Emily (formerly Zack) Bridges has issued A Statement:

“I am an athlete, and I just want to race competitively,” he says, skipping lightly over the fact that he just wants to race competitively against people who are systematically smaller and less muscular than he is.

“No one should have to choose between who they are, and participating in the sport they love.”

But it isn’t who he is, it’s who he isn’t. Who he is is a man, with a massive physical advantage over the women he wants to race against. Yes he should have to choose, because it’s grossly unfair to the women if he doesn’t.

“I’ve been relentlessly harassed and demonised by those who have a specific … Read the rest

Perhaps the concerns are real concerns.

History will judge whether Dr David Bell was a hateful transphobe or trying to alert people to a medical scandal, but he's far from the only health professional raising these concerns (and I have the letters and emails to prove it.) https://t.co/siTOdD6CGC

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 1, 2022

A genuinely gender dysphoric person writes… pic.twitter.com/6nuVH625Pi

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 1, 2022

https://twitter.com/Docstockk/status/1509954059737997316 … Read the rest

How the experts got Russian military prowess so wrong:

The resilience of Ukrainian resistance is embarrassing for a Western think-tank and military community that had confidently predicted that the Russians would conquer Ukraine in a matter of days. For years, Western “experts” prattled on about the Russian military’s expensive, high-tech “modernization.” The Russians, we were told, had the better tanks and aircraft, including cutting-edge SU-34 fighter bombers and T-90 tanks, with some of the finest technical specifications in the world. The Russians had also ostensibly reorganized their army into a more professional, mostly voluntary force. They had rethought their offensive doctrine and created battalion tactical groups, flexible, heavily armored formations that were meant to be key to overwhelming the

… Read the rest

The Guardian had a column called How to eat, which is now reaching an end. It sounds entertaining; I’ll have to browse the back catalogue. The idea originated in irritation at the pompous posh brand of food column.

Would there be mileage, we wondered, in sending up such high-handed advice in a clearly tongue-in-cheek, OTT way? But by flipping the subject matter and talking enthusiastically about everyday foods – beans on toast, lasagne, pesto, Magnums, pasties, hummus – in a way that would generate engaged, friendly debate below the line (BTL)? Note: the bottom half of the internet was less toxic then.

Sounds interesting but wait a second – pesto and hummus and lasagne and beans on toast? One … Read the rest

How about no?

Just no. Not “oh dear what shall we do,” not “maybe we need to tweak this a little,” not “we’re in the middle,” just no. No. You can’t. Of course not. Go away.

Not “tougher new rules,” either. Just no.

The president of cycling’s governing body has held emergency talks with other international sports federations about creating tougher new rules for the participation of trans women in elite women’s sport “within months”.

“Rules” for letting men participate in elite women’s sport, thus ruining it. Forget rules; just No.

In a notable intervention, the UCI president, David Lappartient, said cycling’s current rules, which allow trans women to compete against cis women if they reduce their testosterone

… Read the rest

He’s a guy.

https://twitter.com/HastingsUFCW/status/1509175209118638093… Read the rest

A small but repulsive item on the list:

As President Donald J. Trump’s tenure came to an end, the chief White House photographer, who had traveled the world with him and spent countless hours inside the White House snapping pictures, notified Mr. Trump’s aides that she intended to publish a book collecting some of her most memorable images.

As all White House photographers since Reagan have done. I actually looked at Pete Souza’s Obama book.

Trump, however, had other ideas, because of course he did.

First, aides to Mr. Trump asked her for a cut of her book advance payment, in exchange for his writing a foreword and helping promote the book, according to former associates of Mr. Trump.

… Read the rest

Maybe, ever so slowly, they are starting to catch on, just a little.

The president of cycling’s governing body has held emergency talks with other international sports federations about creating tougher new rules for the participation of trans women in elite women’s sport “within months”.

In a notable intervention, the UCI president, David Lappartient, said cycling’s current rules, which allow trans women to compete against cis women if they reduce their testosterone to below 5 nmol/L for a period of 12 months, were “probably not enough” to ensure fair competition.

“Probably” as in “ya think”?

He also suggested that other sports including athletics and swimming were in a similar boat and that coordinated action might be needed.

“It

… Read the rest

Originally a comment by Your Name’s not Bruce? on Ask the Expert.

Isn’t it funny how some media outlets, for some stories, are quick to get spokespeople from “both sides” of an issue, but not this particular issue? Having both sides generates buzz, debate and controversy. Doesn’t that help generate viewers, listeners and clicks? I remember when feathered dinosaurs became a thing. Long after the time when the vast majority of paleontologists had come to understand that yes, birds are dinosaurs, many stories about new fossil finds would include a quote or two from one of the few holdouts who did not agree. His papers continuing to argue the point did not cite more recent research or literature, which … Read the rest

Evan Davis on the Radio 4 program PM had a 5 minute discussion of “trans participation” (always the generic “trans” instead of “trans women” of course – must obscure the issue whenever possible) just now. He talked to one person. A woman who is good at a sport? Nah, don’t be silly. He talked to Joanna Harper, a runner who transitioned at age 47.

In case you want to listen it starts at 48:40.… Read the rest

The Supreme Court v voting rights:

This time around, the state’s Republican legislature was challenging the state legislative districts that the Wisconsin supreme court picked for the state. Even though Republicans would still hold their majority under the new map, lawmakers took issue with the creation of an additional Black-majority district near Milwaukee. They said there wasn’t adequate justification for creating it, and made an emergency request to the supreme court to block the maps.

In a seven-page unsigned opinion, the supreme court accepted that request last week. But it went further, using the case as an opportunity to interpret the Voting Rights Act in a narrow way without full briefing or oral argument in the case.

… Read the rest

But we’re told trans people are so very marginalized.

Fox News hires ‘trailblazer’ Caitlyn Jenner as contributor

How many other Olympians have commentator gigs at Fox News?

Fox News says it has hired Caitlyn Jenner as a contributor, with her first appearance set for Thursday on Sean Hannity’s program.

Jenner, the former Olympic decathlete, ran an unsuccessful campaign for California governor last year. The network said she will offer commentary and analysis across various Fox News platforms.

“Caitlyn’s story is an inspiration to us all,” said Suzanne Scott, Fox News Media chief executive. “She is a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ community and her illustrious career spans a variety of fields that will be a tremendous asset for our audience.”

Does … Read the rest

Hilarity ensued.

Tory MP Jamie Wallis bravely comes out as trans after rape & blackmail plot. Bravo! I hope his stand will prompt the Government to rethink its block on reform of the Gender Recognition Act https://t.co/jTONbHuGPb

— Peter Tatchell (@PeterTatchell) March 30, 2022

Bravo! No wait, not bravo, that other thing.

Would-be trans MP Jamie Wallis is no hero: sacked as local councillor for not attending council meetings, director of 10+ companies that had 800 complaints, voted against against climate action & crackdown on tax avoidance. Supports harsh laws on refugees https://t.co/9cyBwMESH1

— Peter Tatchell (@PeterTatchell) March 30, 2022

Unbravo? Negbravo? Debravo? Transbravo?

H/t

Sorry. I’m confused here, Peter. Your previous tweet stated he was trans & your sentiments

… Read the rest

Hmm. Define “friendly.”

Russia has told “unfriendly” foreign countries they must start paying for gas in roubles or it will cut supplies.

See this is odd because I would say Russia is pretty much out in front on the “unfriendly” scoreboard. Bombing the bejeezus out of the country next door (the one where millions of people were deliberately starved to death by Russia in the 1930s) is on the face of it not very friendly at all.

It’s a funny thing how bullies manage to frame themselves as the bullied. We see it in disputes over gender and we see it in disputes over entire huge countries with 44 million people.… Read the rest

Life is so unfair. Sometimes, when you bully someone, onlookers call you a bully! Can you believe that?

https://twitter.com/NoisyBits/status/1509455693388075016

It’s hilarious that he includes his own bullying in his screenshot. “Look, I tried to get Kathleen Stock dogpiled and people responded by dogpiling me!!! Did you ever?!?!”… Read the rest

We applaud.

We applaud the athletes who have spoken up for fairness today! @EllieBaker1998 @BethDobbin @KyleLangford_96 @LongJumpChris @andyturner110h @Daley_thompson @PersKarlstrom @EmilyDiamond11@mara_yamauchi @sharrond62 (and any more we missed!). Keep it going. #SexMatters https://t.co/Q29pmKg8ag

— Sex Matters (@SexMattersOrg) March 30, 2022

You already know this, because I’ve spelled it out to some of you:

Your policy is inadequate to provide fairness for female athletes.

Happy to spell it out in person. You’ve got my number. https://t.co/yTpPmZgSAL

— Emma Hilton (@FondOfBeetles) March 30, 2022

Fairness to women is not less important than “inclusion” of men who identify as women. It’s a great deal more important.

Emily Bridges’ female competitors were distressed yet afraid to go public:
“Former Olympic medal-winning swimmer @sharrond62 says

… Read the rest

I was out doing things for a few hours and this happened –

BREAKING NEWS: Statement from British Cycling. Bridges will not be competing this weekend.

"We have now been informed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) that under their current guidelines Emily is not eligible to participate in this event" /1https://t.co/L0PIhA9ipT pic.twitter.com/uiltpKEbeG

— FairPlayForWomen (@fairplaywomen) March 30, 2022

It’s time for British Cycling to create a trans policy that doesn’t harm female cyclists.

Today, British female cyclists said #NoThankYou https://t.co/9FTfqbBE9X

— Emma Hilton (@FondOfBeetles) March 30, 2022

Be inclusive, let them find a home, yadda yadda, but not at the expense of women.

https://twitter.com/mara_yamauchi/status/1509287607141904394

Now they don’t have to boycott the race.

https://twitter.com/coachblade/status/1509246666959818756… Read the rest

Another crack in the edifice.

How this has been allowed to happen is just ridiculous. I would refuse to race and hope that the other women would stand with me on this too. This is totally unfair. The advantages a trans women has had from going through puberty as a boy to a man can never been undone. https://t.co/2ALBTXozx8

— Ellie Baker (@EllieBaker1998) March 30, 2022

Create Trans gender competitions. Unfortunately in sport you can’t have blurred lines. You have to be male or female. I get you still want to compete as you feel comfortable but there has to be a separate category then or we may as well just say goodbye to Womens sport now. https://t.co/NpxXd4xWnm

— Ellie

… Read the rest

pic.twitter.com/7S4vTwAABt

— Ma_at (@WB4justice) March 30, 2022

I happen to have seen the origin of the punchline before seeing the above.… Read the rest

The Times also appears to take the Tory MP’s claim at face value.

A Conservative MP has announced that he is transgender and has been the victim of rape and blackmail.

Jamie Wallis, the MP for Bridgend, said he was transgender, “or to be more accurate, I want to be”, and had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

Maybe he just has shlub dysphoria. Has anyone looked into that? He appears to be a shlub, and dysphoria seems likely in such cases, so maybe it’s nothing to do with gender at all.

Wallis rapidly received public support from fellow MPs. Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, said: “This is a very brave statement.” Andrew

… Read the rest