Political Musings of Kayleen: August 2024

Thursday 29 August 2024

Results of coronial inquiry into tragic deaths by [self harm] of trans women [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on discrimination and self harm. Reader discretion is advised]

Note: CONTENT WARNING - some of this content is about upsetting, disturbing or triggering events & attitudes. Seek competent help - including professional - if you need it. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that linked articles may contains names and/or images of deceased people. READER CAUTION IS RECOMMENDED! For anyone distressed by anything in this post, or for any other reason considering seeking support, resources are available in Australia here, here, and here. In other nations, you will have to do an Internet search using terms such as “mental health support - <your nation>” (which, for instance, may lead to this, this, and this, in the USA, or this, this, and this, in France [biased towards English-language - my apologies]), or perhaps try https://www.befrienders.org/.

Note: in my “from the news” posts, quotes are shown italicised and blue, my comments are in a different shade of blue, and “good” items are (when I remember) shown in green.

Today the Victorian Coroner released a report into the deaths by s u i c_de of several trans women, and made nine recommendations. Reports on this report that I consider are worth reading are:

“Coroner calls for urgent investment into health care for trans community, following five tragic deaths” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-29/melbourne-inquest-into-transgender-deaths/104284898 “A Victorian coroner who investigated the s u i c_des of five young transgender women has recommended urgent investment to improve healthcare for trans and gender-diverse people. Coroner Ingrid Giles has also identified several failings in Victoria Police's practices and has recommended systemic reforms. ... In setting out her findings, Ms Giles detailed how the impact of discrimination on trans community members, particularly in the health system, posed “serious issues” for the health of the community and was “wholly unacceptable” in 2024. “You should not feel fear or profound dread when consulting a doctor,” she said. “There should not be a myriad of horror stories circulating in the community as to what could happen if you walk through the wrong door to get support. There should be no wrong door.””

“Sale of chemical used in s u i c_des of three transgender women should be restricted, Victorian inquest finds” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/29/sodium-nitrite-sales-restricted-trangender-women-death-inquiry-ntwnfb “Giles also called for urgent consideration of increased funding to meet the growing demand for public-funded health services delivering gender-affirming care to transgender and gender diverse people to reduce waitlists. ... She recommended Victoria police implement all five recommendations from its review into Flack’s death, including identifying risks specific to priority communities such as LGBTQ+ people in missing person cases. Giles also recommended mandatory LGBTQ+ training for all police and to improve data collection in relation to transgender and gender diverse people.”

“Inquest into s u i c_des of trans Victorians calls for urgent change” https://qnews.com.au/inquest-into-s u i c_des-of-trans-victorians-calls-for-urgent-change/ “Transgender Victoria chief executive Son Vivienne said the coroner’s findings are “long overdue”.”

And on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joe-ball-74a80111a_istandwithtranspeople-transrightsarehumanrights-activity-7234855536008044547-YqQ6/

I didn’t know any of these young women, but there have been others who I did.

This follows the recent win that I wrote about in “A major win for trans+ rights” https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/08/a-major-win-for-trans-rights.html and “An activism email follow up to the major win for trans+ rights (in Australia)” https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/08/an-activism-email-follow-up-to-major.html , which in itself completes a cycle of court wins that began in 2000 in this, my adopted home state of Victoria (in Australia) with a case that was often interpreted as a win under the new gender identity attribute in my home state, but had actually been won on the basis of physical features, and thus was very close to this last win.

Maybe now we can get officialdom to take what we have been saying for DECADES (about health care, workplaces, and elsewhere) seriously: words and other forms of discrimination KILL.

I have some mourning that has been stirred up by all this - for all the lives that were lost because we weren’t listened to/taken seriously ... I’ll celebrate too, but that will be later ...

(And I still hold those trans advocates who downplayed the devastation of misgendering responsible for a portion of the harm that has been done ... )

PS - a few other things have popped up on trans matters that I consider worth adding to this post:

“What are puberty blockers? What are the benefits and risks for transgender children?” https://theconversation.com/what-are-puberty-blockers-what-are-the-benefits-and-risks-for-transgender-children-226006 “... To date, there have been no randomised controlled trials of puberty blockers for transgender adolescents, which has led some to label this treatment as experimental. However, conducting such trials of hormonal interventions in transgender youth is problematic, as it would be unethical to withhold treatment for research purposes. It’s common not to have data from randomised controlled trials in paediatric care more broadly. The use of puberty blockers for early puberty displays similar research gaps. However, the politicisation of trans young people has seen the use of puberty blockers in transgender adolescents held to a different standard. ... One of the main criticisms of the [Cass] review was it failed to consider the likely harms of denying transgender adolescents hormonal interventions.” And as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, there are serious concerns that there may have been an active cover up of data on s u i c_de risk (see also here)

“Angry Gay Grandpa: Warning -- Google is censoring trans and LGBTQ youth content at YouTube” https://youtu.be/Uc2nw4teg_s If this is so - and the video presents a compelling case, it is unconscionable and, in some jurisdictions, likely illegal

PPS - Prime Minister Albanese has partially reversed his decision to not include LGBTQIASB+ people in the census, as he will now allow a question on sexuality ... but not intersex status nor trans and gender diverse people ...
I would normally phrase a comment about that ... “nicely”, or softly - something along the lines of “it is hard to avoid concluding that the PM has trouble with gender identity”, but, in light in the clear warning that the coroner’s report has given, I am going to state my opinion more bluntly: I consider Albanese, MP is quite likely a religious and personal/cultural transphobe. He has shown his personal discomfort on gender identity matters, and that has impaired his ability to govern for ALL Australians ...

“Labor’s spectacular census own goal hands Dutton a double victory” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/30/labors-spectacular-census-own-goal-hands-dutton-a-double-victory “Government’s bungling has generated the damaging debate it wanted to avoid and shown it can be divisive too” Dutton’s backflip also shows how, in my opinion, deceitful he has been, given his opposition to something he now claims to be fine with

“Dutton says he is ‘fine’ with census sexuality question despite earlier attacking ‘woke agenda’” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/30/dutton-says-he-is-fine-with-census-sexuality-question-despite-earlier-attacking-woke-agenda

PPPS - there is some additional excellent commentary in the following - including a perspective that PM Albanese may not have stayed up to date on gender identity issues. That may be a more accurate assessment of the problem, but I still find it hard to avoid the conclusion that there is at least an element of transphobia in the PM’s failures on this area of life (including his avoidance of being the person to make public statements ... ).

“It don't make no census” Out of the Pan, 3CR Community Radio “Census debacle, media beatups, Stand bi us, TGD yoga” Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/out-of-the-pan/id312435652?i=1000667939191 or at https://www.3cr.org.au/outofthepan/episode/it-dont-make-no-census

I also note the ALP has tried a third (and highly questionable) justification, while the conservatives continue their hypocritical and, in my opinion, deceitful complete backflip by claiming to be OK with census questions ...

Wednesday 28 August 2024

Some thoughts on the Hon. P. Dutton, MP [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on bigotry/hate, SA/CSA, violence/abuse. Reader discretion is advised]

There have been a few media articles on the Hon. P. Dutton, MP of late which I consider are worth thinking about:

“More Australians agree with Dutton’s visa pause for Gazans than oppose it, Guardian Essential poll shows | Essential poll | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/27/more-australians-agree-with-duttons-visa-pause-for-gazans-than-oppose-it-guardian-essential-poll-shows

... which I posted about here, and ...

“Peter Dutton’s opponents cast him as a divisive figure. What if they tried the Tim Walz approach instead? | Peter Lewis | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/27/peter-dutton-gaza-refugee-visas-palestine-ntwnfb

That is an interesting suggestion, and as first step towards exploring that, I decided to do some research, and came across this from the Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peter_Dutton&oldid=1241836369:

member of Qld’s notorious police, who have an appalling history on racism, sexism, domestic violence, the LGBTQIASB+ community, and children (and see also the articles here), from 1990-99;

started property developing after leaving the police;

elected to national Parliament in 2001, tried to change to a safe seat in 2009 (to the displeasure of some of his constituents and his party), has held the seat since, sometimes by as few as 217 votes, other times with strong margins;

Minister for Health 2013-14, and “In a 2015 poll by Australian Doctor magazine, based on votes from over 1,100 doctors, Dutton was voted the worst health minister in the last 35 years by 46 percent of respondents.[34]”;

as Minister for Immigration (2014-17):

cancelled the visa of an anti-abortion person who called for abortionists to be executed (which I consider a good decision and a useful precedent);
described a journalist as a mad ____ing witch (she accepted an apology; as a Pagan and a woman, I still consider the act unacceptable);
claimed refugees were illiterate - the absurdities of which are shown by this, this, this, and this;
denied a later confirmed allegation of spying on an Australian Senator - who he attacked (no apology despite her being proved correct - and no response mentioned to her pointing out the abuses of female and child refugees during his Ministerial tenure);
was the subject of a recommended censure for his strictly legal interventions regarding several au pairs on the basis of allegedly misleading Parliament, but survived the no confidence vote;
made an appalling “joke” about rising sea levels in the Pacific, which he initially refused to apologise for but later did;
criticised the admission of Lebanese migrants by the Fraser government, which the Foreign Minister later claimed was only about those (very few) migrants who had been charged with t_rr_r_sm ... ;
wrong information about events on Manus Island - but note also that child abuse did occur (see dot point above);

as Minister for Home Affairs (2017 - 2021):

offensive comments about “a civilised country” when discussing attacks on white farmers in South Africa that were being blatantly mischaracterised as a “white genocide”. The comments caused diplomatic problems.
This pro-migrants-who-were-white stance is in stark contrast to Dutton’s recent remarks against Palestinian refugees, which have been characterised as racist;
the heartless use of criminality (misdescribed as “character”) tests as an excuse to deport New Zealanders - which also caused another major diplomatic problem;
offensive remarks about a refugee family’s very normal, very human, decision to have children (contrast that with the attitude towards the au pairs of people who were rich enough to be able to afford children and au pairs);
anti-democratic statements favouring the silencing of dissent in the form of protests;

as Minister for Defence (2021-22):

shut down DEI measures;
committed to defending Taiwan (which I also consider important for the sake of freedom & self determination);
lost a defamation case against a refugee activist which goes back to the earlier occurrence of rapes while Dutton was Minister for Immigration;

Also:

promotion of nuclear energy (!);
maintenance of negative gearing - which benefits him and other rich people;
wants superficial, US-style jingoism in the form of a school pledge of allegiance;
opposes Equal Marriage and attempted to shut down discussion on the matter.

Note that Dutton has a skin condition causing causing hair loss: alopecia totalis. I do not know what impact that has had on his life, but it does change the nature of comments about his appearance.

When I look at that summary, my reactions are:

at the very least, Dutton has made some bad judgement calls. Some of those may be out of a misplaced sense of loyalty - an expectation of blind loyalty, perhaps - to his party, but the truth of the matter is that ALL our elected representatives are meant to be loyal to Australia (or Australian voters) first and foremost, although their interpretations of what that may entail differs;

that attitude has disturbing parallels to the closed shop mentality of police forces, and the social status driven attitudes of the class elitists who are drawn to (and/or drive) neoliberalism - and I note his stubborn doubling down on issues and attempts to limit dissent/discussion;

I consider many of the points in my post “Police are NOT scientific [Note: Content Warning - discussion, and links to reports, on bigotry, violence, and abuse - including of power. Reader discretion is advised]” https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/07/police-are-not-scientific-note-content.html may apply here;
is clearly against inclusion of diversity;

it is difficult not to see Dutton as racist and/or xenophobic and/or a participant in the cultural wars on the conservative side that worships the western “civilisation” that has destroyed social cohesion & decency, trampled on and stolen from Indigenous people, enabled mass abuses (including war), and is currently destroying this planet’s climate (and thus our species’ chances of survival ... );

Dutton appears to be following the Tony Abbott playbook of offering a zero size target and opposing/undermining irrespective of value stances - a playbook that worked well against the ALP previously, and seems to be causing discombobulation again ...

So ... what to do against all that?

Well, I like the suggestion of trying a Tim Walz style approach, but I can't see exactly how to do that. The article talks about starting with the big picture on issues, and that “it is only when we celebrate the richness of our diversity that we will be able to take race off the table and have the important discussions we need to bind us all closer together”.

That approach might well work on the issues of race and refugees, but that would have been best implemented some time ago - including by selection of candidates who would clearly be selling that message.

There are, however, other issues as well - religion and LGBTQIASB+ people, and Israel’s wars against Palestinians, neighbours, and decency.

What is the catchy, humorous, and inoffensive phrase or word that will be as effective as the Harris-Walz use of “weird”? (“Doubtin' Dutton?” ... “Dutton is good at maths ... especially division” ... “Duckton dodges the issues”)

PS - note also:

“Jewish Council of Australia opposes Coalition’s antisemitism Bill, citing political agenda to stifle free speech on Palestine” https://www.jewishcouncil.com.au/media/jewish-council-of-australia-opposes-coalitions-antisemitism-bill-citing-political-agenda-to-stifle-free-speech-on-palestine

PPS - see my PPS at https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/08/results-of-coronial-inquiry-into-tragic.html , which raises behaviour by Dutton that is, in my and others’ opinion, apparent hypocrisy

Assumptions / basis

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:

this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;

Possible flaws

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”;
I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post.

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.

Note that, as with my main blog [see here], I am cutting back on aspects of my posts.

A step back from the abyss?

The national ALP government is considering - it is not definite - rejecting any application for a visa for an anti-trans podcaster, according to “Anti-trans podcaster C_nd_ce Ow_ns faces Aussie visa ban” https://qnews.com.au/anti-trans-podcaster-candace-owens-faces-aussie-visa-ban/

If a ban does occur, and the reasons clearly include the divisive anti-trans views of that person, not only their anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, that would likely go some way towards remediating recent (in)actions by the government and concerns & considerations in at least part of the LGBTQIASB+ communities - including about the Australian Public Service, who allowed a notorious transphobe with a known history (that I and others brought specifically to their attention) of attracting neo-n_z_s, in to Australia, with predictable results (see https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/total-aryan-victory-nazis-the-only-ones-happy-after-parliament-protest-20230320-p5cto9.html).

PS - there is a numbers and assumption game here:
the opinions being expressed are that the national ALP government is concerned about electorates in “west Sydney” (western Sydney has around 1 million people, greater western Sydney around 2 million people, as compared to ~11% of 25 million Australians who are LGBTQIASB+ or 2.75 million people) having religious views that are inclined towards conservative social positions/values.
However, (1) not all strongly religious people are socially conservative, (2) there are other people in those electorates as well, and (3) voters are persuadable - making the real contest not between conservative religions and nominally progressive political parties, but between how effectively messaging is sold - which makes it incumbent on the ALP, given their lack of selling of progressive stances in the areas of concern over the two years or so since being elected, to have catchier phrases and quicker responses and a better active use of social media - including non-English over the next year - and candidates whose very nomination states the ALP is inclusive and supported of all.

PPS - the ALP are stating they dropped the question because they did not want to be divisive, but that (a) is inherently divisive in itself, and (b) enhances Dutton’s credibility/authority/power on anything he wishes to argue is divisive

See my update on this at https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/08/results-of-coronial-inquiry-into-tragic.html (in the PPS)

PPPS - see also

“Labor will have itself to blame if it loses western Sydney over Gaza issue, says Muslim Vote convener” https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/31/labor-israel-gaza-war-muslim-vote-wesam-charkawi “Wesam Charkawi says Albanese’s party has ‘created this movement through their decisions’ as pro-Palestine communities feel Labor has failed them”

Assumptions / basis

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:

this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;

Possible flaws

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”;
I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post.

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.

Note that, as with my main blog [see here], I am cutting back on aspects of my posts.

A progressive Parliamentary report which misses a key issue

The Victorian Parliamentary enquiry into workplace drug testing has issued its final report.

It’s not bad - except the possible traumatising effect of being forced to be watched by someone of the opposite gender has been missed ... in fact, trivialised down to “embarrassment”.

It’s not embarrassing for victims of of sexual assault - or abuse, and may be traumatic for nonbinary people.

It is NOT trauma-informed ...

Still, on the issue of drug testing for safety in the workplace, it is OK.

The website is at https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/workplacedrugtestinginquiry/reports , which links to the report at https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/4a5197/contentassets/821fb2f9c60d4b458a5981a30c1c54fb/lclsic-60-02-inquiry-into-workplace-drug-testing-in-victoria.pdf

Assumptions / basis

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:

this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;

Possible flaws

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”;
I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post.

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.

Note that, as with my main blog [see here], I am cutting back on aspects of my posts.

Political Musings of Kayleen

Pages

Thursday 29 August 2024

Results of coronial inquiry into tragic deaths by [self harm] of trans women [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on discrimination and self harm. Reader discretion is advised]

Wednesday 28 August 2024

Some thoughts on the Hon. P. Dutton, MP [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on bigotry/hate, SA/CSA, violence/abuse. Reader discretion is advised]

A step back from the abyss?

A progressive Parliamentary report which misses a key issue

Blog Archive

Pages

Thursday 29 August 2024

Results of coronial inquiry into tragic deaths by [self harm] of trans women [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on discrimination and self harm. Reader discretion is advised]

Wednesday 28 August 2024

Some thoughts on the Hon. P. Dutton, MP [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on bigotry/hate, SA/CSA, violence/abuse. Reader discretion is advised]

A step back from the abyss?

A progressive Parliamentary report which misses a key issue

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