Just a few years ago, male bodied trans women were allowed to compete in international sporting competitions, Scottish politicians were pushing through a radical law which would allow anyone (including convicted criminals) to legally identify as whatever sex they pleased, and puberty blockers were routinely being prescribed to children as young as 12 across the UK.
JK Rowling and a vocal band of feminists, branded “terfs”, were pushing back against the ubiquitous ideology at every opportunity – but most of the time they felt like they were shouting at a brick wall. The erasure of biological reality seemed an inevitability.
But against the expectations of “progressive” politicians, that unyielding wall of trans ideology is now crumbling brick by brick.
In January 2023, Scotland Secretary Alister Jack announced that he would make an order under section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998, which would prevent the bill from proceeding to royal assent – essentially vetoing it.
JK Rowling and a vocal band of feminists, branded “terfs”, were pushing back against the ubiquitous ideology at every opportunity
PA
Then, just five months later, World Athletics, the governing body for track and field and other running competitions, announced that transgender women who went through male puberty could no longer compete in women’s events at international competitions.
This was immediately followed by the English Schools Athletics Association announcing similar protection for the rights of schoolgirls by restricting competition to those “who were recorded female at birth”.
And now the long-awaited Cass review has concluded that the evidence for allowing children to change gender is built on ‘shaky foundations’. In response, NHS England has said it will now pause first appointments at adult clinics for teenagers under 18 and intends to carry out a major review of its adult gender services and use of hormones. What’s more, the Labour Party appears to have done a screeching U-turn.
Just a few years ago, Rosie Duffield MP was ostracised by men in her party for standing up for biological sex – and according to her, Labour’s Women’s Declaration “were refused meetings, banned and blocked from conferences and campaigns”.
Now, however, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting has given his full backing to the Cass review, saying that the manner in which children have been treated is “scandalous”. At long, long last, the tide is truly turning in the trans debate.