Hi,
After the double post last time, here I am, late. Tut tut eh?
Reviewing the review
Shall we start with some positive news? The British Medical Association posted this earlier this week:
Members of the BMA’s Council recently voted in favour of a motion which asked the Association to ‘publicly critique the Cass Review’, after doctors and academics in several countries, including the UK, voiced concern about weaknesses in the methodologies used in the Review and problems arising from the implementation of some of the recommendations
There’s further details on Pink News as well. The latter includes referencing the other medical groups and experts, on their issues with the evidence and the findings.
Last month The Good Law Project and TransActual challenged the legality of the ban, and despite their best efforts, the case was not ruled in the favour, unfortunately.
Psst: please do donate to GLP or TA, if you have some money left from last month. Both groups do amazing work, IMO.
I am hopeful that the BMA’s task & finish group will review the report and then methods used to include/exclude evidence.
Will this change hearts and minds in Westminster? Who can say. I feel that should the Cass Review be ruled to be flawed, I am hopeful this puts pressure in the Minister for Health to follow expert advice and make evidence led decisions.
Good news
With all that’s going on in the world – particularly around trans folks’ new position as public enemy* – I’ve been kept my eye out for positive articles. You might see some here, but mostly I put them in the Chams’ forum.
( * Not the awesome rap group, but we absolutely should “Fight the Power” ✊ ).
That aside, some good news on the, um, good news 😉
Jack Molay (of Cross Dreamers’ fame) has set up a page dedicated to positive trans stories. That seems to be more international in outlook – I think Jack is based in Norway – and if you’re from the US, LGBTQ Nation has a big ol’ positive news thread too.
Lateness
I’ve had a day off and as such, I’ve been catching up with chores. Foolishly – or more positively, bravely – I attempted to bring the front & back garden back from wild to, ummm, less wild 🙂 The weeding and grass cutting has given me aches in new places. But exercise is good for you right? Plus, that’s sorted along with other house duties, so that’s the weekend free to relax over.
Oh, and at I’ve waffled passed the point, I’m late as I’ve been enjoying the community mod, Fallout London. If you’re not familiar with the setting, think quirky American retro of what the 1950s future would be, and put that in a post nuclear apocalypse.
As per the title, this one is set in London and it’s a pleasure to hear UK regional accents, from the talented voice cast. All that and the very British in jokes and puns. Ion Bru rather than Iron Brew, etc. Fingers crossed for the rest of the play through.
As this is a community created modification – or ‘mod’ – there’s a certain amount of tinkering required to get things going. But, hey, flex those geek skills and off we go 🙂
Pinprovemts
Due to last month’s emergency cancellation, it’s been a while since I’ve been to see the beauty therapist. In honesty, my time out last month, meant emergency dewookification was required, so having a gap has helped.
We spoke about various things and one of them is the strong sense of therapy within the treatment. Sure, it’s not therapy as in counselling. But, I do feel a lot better during and after. S, the specialist, said that she had similar feelings and would treat herself to something if life was being tricky. Likewise, the positive feelings following a tidy up or a spot of cleaning. Now, I’ll be honest and say I’m not the most dynamic when it comes to the latter, but it’s great to see how much better things are, after your hard work.
As to the therapy aspect of getting a treatment, I can’t quite put my finger on act one thing. I think it’s a mix of being my true self (genderfluid), open conversation, acceptance, being pampered, and it’s quite relaxing. Well, the latter as much as it can, given you’re having your leg hair pulled out 😁
Oh, and pin change? S suggested that going to a half treatment might be better value for money. Partly as my lower legs are balding, so there’s little regrowth. I’m going to give this a go, as this might work out well for Thursdays. We shall see.
L x
Glad I read this as I’d missed the double post last week (I blame panicky getting ready to go North). It sounds like the de-wookie-fication of the pins is more like a proper therapy session, and arguably more effective, which is a yay for that!
Sounds like a positive week all round, as it happens, and I am glad you have got some rest inamongst the productivity!
Thank you. I’m surprised by how much it helps. I mean, I had hoped the removal of leg carpet would knock dysphoria back a bit and that was my aim. However, it’s so much more than that, given conversation and openness about life & whatnot. Talk about landing on your feet 😻
While out for a walk this morning, the Ever Lovely Mrs J asked how I was getting on without the tablets. It’s been a slow road by reducing them to every other day, two days between, etc over month plus. But, so far, so good.
In terms of counselling therapy, I have had a number of monthly-ish appointments since Autumn 2023. That’s really helped. The specialist, bless them, has – now why is it I’m struggling with this honesty? 🤔 – they have truly helped me get my head around my anxiety, Imposter Syndrome, and give me the courage to seek what I need.
The self-care sounds like it’s going in a positive direction, plus you have the support of those close to you which counts for a lot.
Yes and perhaps self care in more than one way. What I mean is, looking after your wellbeing, not ignoring warning signs, enjoying the little things, and serving aside some time to relax & recover.
To go back to the Toronto landing lounge – a place to “recombobulate” – as the amazing Suzi Dent pointed out.
I forgot where I read this, but I have the words “home is where it’s safe to be ourselves” in my head. There is a risk that I’ve made that up. But given it seems well observed, I’m feeling it’s from someone else 😉
So, if my home life has altered so that I’m more able to be who I need to be, that’s a serious level of mental heavy lifting gone. I feel that’s something to be very grateful for.
I’m all for positive trans news. Despite the monopoly that hate and violence are enjoying in a willing media, most people don’t actually hate others as much as leaders and influencers would like.
Beauty sessions, even small and occasional ones, are always a positive mood booster. For instance, much as I love the summer, I am also looking forward to autumn when flip flops go back in the cupboard and I can paint my toenails a bright colour. So a regular trip to the waxing salon sounds ideal for you.
Sue x
If only we could turn anger into electricity. Be a new spin on ‘rage farming’ which seems to be the business model for the last decade – in both the gutter press…. and gutter politics 🙄
Mind you, I have been enjoying the labelling of RWT behaviours as weird. I mean, so many of such things are. Policing what women can do with their bodies (or more often, can’t), wanting to know what’s in someone’s underwear, hating on folk, being crooked: it’s all just crackpot weirdness.
A big yes around on painted toenails. Perhaps even a further lean into beauty meme: “I do these things for me, not for you, as they make me feel good.”