r/LibDem 4d ago

News Lib Dem Suspended over Pro-Trans Tweet

https://archive.ph/azDFg
6 Upvotes

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40

u/stewcelliott Social Liberal 4d ago

Bird's views are repellent but it's pretty easy to see how that tweet is not appropriate. Frankly it's probably the inclusion of the gun that made this a suspending matter.

6

u/Multigrain_Migraine 4d ago

Yeah it was a really stupid thing to tweet as a public figure.

-28

u/CarMeltScratch 4d ago

In what way repellant? As far as I can tell, Natalie Bird believes humans can't change sex, a view that isn't controversial among the electorate, and is scientific fact.

She has been targeted, vilified and harassed and the party has had to compensate her. Plus and ALDC, together with the weird, legally illiterate 'definition of transphobia' have done the Lib Dems a lot of damage with the public. This is another stupid, unnecessary blemish on our - hardly stellar - record.

23

u/TangoJavaTJ No votes for transphobes! 🏳️‍⚧️ 4d ago

It's interesting how the people spreading this "scientific fact" are usually scientifically illiterate, and how actual scientists reject it outright.

-4

u/[deleted] 4d ago

What’s not scientifically factual?

12

u/TangoJavaTJ No votes for transphobes! 🏳️‍⚧️ 4d ago

The view that sex is perfectly binary and non-changing. This is objectively false.

-5

u/[deleted] 4d ago

Ill preface this with me asking questions largely out of unintentional ignorance.

Is there an example of a person changing sex, genetically, hormonally and physically without outside intervention?

Whilst I do understand there are foetal development issues that can cause genetic defects causing persons who could be defined as "inter-sexed" (if thats the correct term).

9

u/TangoJavaTJ No votes for transphobes! 🏳️‍⚧️ 4d ago

Is there an example of a person changing sex, genetically, hormonally and physically without outside intervention?

Yes. Individuals with 5-alpha-reductase deficiency (5-ARD) are born as typical females but at puberty begin developing XY chromosomes and prototypically male characteristics.

And yes, "intersex" is the correct term for anyone born outside of the male-female bimodal clusters.

-3

u/[deleted] 4d ago

I dont believe thats the strongest of cases as it's a very rare genetic condition....with a higher chance of this occurring during interbreeding or populations with close genetic similarities.

Those born with XY chromosomes do have male reproductive parts. Testes etc, however are un-developed due to the condition.

This is not an example of a person changing sex, genetically, hormonally or physically.

12

u/TangoJavaTJ No votes for transphobes! 🏳️‍⚧️ 4d ago

Thanks for making my point that the people spreading "basic biology" don't understand basic biology.

0

u/[deleted] 4d ago

Pot kettle colour check......

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10

u/Mr_Rinn 4d ago

If your views on any minority group align with the far-right then that’s a huge red flag. Trans people aren’t your enemy, or the enemy of women.

1

u/[deleted] 4d ago

You mean if our views align with the consensus view of the west for like the last 2000 years until recently? That's far-right now? Crikey.

1

u/Mr_Rinn 4d ago

Not sure I understand your point, for the last 2000+ years misogyny and treating women like 2nd class citizens was the consensus, now it's generally a far-right view.

0

u/[deleted] 4d ago

misogyny has overwhelming opposition. This issue is much more split. We can't say almost half the country are transphobic or far-right.

1

u/Mr_Rinn 4d ago

Why not? We also don't know it's that high.

From what I've seen most of the Terf marches have pretty low attendance for instance.

0

u/[deleted] 4d ago

Well it's certainly a significant number on many different trans-related topics.

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/51545-where-does-the-british-public-stand-on-transgender-rights-in-202425

1

u/Mr_Rinn 4d ago

Okay, but that leads me back to: Why not?

How well is uncritically grovelling to bigots working out for Starmer?

2

u/[deleted] 4d ago

Why shouldn't we call a significant number of the voters far-right or transphobic?

Well, for starters, it puts off voters which is not a way to win anybody over. So we could start there.

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-1

u/LeChevalierMal-Fait The Last Cameroon 4d ago

I agree, now did you know Hitler was a vegetarian and loved german shepards careful if you see any veggies or dog lovers now

7

u/ThwMinto01 Rawlsian Liberal 4d ago

It is against the councilor code of conduct

He posted an image of an anime girl pointing a gun at the reader 😭 I fully agree with the message and find it pretty funny, but at the same time it's pretty obvious why sitting councillors* shouldn't be posting an image like that on their main account

-2

u/TangoJavaTJ No votes for transphobes! 🏳️‍⚧️ 4d ago

Don't care, if firing a transphobe for expressing a transphobic view violates Equality Act 2010 then firing a pro-trans counsellor for expressing pro-trans views also violates Equality Act 2010. You don't get to have it both ways. I hope he sues your party.

12

u/Doctor_Fegg Continuity Kennedy Tendency 4d ago

They aren't "firing a pro-trans councillor for expressing pro-trans views", they're suspending him for tweeting a threat of violence.

I mean, personally I think Graham Linehan should be fired straight into the sun, but I'm not a councillor and no elected official, of any party, should tweet threatening images.

(Also, a "counsellor" and a "councillor" are quite different things.)

2

u/ThwMinto01 Rawlsian Liberal 4d ago

We lost the lawsuit, we had to pay Natalie Bird compensation. It is also fact (it's an absurdity and terrible ruling but is fact) that since Maya Forstater UK courts have said "gender critical" (transphobic) views are legally protected under the EA2010

This isn't the same scenario as it isn't for the view, it's for the inclusion of the gun which I don't think it's shocking

Professional politicians should probably realise posting an image with a gun isn't a good idea on their main account.

I don't disagree with the sentiment at all in his post, but it's also a very stupid thing to include a gun in your post

0

u/TangoJavaTJ No votes for transphobes! 🏳️‍⚧️ 4d ago

NO. THEY. ARENT. 🤦🏻‍♀️

See my other comment explaining why, I'm not repeating myself .