotFreedom
#AdultHumanFemale
#LetWomenSpeak
#LGB✂️TQ
#JoinFreeSpeechUnion
#DontTransKids
#TRAsRewriteHistory
#NeverSurrender
#NeverForget
#TruthWillTriumph
#WeWillWin
Dear readers
A heads up that Mr Menno has a premiere this evening about the Manchester protest.
See some of you in the chat.
Dusty
It’s been a great series of speeches to get us through June, thanks Dusty.
I hope the Belfast High Court will rule on the side of reality and not take too long about it!