It is always exciting to find our work, whatever form it is taking and wherever it is happening, being recognized and applauded.

There is a prestigious science prize in England called the Maddox Prize. Based on what they call “sense about science”, it is awarded to one or two people each year for challenging the misrepresentation of science and evidence in public life. This year Stephanie Davies-Arai, the founder of a website we really like called Transgender Trend (transgendertrend.com) was nominated for standing up for science in the face of difficulty or hostility. Davies-Arai had this to say about her nomination.

“… I believe that children and young people deserve nothing less than our dedication in ensuring healthcare and education policies which are based on robust scientific evidence. Through Transgender Trend I will continue with my commitment to disseminate clear, factual, research-based information to support parents and educators in making fully-informed choices regarding the children in their care, despite the continued allegations that we are a ‘hate’ group.”

The website went on to say:

“At Transgender Trend we believe that facts can never be transphobic, that the school curriculum must be science based and that public debate on this issue must be facilitated without fear. The honour of being shortlisted for this prestigious science prize we see as a validation of everyone who is risking defamation, bullying and their very livelihoods by speaking out to establish evidence in the face of ideology.”

Sometimes it seems we are short on allies in our push to support and create female-born spaces and to discuss the issues raised by the reality of people transitioning and the ones detransitioning. In this xxamazons space, we have a firm belief that men do not become women ever, nor do women become men.

This group in the UK (United Kingdom) is a good resource some of us have relied on to help with our thinking on the issues. Their website subtitle is: “Parents questioning the trans narrative.”

I wish the parents of some of the children I’ve known or known of who have transitioned had read and paid attention to the site.

Here are a couple of statements from their welcome page. The rest are well worth reading.

“This site is for everyone who is concerned about the social and medical ‘transition’ of children, the introduction of ‘gender identity’ teaching into schools and new policies and legislation based on subjective ideas of ‘gender’ rather than the biological reality of sex…

It is for feminists and allies who are concerned about the erosion of sex-based rights and protections for women and girls.”

This site was behind the book many of us have read either in full or in part. The title of the book is Transgender Children and Young People: Born in Your Own Body edited by Heather Brunskell-Evans and Michele Moore. It is a collection of essays about the current theory and practice of transgendering children.

Some excellent thinking is represented.

There are many wide-ranging issues about the practice of transitioning. It is good to know that we are not alone in challenging what is going on.