autistic daughter encounters a man in the cinema bathroom

My daughter is a young teen on the autistic spectrum. She walked into the public toilets at our local cinema (back when everything was open) and found herself in the presence of a man dressed as a women washing his hands. She was alone in there. She ran out scared, decrying that there was a man in the toilet, and that she would absolutely not go back in until he was gone. I was a bit shocked so I went in to check what was going on. There was indeed a man in there - he had long hair, wore a dress and had painted his nails - but he was huge. No wonder she felt scared. I came out to my daughter verging on a meltdown. And found myself, to my shame, trying to stop her being so loud about a man in toilet in case we were told off! Later I apologised to her because the fact is that there should not be a man in the toilets where young vulnerable girls go to do private things. As someone with a mental health condition, she is being asked to put her vulnerability, and how her mind and then body reacts to such things, below the perceived needs of a tiny group of men. It also highlighted to me - what are autistic children supposed to do with this new ideology? They absolutely cannot see passed the facts. My daughter, if alone and maybe a year or two older could have easily found herself saying to the man “what are you doing in here? This is a woman’s toilet!” and who knows what could have happened then. And she is being asked to deny actual fact for an ideology - as an autistic person this is seemingly impossible. I fear that autistic people will find themselves being targeted because of their black and white thinking, in a world where they need just as much understanding as the next person.

#unitedkingdom #cinema #bathrooms #autisticchildren #facts #intimidation #safety

protest against rape becomes protest 'for justice' in the name of trans inclusion

A Facebook group formed in response to a number of high profile rapes that occurred in Australia's Parliament House, perpetrated by one man against four women. This was followed by revelations that a federal Cabinet minister (since named as the Attorney-General, Christian Porter) was accused of raping a 16 year old girl in 1988 who had later committed suicide. Initially the group was named Women for Equality - Australia and protests were being organised. A zoom meeting was held where they decided that pussy hats would be part of upcoming protests. A woman in the comments said 'not all women have a vulva' and from there, the group descended into the most disgusting infighting and silencing of women - including women who had suffered rape and sexual assault. Ironically, part of their protest message was around the silencing of rape victims.

The group was then renamed March 4 Justice, which many women pointed out could mean absolutely anything. A trans 'woman' was added to the admin team who proceeded to post about how the decision was made that it was an 'inclusive' group. This meant any woman who objected to the name change or how the message had been diluted by including trans 'women' in a protest that was about women being subject to male sexual violence, were kicked out. Many women left of their own accord. I was banned for commenting 'some trans women rape women and as such are to be treated with the same caution as any other man.' Many were utterly appalled at being told by a trans 'woman' what they could and couldn't say with respect to their personal experiences of male sexual violence. Many decided they would not participate in the protests.

#australia #socialmedia #protest #rape #maleviolence #mvawg

male student identifying as female

I work as a teacher at a Victorian government school.

A male student has a trans identity: his 'gender' is listed as female on the

computer system, he has a female name etc. I have no personal problem

with this student as a person. I have a duty of care towards him, as to all of my students.

I have a problem with his wants being prioritised over girls' rights.

Before this boy ever declared a trans identity he trained hard in his sport.

He had an artwork published, with some public funding, in which he detailed

his pain and struggle about how he felt rejected and excluded in his event,

because of the cruelty and judgement of others, especially 'cis' girls, in not

embracing him in the girls' events. I'm not sure what this referred to,

because at school sports he competes in female categories.

Victorian Education Department policy is to affirm students' identities.

On the sports days, events are for 'those who identify as . . .'

Anyway, on the sports day he won every single race he entered, in the girls categories.

The 'cis' girls all ran up to hug him immediately beaming. He is very popular.

Adults all stood around watching this. I feel so much anger towards the adults

who are teaching these girls that their role is to make this confused young man

feel accepted and affirmed. That they don't matter.

Oh well, it is only school. It is only one kid. It is only girls.

#australia #victoria #school #students #sports #womenssports #centeringmen #singlesexsports