Update #1: I wanted to share this article that was brought to my attention. The US Guardian wrote a piece that really gets to the heart of why I'm sounding a warning, while also helping to frame that this isn't directed at the .com Guardian—they seem to have a healthy viewpoint on how trans people should be treated.
@alice Oh no! I do not trust The Guardian! Even a place I did trust covering the topic would be suspect, getting this awareness out to the public especially right now seems like a very bad idea, despite how much knowing about it could potentially help trans people. :/ And like, I know there's trans folks who DIY T but like, I generally understand that to be illegal, whereas DIY E is at least in more of a grey area to legal, though that may be more my knowledge of Canada/USA than reflective of the UK.
@alice It's the rule for all trans folks, in any country. NEVER talk to the press.
No matter how friendly they are, how much they promise they're on your side, even if they say you have veto powers (you don't). They spend all day interviewing people, cosying up to them to get them to say things "off the record' (you are never off the record with press), pressuring people to say things in a not perfectly palatable way. They are very good at it, they have decades of practice. And then their editors will cut your words to support their narrative.
The fact that this sentiment exists and is in some ways legitimate is extremely concerning to me. The free press is one of the most foundational and effective tools of democracy we have, if it's doing a bad enough job for people to write it off entirely, we're in some deep shit.
@alice@risottobias why do you think the guardian wont be able to find information every trans person can find? This kinda sounds like fear mongering honestly. Im willing to be convinced otherwise
@cibo@alice@risottobias Because The Guardian isn't "looking for information." If any trans person can find it, then reporters can find it too without interviewing minors. They're looking for a story and a scapegoat. They want to feed another fear-mongering narrative about "evil trans coming for your children" which will inevitably lead to violence against trans adults and minors.
@quietmarc@alice@risottobias have they written about "evil trans coming for your children" before, or do you have reason to believe they would? A very cursory search found only articles that were advocating for trans rights.
@cibo@alice@risottobias Maybe do more than a cursory search, then. Queer people have been attacked by media in history, it's well documented. I'm not trans but because I'm connected to the trans community through friendships and acquaintances and being gay/queer myself I am well aware of how often newspapers all over will allow "gender critical" view points to speak over trans people and their allies themselves.
Just, as a little tip, when an oppressed group tells you that someone is oppressing them or is a threat to them, it's good policy to believe them.