Mick Hartley

Debbie Hayton in The Critic reviews a new book for parents on how to deal with kids who claim to be trans:

The number of teens and young people medically transitioning has exploded across the Western world in the past decade. That is the observation of therapists Sasha Ayad, Lisa Marchiano and Stella O’Malley. Their new book, When Kids Say They’re Trans, describes the impact on parents, families and the children themselves. Crucially, in a profession that too often affirms whatever ideas children have picked up on social media, these three authors empower parents: “If you hear advice or hypotheses from professionals that simply feel wrong, inaccurate, or grossly incomplete, don’t discount your own take. Nobody knows or loves your child more than you do, and thinking for yourself is crucial.” …

They set out their stall with the title of their book. It is not directed at the parents of “trans children”, rather children who “say they’re trans”. That subtle distinction matters. Can a child be trans? The authors think that is the wrong question. Instead, they “prefer to look at a child’s gender distress through a psychological lens that considers the whole person”. In this book, they seek to “redress the balance” in a market where other books have been written for parents who are facilitating a child’s gender transition, but few — if any — for parents who decide that social and possibly medical transition is not the best option for their child.

The authors are neither prudish nor conservative in their outlook. Sex and sexuality are discussed openly and objectively throughout. At the same time, they “believe that it is best that parents affirm gender-nonconformity whilst asserting the reality of biology”. That proviso perhaps sums up the message of the book: encourage kids to be their real selves, but keep them rooted in real life. Sadly, as the authors explain, too many children have bought into a fantasy — widely shared on social media — that being a boy or a girl is a matter of choice. Two of the authors are mothers themselves. As professionals, they understand the dynamics of family life and, significantly, the responsibilities of the adults: “It is the role of teenagers to push against the boundaries, but it is the role of parents to maintain boundaries in their children’s lives.”

The Amazon reviews, while largely positive – and bear in mind the book's only just been publshed – include a number of one-star reviews which do nothing to dispel the view that trans activists are particularly prone to bursts of demented hate, entirely divorced from reality.

For instance:

"This is a DIY child torture manual in disguise. If you are looking for a way to ensure your trans child never talks to you again, runs away or kills themself this is a great book, otherwise not so much."

"It’s shocking that Amazon would stock something as dangerous as this book. Conversion therapy (coercing people through pain and torture, telling them it’s for their best interest) is being made illegal in many countries around the world. Yet this book advocates it, pushing its dangerous and life limiting practises, in hopes to erase trans people from existence."

Yep, it's a cult.