A Week in the War on Women: Monday 7th March - Sunday 13th March GOOD NEWS SUPPLEMENT
Just a handful of good news stories from the gender beat this week.
Vindication From Cass
The most important news this week has to be The Cass Review’s Interim Report.
As James Esses comments, it is a game-changer. It acknowledges the significance of rapid-onset gender dysphoria, the link between dysphoria and co-morbidities, the rapid increase in teenage girls experiencing gender issues, the concerns of the therapists and clinicians who warn that a holistic approach to treatment is required, the limitations of an 'affirmation-only' approach, the lack of evidence regarding medication and the insufficient follow-up information on patients.
The Times reported, “The Tavistock clinic faces a complete overhaul after a review found that its gender identity services are ‘not a safe or viable long-term option’ for children and young people. The report has been hailed as a victory for whistleblowers who warned that the gender identity development service (GIDS) clinic in north London was operating outside of typical NHS safeguarding and clinical standards.”
The report vindicates and echoes the concerns raised by pioneering organisation, Transgender Trend, and others (Heather Brunskell Evans, Michele Moore etc), who, for years, have urged caution over the medicalization of gender non-conforming children.
The interim report concluded that a ‘fundamentally different service model is needed’ and The Cass Review is expected to make formal recommendations at a later date.
Count On The Countess
The brilliant Irish feminist organisation, The Countess, provided us with a run-down of all they have achieved since their creation.
The Women Who Won’t Wheesht
Meanwhile, in Scotland, feminist organisation, Sole Sisters, marked IWD with a full-page advert in The Daily Record, celebrating four courageous women who speak up for female rights.
Frauen Won’t Wheesht Either
Dinosaurs were, yet again, spotted in Germany! This time, at a rally for IWD in Berlin.
It’s About Bloody Time
Maya Forstater finally appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
And speaking of Maya and the tribunal currently underway, huge thanks to the @tribunaltweets team for their brilliant live tweeting. Especially for reporting this absolute belter. Brava, Maya!
Cherry On The Cake
In case you missed it, listen to Joanna Cherry’s amazing speech for the IWD Commons debate.
I may be an outlier, but I look forward to the day there are no child gender identity clinics. The very concept of gender dysphoria is treated as some unassailable reality, when it depends very heavily upon gender stereotypes. It represents a mishmash of other diagnoses and social contagion and should never have been treated by changing the child to fit the stereotype.
I love the dog and the ducklings 💗