Helen Joyce a senior writer at the Economist has come out and criticised the concept of gender self identification.  I believe that she is right to do so.  Like her I believe that the tiny minority of people who are genuinely transsexual should be left alone to get on with their lives although I’ve also come around to the idea that transition might not be the best course of action for all those suffering from the mental condition known as Gender Dysphoria.

Ms Joyce said in an article for the Daily Mail:

Most people are supportive of ‘trans rights’ – assuming something similar to same-sex marriage and women’s franchise is being demanded. 

That trans people be allowed to live full lives, free from discrimination, harassment and violence and to express themselves as they wish.

Such goals are worthy but they are not what mainstream transactivism is about.

What ‘trans rights’ actually refers to is gender self-identification. This means that others are forced to agree someone is the gender they say they are. 

It requires that everyone else accept trans people’s subjective beliefs as objective reality.

I find it difficult to disagree with the above excerpted statement.  Self identification is both wrong and will end up being counterproductive for those who suffer from Gender Dysphoria.

I think that the push by the bullies of the trans cult to accept subjective beliefs as objective reality is extremely dangerous.  It leads to a culture of compelled speech where people are forced to say things that they do not believe, such as that sex is immutable.  It also adversely affects those suffering from Gender Dysphoria as it stops independent and unbiased research into this issue which means that those with this condition only get the treatment that is approved of or promoted by the trans activists.  Transition is not for everyone with Gender Dysphoria, there may be many many more people with this condition who might be better served by counseling  that enables them to come to terms with the body they have rather than go down a transition route that not only ensures a lifetime of medical intervention, but also may not have the sort of positive outcomes that the trans activists say that they have.

I agree also with Ms Joyce that there is a need for an open debate on trans issues, but it is a debate that the trans lobby is desperate not to have and I believe that it is because that such a debate may smash many of the assumptions made by those who promote the ideology of gender identity.