Puberty blocker ban for children with gender dysphoria to be made indefinite | MSN

A ban on puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria in the UK is to be made indefinite after experts warned of an “unacceptable safety risk”.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) had published independent expert advice that there is “currently an unacceptable safety risk in the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children”.

While health is a devolved matter, the ban applies across the UK, the DHSC said, adding that the decision had been taken in consultation with the Scottish and Welsh governments, and in agreement with the Northern Ireland government.

Plans are in place to set up a clinical trial into the use of puberty blockers next year, with an aim to recruit the first patients by spring.

Source: Puberty blocker ban for children with gender dysphoria to be made indefinite

Imagine watching a UK ‘spy cop’ whose lies destroyed lives trying to explain it away. This is what that was like |MSN

In 2011, I brought a legal case against the Metropolitan police after being deceived into an intimate, sexual relationship by one of their undercover officers. I have been waiting for the day when I could eye-ball one of those responsible. Thirteen years later, I have still not received any disclosure about why Mark Jenner was deployed into my most private life for five years, under the name Mark Cassidy.

But at the public inquiry into undercover policing, I have finally heard some of the feeble excuses made by his manager, Bob Lambert MBE, who himself deceived four women into having sexual relationships, using his alter ego Bob Robinson.

We have heard from Jacqui and Belinda, two of the women Lambert deceived into relationships. We have also heard from Helen Steel, about whom Lambert reported extensively, preparing the ground for her to become the target for another abusive sexual relationship, this time with John Dines (known to Helen as John Barker).

Where the women spoke with conversational fluency, he paused, deliberated and hesitated over every word. Where they remembered places, people, meetings, parties and actions, he could “not recall” almost anything about a career for which he has been highly commended.

For four days of evidence he tried to give an impression of himself as the respectable, retired police officer who had simply been misjudged. By day five, however, he seemed to get the memo that he needed to appear more remorseful. Only then did he admit to letting down his family, both wives, his deceased children and his “living son”.

Nor has he made any effort publicly or otherwise to apologise to me and the other women deceived by officers he was managing when he was detective inspector. This display of conscience was not only unconvincing, it was too little too late.

Alison is one of eight women who first took legal action against the Metropolitan police over the conduct of undercover officers and a founder member of Police Spies Out of Lives. A core participant in the Public Inquiry into Undercover Policing, she is one of the authors of Deep Deception – The Story of the Spycop Network by the Women who Uncovered the Shocking Truth.

Source: Imagine watching a UK ‘spy cop’ whose lies destroyed lives trying to explain it away. This is what that was like

Transgender women to be banned from playing in most domestic female competitions |MSN

Transgender women will be banned from playing in the female category in most domestic tennis competitions in Britain from next month.

Current Lawn Tennis Association rules allow players to self identify but, from January 25, 2025, trans women and non-binary individuals assigned male at birth will only be allowed to compete in the male category in Specified competitions.

The LTA does not have jurisdiction over international events such as Wimbledon or ATP, WTA or International Tennis Federation tournaments, so this policy will only apply to domestic tennis.

Source: Transgender women to be banned from playing in most domestic female competitions

Crisis accommodation is failing women fleeing domestic violence. Here’s how to fix it |The Conversation

Nationally, women and children who are in physical danger will often spend several nights, if not weeks, in a funded hotel room.

There will be some vouchers for food and to buy the pyjamas, toothbrushes and other items that have usually been left behind. A case manager will phone, once a day, to check they have their basic needs met and to make a plan for their exit.

There are two problems with this system. The first is it’s an isolating and frightening experience – especially for people in a state of shock and trauma.

They can’t tell anyone where they are. They might have been told their phone is not safe and be waiting for a new one. There might be a full kitchen, but often it’s just a kitchenette – and they’re unable to cook the foods that might be familiar and comforting.

Women are often accompanied by children, sometimes babies and toddlers, who have no toys to console or occupy them.

There’s nowhere for kids to play. For adult victims, there’s no one to talk to. They’re fearful of the very real risk of danger, but what is going to happen next –or how long they’ll be waiting to find out – is unknown.

It’s during this time that some victims return to the person using violence. These decisions are complex and there can be many reasons.

But being stuck in a small and unsuitable environment, fearful, isolated and without a clear pathway forward for themselves and their children, is a major factor.

The second problem, if they do remain in the crisis hotel room, is there are very few places to go next.

Sanctuary is a supported crisis accommodation that provides safety, rest and wraparound support for victims of family violence.

It’s run by Victoria’s statewide 24/7 family violence service, Safe Steps, and has state and federal funding.

The 12-month evaluation shows the Sanctuary model enables safer outcomes for people in a family violence crisis than the current emergency hotels.

Source: Crisis accommodation is failing women fleeing domestic violence. Here’s how to fix it

Sexual harassment class actions filed against BHP, Rio Tinto – Lawyers Weekly

Earlier this week, individual proceedings were filed in the Federal Court of Australia against Australian mining companies BHP and Rio Tinto by JGA Saddler – whose founders formerly led the class actions practice at national plaintiff firm Shine Lawyers – and global litigation funder Omni Bridgeway.

JGA Saddler has asked the Federal Court to redact all names in the filings, amid concerns for personal safety of the lead applicants. Women who were subject to harassment or discrimination while working at one or more Australian workplaces for BHP or Rio Tinto, anytime from November 2023, are eligible to be claimants, the firm added.

Offensive language and behaviour, pranks, and pregnancy discrimination are all featured in proceedings filed against mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto, with a class action firm and a litigation funder alleging “widespread, systemic” issues on worksites.

Source: Sexual harassment class actions filed against BHP, Rio Tinto – Lawyers Weekly

WATCH LIVE: Judgment handed down in John Pesutto and Moira Deeming high-profile defamation battle in federal court | Sky News Australia

Ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming has won her high-stakes legal battle against John Pesutto as the judgment in their defamation stoush was handed down on Thursday.

Justice David O’Callaghan found Ms Pesutto defamed the expelled Liberal MP in comments he made in the days after a Let Women Speak rally Ms Deeming attended on March 18 2023, which was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis.

The judge awarded Ms Deeming $300,000 in damages.

“I have also found that Mrs Deeming has established that the publication of each of the five impune publications has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to her reputation,” the judge said.

Mr Pesutto’s defences of public interest, honest opinion and qualified privilege were failed, while the judge dismissed the contextual truth defence.

Source: WATCH LIVE: Judgment handed down in John Pesutto and Moira Deeming high-profile defamation battle in federal court | Sky News Australia

Press watchdog Ipso accused of chilling effect on free speech over trans writer ruling | The Telegraph

An article in The Spectator magazine about Nicola Sturgeon was investigated by the press regulator after it described a trans author as “a man who claims to be a woman”. Author Juno Dawson complained the description amounted to discrimination. The regulator has now issued a rare ruling in the author’s favour. Michael Gove, the magazine’s editor, described it as “chilling in its effect on free expression”.

Source: Press watchdog Ipso accused of chilling effect on free speech over trans writer ruling

Victorious ‘patriarchy-smashing’ Ladies’ Lounge reopens | New Daily

The Ladies’ Lounge of an art gallery, which toasted a legal win over a man who claimed the space was discriminatory, is reopening for a celebratory “victory lap”.

Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) shut the lounge in April after Jason Lau complained to the state’s civil and administrative tribunal because he wasn’t allowed entry.

The tribunal found Lau had been discriminated against and ordered that MONA allow men access. But the gallery were not prepared to do so.

In September, the Supreme Court of Tasmania quashed the tribunal’s decision after an appeal by the gallery and sent it back for reconsideration.

On Wednesday, Kirsha Kaechele, artist and wife of MONA owner David Walsh, announced the lounge would reopen from December 19 to January 13 for a final “celebration performance and general lavishness”.

“In celebration, the indulgent haven will open for a victory lap before moving on from MONA,” the gallery said in a statement.

Source: Victorious ‘patriarchy-smashing’ Ladies’ Lounge reopens

Barrister who criticised judge for ‘boys’ club’ mentality appears at tribunal

A high-profile barrister has been accused of professional misconduct after criticising a judge’s ruling over a domestic abuse case saying it echoed a “boys’ club”.

Women’s rights campaigner Dr Charlotte Proudman, who specialises in family law, is facing a Bar Standards Board (BSB) disciplinary tribunal over a 14-part Twitter thread criticising a ruling in a case she worked on.

In the thread, Dr Proudman wrote that the judge had described the relationship of the couple as “tempestuous”, which she argued was a “trivialization” of domestic abuse.

The five charges against Dr Proudman allege that she “failed to act with integrity” in posting the tweets, that they amounted to professional misconduct, were “misleading” and “inaccurately reflected the findings of the judge” in the case.

She is also accused of behaving in a way “which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public placed in her and in the profession” and that she “knowingly or recklessly misled or attempted to mislead the public” by making the posts.

On Tuesday, Dr Proudman’s defence team argued that the proceedings brought against her by the BSB, the regulatory body for barristers in England and Wales, were an “unlawful interference” of her right to freedom of expression.

The 36-year-old cried as the charges were read out to her and denied them all during the first day of the tribunal.

The BSB “disproportionately targeted” Dr Proudman for expressing “legitimate critique of systemic bias” while Sir Jonathan’s Garrick Club membership went “unquestioned”, she said.

Mr McDonald told the tribunal that Dr Proudman was a former mentee of his who had first come to his attention when she wrote and complained about the lack of female portraits in the hall at Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, one of the four inns of court.

The subjects depicted in the hall’s portraits, he said, are now more diverse.

“That’s an example of how Dr Proudman has led the charge to change things,” he added.

Source: Barrister who criticised judge for ‘boys’ club’ mentality appears at tribunal

Newcastle United fan banned from matches over ‘gender critical’ tweets says ‘only joy in her life has been taken’ as she threatens to sue FA | Watch

A Newcastle United fan has told GB News the “only joy in her life has been taken” after she was banned from matches over ‘gender critical’ tweets.Linzi Smith, 34, is considering taking legal action against the FA over their Rainbow Laces campaign, which shows support to the LGBTQ+ community.

Source: Newcastle United fan banned from matches over ‘gender critical’ tweets says ‘only joy in her life has been taken’ as she threatens to sue FA | Watch