Especially for the #Labour administration in the UK; the Supreme Court in the UK, all the #TERF and Terf adjacent people out there, the media, especially the #Guardian.
#Rights #HumanRights #ProChoice #Autonomy #Biology #Facts
Once again, for those still quoting primary school level science:
Rebecca Helm, a biologist and an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, Asheville US writes:
"Friendly neighborhood biologist here. I see a lot of people are talking about biological sexes and gender right now. Lots of folks make biological sex sex seem really simple. Well, since it’s so simple, let’s find the biological roots, shall we? Let’s talk about sex...[a thread]
If you know a bit about biology you will probably say that biological sex is caused by chromosomes, XX and you’re female, XY and you’re male. This is “chromosomal sex” but is it “biological sex”? Well...
Turns out there is only ONE GENE on the Y chromosome that really matters to sex. It’s called the SRY gene. During human embryonic development the SRY protein turns on male-associated genes. Having an SRY gene makes you “genetically male”. But is this “biological sex”?
Sometimes that SRY gene pops off the Y chromosome and over to an X chromosome. Surprise! So now you’ve got an X with an SRY and a Y without an SRY. What does this mean?
A Y with no SRY means physically you’re female, chromosomally you’re male (XY) and genetically you’re female (no SRY). An X with an SRY means you’re physically male, chromsomally female (XX) and genetically male (SRY). But biological sex is simple! There must be another answer...
Sex-related genes ultimately turn on hormones in specifics areas on the body, and reception of those hormones by cells throughout the body. Is this the root of “biological sex”??
“Hormonal male” means you produce ‘normal’ levels of male-associated hormones. Except some percentage of females will have higher levels of ‘male’ hormones than some percentage of males. Ditto ditto ‘female’ hormones. And...
...if you’re developing, your body may not produce enough hormones for your genetic sex. Leading you to be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally non-binary, and physically non-binary. Well, except cells have something to say about this...
Maybe cells are the answer to “biological sex”?? Right?? Cells have receptors that “hear” the signal from sex hormones. But sometimes those receptors don’t work. Like a mobile phone that’s on “do not disturb’. Call and cell, they will not answer.
What does this all mean?
It means you may be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally male/female/non-binary, with cells that may or may not hear the male/female/non-binary call, and all this leading to a body that can be male/non-binary/female.
Try out some combinations for yourself. Notice how confusing it gets? Can you point to what the absolute cause of biological sex is? Is it fair to judge people by it?
Of course you could try appealing to the numbers. “Most people are either male or female” you say. Except that as a biologist professor I will tell you...
The reason I don’t have my students look at their own chromosome in class is because people could learn that their chromosomal sex doesn’t match their physical sex, and learning that in the middle of a 10-point assignment is JUST NOT THE TIME.
Biological sex is complicated. Before you discriminate against someone on the basis of “biological sex” & identity, ask yourself: have you seen YOUR chromosomes? Do you know the genes of the people you love? The hormones of the people you work with? The state of their cells?
Since the answer will obviously be no, please be kind, respect people’s right to tell you who they are, and remember that you don’t have all the answers. Again: biology is complicated. Kindness and respect don’t have to be.
Note: Biological classifications exist. XX, XY, XXY XXYY and all manner of variation which is why sex isn't classified as binary. You can't have a binary classification system with more than two configurations even if two of those configurations are more common than others.
Biology is a shitshow. Be kind to people."
Many thanks to Traci Drake for finding this.
This paragraph from the excellent article in the Irish Examiner nails it.
#TransRights #SistersNotCISters
“It’s too early to know the practical ramifications of Wednesday’s UK Supreme Court ruling on trans identities, in which the meaning of the Gender Recognition Act was reversed without a single testimony from a trans person being heard, but said ruling has been a source of lip-smacking delight for the fringe group of gender-critical activists who have worked hard to making Britain the Anglosphere’s uncontested capital of galloping, gleeful transphobia.
And it is this glee, this sheer horrible joy at everything being done, that can be so hard to swallow, so wearying to comprehend. It’s not enough that decades of slow, painful advances in human rights and basic decency can be reversed in a matter of weeks, it’s that we must watch the world’s collective ghouls cackling loudly with ecstasy as it happens”
Séamas O'Reilly: 'We’ve watched as the worst people on Earth have had the best days of their lives' https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle-columnists/arid-41616217.html
UPDATE;
I am adding this long and excellent article from The Gist, because it’s a really important one; it clarifies where the UK has gone wrong, and where the EU gives protections for trans people. It also points out at the end that the UK is going to have a little issue with that ruling from the Supreme Court….
https://www.thegist.ie/the-gist-trans-rights-are-data-rights/
Another important edit. - the science on genetics DNA and the variety of genders. The transphobes, Starmer and the Supreme Court judges really need to read and understand all of this.
https://thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/human-sex-gender-nonbinary
UPDATE [26th April 2025]
This is one excellent journalist, who really gets to the heart of the matter.
And no, we do not want this very British hate and harassment coming to Ireland at all.
#TransRightsAreHumanRights
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle-columnists/arid-41620408.html
UPDATE [26th May 2025]
TERF analysis
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/supreme-court-trans-ruling-analysis-uk/
UPDATE [18 June 2025]
Kennedy, N. (2025). Harming children: the effects of the #UK puberty blocker ban. Journal of Gender Studies, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2025.2521699
#trans #research #GenderNonConforming
Takes no note of anything other than the external appearance of a newborn as it leaves it’s mothers uterus. It is a shocking, ignorant and dangerous ruling, not just for trans people [it’s awful for them] but this ruling has consequences for society generally everywhere in the UK. The misogynists, homophobes and transphobes will be finding more ways to bully and coerce anyone they think doesn’t fit their idea of a ‘woman’. #TransphobicUK #TERFIsland #ProChoice #SistersNotCISters https://mastodon.social/@publicnewsfeed/114347210167681669
Ugh. Jenrick does not deserve an apology. That man spoke the truth.
Jenrick is a racist POS.
BBC apologises after Robert Jenrick accused of xenophobia - BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dxqwkwx5qo
What kind of ‘family holiday’ is this?
Days at Chevening courtesy of David Lammy, fishing without a licence, and a massive security bill to look after his entourage.
Days in Wiltshire in some millionaires house, while he visits RAF bases with US soldiers on them, and half the county can’t move because of security, roads closed, no fly zones etc, while JDVance also meets Jenrick, Farage and others.
Now he’s off to Scotland to cause more inconvenience, more closed roads, and cost the taxpayer even more, undoubtedly as he meets with other politicians and business people.
Meanwhile his wife and children are invisible. how is this in any way a ‘family holiday’? And why is the British taxpayer on the hook for any of it?
What kind of dirty deal has Starmer and Labour made with Trump’s administration?
This is absolutely not the behaviour of previous governments, inviting themselves to visit and cost other countries a not inconsiderable fortune.
Why are we not hearing from the Far Right about the cost to the taxpayers for this visit? They are quick enough to complain about anyone else.
JD Vance lands in Scotland for next leg of UK holiday - BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyvn6r682lmo
The trolls and subhumans building this bonfire should be identified and charged. This is just sick, cruel and obscene. No-one’s name should be on such edifices.
Personally, I’d love to see them all banned forever, regardless of who builds them.
Someone must know who are doing this, but maybe they are afraid to tell.
Derry bonfire: Community anger forces removal of ‘sickening’ bonfire sign targeting drowned teen but Lee Rigby placard appears | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/community-anger-forces-removal-of-sickening-bonfire-sign-targeting-drowned-teen-but-placard-mocking-lee-rigby-appears/a207104831.html
Oh, look - it’s another Not Brown, Not Immigrant, person, who pervs over little girls.
Bet we won’t hear anything from Robinson-Yaxley-Lennon and his ilk
Jason Harkness: Co Tyrone pervert with ‘deviant sexual interest in children’ jailed over rape of girl (9) | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/ni-pervert-with-deviant-sexual-interest-in-children-jailed-over-rape-of-girl-9/a797844633.html
Jeez - this government are such awful liars. What else could FRT be about except total surveillance society? There’s cameras in so many places already - buildings, banks, streets, transport…. Why is yet another layer of surveillance even deemed necessary? That FRT is very poor on identifying people of colour is alarming to say the least - it will lead to even more discrimination and wrongful exclusion for those people, just based on the colour of their skin.
Facial recognition technology not about ‘total surveillance society’ – minister | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/facial-recognition-technology-not-about-total-surveillance-society-minister/a1564550877.html
Whole thing should lose its ’charitable status’. And there was a minister whose congregation spied on him for over a year, reporting on whether he was living in the designated accomodation or not.
IMO the rules and regulations around what constitutes any charity could do with a lot of work and tightening up. Surely there should also be a cap on how wealthy any particular one should be too? EG; any multi-million religious concern is hardly a ‘charity’ when all it does is fatten its own coffers by persuading more people to join.
Concerns over Presbyterian Church discipline, governance https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0812/1527991-presbyterian-church-concerns/
Trump is a conman. He’s lying. Any country where he’s already built a golf course can tell you this. His history also can tell you this. There won’t be the many jobs. There won’t be decent payment for the land he’s stolen. There won’t be the investment and the benefits. Instead this corrupt American owns a part of Vietnam, as well as parts of many other countries.
Farmers displaced by $1.5bn Trump golf course reportedly being offered rice and cash | Vietnam | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/11/farmers-displaced-trump-golf-course
Well, there you have it. Pro-Israel demo in London today and it seems no one was arrested under any kind of anti-terrorism or any other act.
Could the partisan behaviour of the British police and government be any clearer?
A couple of people who objected to this and shouted for Palestine were led away and arrested.
That over 60K have been murdered in Gaza means nothing, that Israel is starving everyone in Gaza, including the hostages means nothing.
🤬
So much hipocrisy
Pro-Israel protest sees hundreds march through central London - BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g66x4xr6zo
Are MetPol pleased with themselves?
Doing a good job job keeping Britain safe?
Are these cops speeding comfortably in their beds every night?
How courageous and brave they are - arresting pensioners, magistrates, priests, elderly women in a great many cases, ‘to keep Britain safe’
Or are they nothing more than conscienceless automatons ‘just following orders’
Meanwhile thugs, bullies, racists, and the majority accused of or with records of domestic violence or sexual assault continue to intimidate and threaten immigrants held in various accomodation units around the country, and it’s perfectly fine.
Or those taking part in large marches with bands, while waving flags and supporting proscribed paramilitary organisations like the UVF [Ulster Volunteer Force] can continue to do so, and not a single one will be arrested or charged with supporting terrorism.
Carry a placard, and sit silently, and you are so, so dangerous…….
Shame on Labour. Shame on the police. Shame on their neighbours and families for supporting them in this.
Arrests reach 522 following Palestine protest in London https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0810/1527785-london-protest-arrests/
Especially for the #Labour administration in the UK; the Supreme Court in the UK, all the #TERF and Terf adjacent people out there, the media, especially the #Guardian.
#Rights #HumanRights #ProChoice #Autonomy #Biology #Facts
Once again, for those still quoting primary school level science:
Rebecca Helm, a biologist and an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, Asheville US writes:
"Friendly neighborhood biologist here. I see a lot of people are talking about biological sexes and gender right now. Lots of folks make biological sex sex seem really simple. Well, since it’s so simple, let’s find the biological roots, shall we? Let’s talk about sex...[a thread]
If you know a bit about biology you will probably say that biological sex is caused by chromosomes, XX and you’re female, XY and you’re male. This is “chromosomal sex” but is it “biological sex”? Well...
Turns out there is only ONE GENE on the Y chromosome that really matters to sex. It’s called the SRY gene. During human embryonic development the SRY protein turns on male-associated genes. Having an SRY gene makes you “genetically male”. But is this “biological sex”?
Sometimes that SRY gene pops off the Y chromosome and over to an X chromosome. Surprise! So now you’ve got an X with an SRY and a Y without an SRY. What does this mean?
A Y with no SRY means physically you’re female, chromosomally you’re male (XY) and genetically you’re female (no SRY). An X with an SRY means you’re physically male, chromsomally female (XX) and genetically male (SRY). But biological sex is simple! There must be another answer...
Sex-related genes ultimately turn on hormones in specifics areas on the body, and reception of those hormones by cells throughout the body. Is this the root of “biological sex”??
“Hormonal male” means you produce ‘normal’ levels of male-associated hormones. Except some percentage of females will have higher levels of ‘male’ hormones than some percentage of males. Ditto ditto ‘female’ hormones. And...
...if you’re developing, your body may not produce enough hormones for your genetic sex. Leading you to be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally non-binary, and physically non-binary. Well, except cells have something to say about this...
Maybe cells are the answer to “biological sex”?? Right?? Cells have receptors that “hear” the signal from sex hormones. But sometimes those receptors don’t work. Like a mobile phone that’s on “do not disturb’. Call and cell, they will not answer.
What does this all mean?
It means you may be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally male/female/non-binary, with cells that may or may not hear the male/female/non-binary call, and all this leading to a body that can be male/non-binary/female.
Try out some combinations for yourself. Notice how confusing it gets? Can you point to what the absolute cause of biological sex is? Is it fair to judge people by it?
Of course you could try appealing to the numbers. “Most people are either male or female” you say. Except that as a biologist professor I will tell you...
The reason I don’t have my students look at their own chromosome in class is because people could learn that their chromosomal sex doesn’t match their physical sex, and learning that in the middle of a 10-point assignment is JUST NOT THE TIME.
Biological sex is complicated. Before you discriminate against someone on the basis of “biological sex” & identity, ask yourself: have you seen YOUR chromosomes? Do you know the genes of the people you love? The hormones of the people you work with? The state of their cells?
Since the answer will obviously be no, please be kind, respect people’s right to tell you who they are, and remember that you don’t have all the answers. Again: biology is complicated. Kindness and respect don’t have to be.
Note: Biological classifications exist. XX, XY, XXY XXYY and all manner of variation which is why sex isn't classified as binary. You can't have a binary classification system with more than two configurations even if two of those configurations are more common than others.
Biology is a shitshow. Be kind to people."
Many thanks to Traci Drake for finding this.