WHRC @ CSW 2021 – Women’s Human Rights Campaign

Participate in WHRC’s side event at UN CSW 2021

Come along to WHRC’s side event to hear our outstanding speakers from all over the world discuss the harms that ‘gender ideology’ is causing to women and our sex-based rights. Speakers include Kara Dansky, Sheila Jefferies, Linda Louis, Marie-Claire Faray, Kathleen Lowrey, Jo Brew, Maria Binetti, Eugenia Rodrigues, Gunda Schumann, Rochelle Dean, Amparo Domingo and Anna Kerr. See full press release below.

Source: WHRC @ CSW 2021 – Women’s Human Rights Campaign

Gender medicine – Little is known about the effects of puberty blockers | Science & technology | The Economist

Despite their popularity, the effects of puberty blockers remain unclear. Because they are not licensed for gender medicine, drug firms have done no trials.
Record-keeping in many clinics is poor. A2018 review by researchers at the University of Melbourne described the evidence for their use as “low-quality”. In December Britishj udges likewise flagged the lack of a “firm evidence base” when ruling that children were unlikely to be able to give meaningful
consent to taking them. Britain’s National Health Service recently withdrew
a claim, still made elsewhere, that their effects
are “fully reversible”.

The best way to settle such disputes is the same as in any other part of medicine:a
big, well-run clinical trial. So far, despite soaring caseloads, and puberty blockers
having been prescribed for decades, no one is planning to conduct one.

Source: Gender medicine – Little is known about the effects of puberty blockers | Science & technology | The Economist

Production and distribution of child sexual abuse material by parental figures | Australian Institute of Criminology

Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is widely available online. Existing research indicates that the parents and parental figures of victims are notably represented in offender populations. However, there is limited research in this area. Drawing on Australian media and legal databases, this study created a database of 82 cases of CSAM production and distribution perpetrated by parents and/or parental figures from 2009 to 2019. The study found that perpetrators are most often the male parental figures of the victims, and victims are predominately girls under nine years of age. The findings reveal distinct patterns and scenarios of parental CSAM offending that may inform prevention, early intervention and improved responses to victims. The study documented the significant impact of parental CSAM offending on victims and the need for specialist victim support.

Source: Production and distribution of child sexual abuse material by parental figures | Australian Institute of Criminology

ANU gender-neutral language rules, gestational parent, chestfeeding

Australia’s leading university has encouraged staff to use “parent-inclusive language”, such as “chestfeeding” instead of “breastfeeding” and “human milk” rather than “mother’s milk”.

Similarly, the terms “mother” and “father” should be replaced with “gestational” and “nongestational” parent, according to the Australian National University’s Gender-Inclusive Handbook.

Source: ANU gender-neutral language rules, gestational parent, chestfeeding

When it comes to race and gender, oppressed people can be oppressors too | Sonia Sodha | Opinion | The Guardian

Transgender people and lesbians are two groups that face hatred and discrimination, and differences of opinion exist within these groups. Some trans people and lesbians believe that being a woman has nothing to do with biological sex; others believe they are related, because female reproductive biology is the basis on which women have always faced structural oppression. Both perspectives have a right to be heard. Yet lesbians who believe the latter – many of whom have faced lesbophobia their entire lives – are facing persecution for their beliefs.

Take Julie Bindel, an important feminist voice whose decades of campaigning against male violence have made a material difference to women’s lives. Last week, an Australian bookshop issued an apology for “any hurt caused” by hosting an event with Bindel three years ago. They did not even have the guts to say what is offensive about Bindel, but it’s fair to assume they were referring to her views on gender.

Or Allison Bailey, the barrister suing her chambers and the charity Stonewall for employment discrimination. Bailey is a black, working-class lesbian and a survivor of child sex abuse who believes, as many women do, that there should be some exceptions to males being admitted to female-only spaces. After she tweeted about a group she helped found for people who are same-sex attracted, Stonewall filed a complaint to her chambers and warned that its relationship with them would be damaged unless her chambers took disciplinary action against her.

On Friday, a judge ruled that Bailey’s case has “more than reasonable prospects of success” and should advance to trial. That a gay rights charity stands accused of discriminating against a black lesbian illustrates how wrong it is to assume the rights and interests of all LGBTQ+ people perfectly align. Of course, that has not stopped white men telling Bailey that her concept of womanhood is not only wrong, it makes her a bigot.

Source: When it comes to race and gender, oppressed people can be oppressors too | Sonia Sodha | Opinion | The Guardian

Readings Julie Bindel controversy: culture wars at a bookshop near you

Evans, an award-winning Melbourne author who writes queer sci-fi for young adults, tweeted on Monday: “I agreed to do this event providing Readings publicly apologise for hosting Julie Bindel. Where is this apology?”
The next day, the bookshop put a statement on its website: “Readings prides itself on ensuring everyone in our community feels safe, respected and considered. We apologise for any hurt caused by highlighting the work of an author whose current stance is to divide our community.
“To that end, Readings regrets programming Julie Bindel in 2018 and thank our community for opening the dialogue with us.
It is believed that Rubbo did not write the apology but, as the owner and managing director of Readings, did give final approval.
As soon as it was released, all hell broke loose. The story, thanks to Bindel’s high profile, has gone global. Stories appeared in The Times and the UK Spectator as well as The Age. Bindel and her supporters accused Readings of anti-intellectual censorship. The company’s head office has received hundreds of critical emails, many of which threatened to never again to darken the doorstep of a Readings bookshop.
All retailers are mindful of the consumer boycotts triggered by last year’s statement from Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who said that while she supported transgender rights, she was a gender-critical feminist. UK-based chain The Body Shop, which sell soap and skincare, criticised her on Facebook — in a somewhat light-hearted way — and the backlash was instant with the subsequent boycott of the shops by certain groups who disagreed with the store’s statement. While soap and books are not similar, they are both predominantly bought by women, who are not averse to using their purchasing power to express disapproval.
Julie Bindel is publishing another book this year, due to come out in July.
Mark Rubbo told me this morning that when it came out, he would stare down any pressure to boycott the book.
“There is no way we will not stock it.”

Source: Readings Julie Bindel controversy: culture wars at a bookshop near you

Ministers told it is ‘not transphobic to advocate for women’s sex-based rights’

It is not transphobic to advocate for women’s “sex-based rights”, ministers have been told.

SNP MP Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) made the comment as Parliament debated a Bill to extend maternity rights to ministers and shadow ministers.

Concerns were raised in the Commons over why the Bill refers to a “person” rather than a “woman” being able to take maternity leave.

She said: “Many politicians are now so in thrall to those who wish to erase women for the purposes of advancing gender identity theory, that they call those of us who advocate for women’s sex-based rights transphobic, even when we have never done or said anything against equal rights for trans people in our lives.

“It is possible and right to support both trans rights and women’s rights, neither should be sacrificed for the sake of the other.”

Ms Cherry continued: “We can have an inclusive society for everyone without doing that.

“Sex is a protected characteristic for a very good reason.

“Discrimination against women is rooted in their biology, that is our lived experience.

“We must find a way to be inclusive without erasing women’s biology and women’s lived experience from the statute book.

Source: Ministers told it is ‘not transphobic to advocate for women’s sex-based rights’