Category: LGBTQ+

  • There are no gays in Malta

    This is what “reasonable debate” about trans people looks like. Update: that’s not even the maddest thing these yahoos and their supporters have claimed today. Apparently it’s impossible to raise estrogen levels to typical female levels artificially, which is going to be a surprise for the endocrinology profession and the many cisgender women on hormone…

  • Not mad. Not bad. Just normal.

    There isn’t a single day when I don’t see somebody claiming that trans people are mentally ill and/or degenerates. Here’s some geniuses from this morning. A huge problem is that public awareness of trans people – and of what the medical consensus is about trans people – is incredibly out of date. For a long…

  • Do you believe us yet?

    This is where it leads. The “reasonable concerns”. The “just asking questions”. The denial of science. The platforming of extremists who seem like such nice people. The endless articles telling you trans people are dangerous. The Trump administration says it’s okay to let trans people die. Under the discrimination administration’s latest plans, healthcare can be…

  • The cruelty is the point

    This week, SNP MP Joan McAlpine is hosting the Canadian anti-trans activist Meghan Murphy. Murphy, who has been given a lifetime ban from Twitter for the targeted harassment of trans people, says she is not transphobic; she just wants to “ensure the safety of women in places like female prisons, women’s refuges, and changing rooms”.…

  • What should a trans woman sound like?

    I’ve just done a radio interview, with a preamble I’m used to: Me (on phone): Hello! Researcher: Hi! Can I speak to Carrie Marshall, please? Me: Speaking! Researcher: [pause] Then professionalism kicks in and the researcher tells me what they’re calling about. It’s not a big deal; just one of those things you get used…

  • Trans patients left in limbo

    My former doctor has been suspended by the General Medical Council. Dr Mike Webberley, who took over the care of trans patients when his wife Helen was censured over an administrative issue, is no longer able to treat patients in the UK. I don’t know the ins and outs of this one, but I do…

  • How can you edit a paper if you don’t read it?

    James Doleman’s Twitter account is providing an unintentionally hilarious account of Katherine O’Donnell’s employment tribunal. Today, Times editor John Witherow is giving evidence. A pattern appears to be emerging. Counsel for the complainant presents to the court another Times article, a “self-identification,” of gender. This refers to the Soham Murderer, Ian Huntley, and suggests he…

  • Fun with filters

    The chat app SnapChat is back in the headlines after its new gender-swapping filter went viral. The filter makes boys look like girls and vice-versa, and as you can see above the results are pretty funny – although I seem to have the dubious honour of being the only person who looks older when the…

  • The Times on trial

    Imagine if the BBC had been taken to a tribunal over allegations of bullying, bias and malpractice so serious the entire management team were made to appear as witnesses. Newspapers would be all over the story, with good reason. As award-winning journalist Liz Gerard points out on Twitter, if you swap the BBC for The Times…

  • “Extreme right wing fundamentalists with a history of abuse are being given the red carpet treatment at Holyrood”

    Scotland’s only openly transgender elected official has resigned over “institutionalised transphobia” in the SNP. Dundee councillor Gregor Murray has repeatedly clashed with senior SNP figures including Joanna Cherry and Joan McAlpine. Murray: The SNP has a major institutional problem with transphobia, and is doing nothing to rectify this. While they rightfully condemn Labour for anti-semitism, and…