Another edition jam-packed with good news from the gender beat. Enjoy!
Leaving Them Kids Alone
Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, has written to schools in England instructing them to make the materials used in children’s sex education available to parents, warning headteachers there can be “No ifs, no buts, no more excuses”.
“This government is acting to guarantee parents’ fundamental right to know what their children are being taught in sex and relationships education… I’m writing to schools and parents to debunk the copyright myth that parents cannot see what their children are being taught. Parents must be empowered to ask and schools should have the confidence to share.”
Fuck Around, Find Out
The trans activist accused of assaulting Kellie-Jay Keen in New Zealand earlier this year has failed in his bid to have the charges dropped.
Eli Rubashkyn (whose legal name is Eliana Golberstein) is facing two charges of assault after throwing tomato juice at KJK at Albert Park in Auckland in March.
He pleaded not guilty and, in September, his lawyer tried to have the charges dismissed. But Judge Claire Ryan has now rejected this application, stating she’s satisfied there is a case to answer.
The case will now go to trial and, if convicted, Rubashkyn could face up to six months’ imprisonment and a $4000 fine.
Vindication For Baroness Falkner
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has cleared Baroness (Kishwer) Falkner of Margravine of the allegations made against her.
Earlier this year we reported that EHRC staff were accused of colluding in a vendetta against chairwoman, Baroness Falkner, due to her support for women’s sex-based rights. The EHRC began an investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment being made against her.
After eight months, the EHRC has now decided to close its investigation, exonerating Baroness Falkner and admitting to ‘process failures’.
Chickens Coming Home To Roost
The American Academy of Paediatrics has been named in a high-profile lawsuit brought by a detransitioned woman.
20-year-old Isabelle Ayala had just turned fourteen when she was pushed down the pathway to medical transition and started taking cross-sex hormones.
She is now taking legal action, not only against her doctors, but also against the American Academy of Paediatrics itself over its infamous policy statement which advocates for aggressive treatments for dysphoric children.
Elsewhere in the US, a lesbian detransitioner, Layton Ulery, is taking legal action against the high-profile clinicians who she believes pushed her into medical transition when she was severely mentally ill and needed therapy, not hormones. The lawsuit claims they “prioritized their own agendas, ideologies and professional interests”.
While Isabelle and Layton’s stories are heart-breaking, lawsuits such as theirs are helping to drag this horror show into the public domain. Sunlight is flooding in.
Re-Joyce
Helen Joyce was shortlisted for the prestigious John Maddox Prize.
The John Maddox Prize for “Courageously advancing public discourse with sound science” is awarded annually to those who “Stand up for science and evidence, advancing public discussion around difficult topics despite challenges or hostility”.
Huge congratulations to Helen Joyce for being shortlisted this year.
Glinner Of Hope
Fantastic news! Tough Crowd has made The Sunday Times Bestsellers List.
“The Sunday Times Bestseller List is the oldest and most influential book sales chart in the UK, and the one that every author wants to be on. The listings are based on data collected each Saturday for the following Sunday by Nielsen BookScan (which has been collecting digital data since 1998) and the chart is the most accurate and comprehensive estimation of book sales in the country.”
And don’t miss Our Graham being interviewed by Will Kingston of The Spectator’s Australiana podcast.
Grappling With Fairness
Thanks to the fabulous team at Reduxx, the world’s largest jiu-jitsu governing body has reviewed and revised its ‘transgender policy’.
Earlier this week, Reduxx published a story about female competitors withdrawing from a martial arts competition because they were expected to fight trans-identified male participants.
In the wake of this Reduxx story, the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) revised its policy, now requiring trans-identified males to compete in the male category and ensuring that the female category remains strictly women-only.
Heartiest congratulations to everyone at Reduxx for this incredible win.
And Finally…
(Huge thanks to our loyal subscriber, Concerned Bloke, for this splendid composition.)
Congratulations to Graham on his booksales, I received mine yesterday morning direct from the publisher and read it through while streaming Father Ted on my TV.
Congratulations to Helen Joyce too. You're all doing important work under difficult conditions and I find your courage inspiring.
Thanks very much JL. Helen Joyce shortlisted for the John Maddox Prize is great news.