How to Lose Friends and Piss People Off

[steepholm]

Three things make a post:


I just got my daily PM newsletter, which informs me (and I don't think this is one of one of Eddie Mair's wind-ups, though I could be wrong) that PM and a host of other news programmes won't be available to people listening from abroad for the next two weeks, "because of Olympic rights". The whole branding mania has been widely recognized as ludicrous, but this particular dog-wagging tail seems particularly egregious. Insofar as the Olympics are meant to increase the UK's kudos in the world, just how is silencing the BBC abroad going to help?


The Department of Health has just published a draft protocol for transgender care within England. Most of it looks very good, but there's a bizarre statement stuck in the middle, where the requirements for genital surgery are listed. First comes cutting out smoking, then moderating alcohol intake and obesity, all of which are identified as medical contraindications for surgery (and yes, I know the last of these is already problematic). Then, out of the blue and without further explanation, comes this:

Although it is recommended that people are in an occupation (paid, voluntary or full-time study) this is typically a requirement for genital surgery rather than starting hormones - although individuals should be living full time in their preferred gender role. A patient could be started on hormones without fulfilling occupational criteria but if their intention is to seek genital surgery in the longer term, they need to address the issue of occupation.

How on earth does not having an occupation disqualify someone for medical treatment? It's especially outrageous given the difficulties trans people have in finding employment, and it also discriminates against those unable to work through disability, those living in deprived areas, etc - but what the hell has this got to do with medical treatment at all? The only inference I can make is that not having a job is seen as a sign that you are mentally unstable, which is ... interesting.


Meanwhile, in the wake of the Aurora shooting, the head of the NRA has made a speech calling for the sale of underpants to be banned, as a way of tackling the endemic wedgie problem in America's schoolyards. Oh no, wait, that was actually David Gauke, complaining that paying plumbers cash-in-hand has brought down the Western financial system. Must get some new reading glasses.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Those three things are all extremely annoying. I share your sentiments.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Could it be that they don't want to have to compensate time off for recovery from surgery? (I would believe such cheap-ass blinkeredness from our side of the Atlantic.)

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

No, I don't think that's it. If you don't have an occupation, there's nothing to have time off from, after all.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

My initial thought was "They want you to be employed so they can be sure you can pay for the surgery," but with nationalised health care, surely that isn't a problem?

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Exactly. These services are free at the point of use for everyone. It can only be a way of filtering out those they consider unsuitable for treatment for some reason - but what reason, I would love to know!

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

The first two are particularly bewildering. Since when has current state of employment been a factor in medical treatment that is not a direct result of said employment. I can't see any reason why employment status should be even considered, much less placed in the draft protocol. I do suspect that transgender care is hedged with doubts and suspicions, adding yet another set of life-hurdles for a bunch of individuals who (IMO) are having to jump quite enough of them already.

And the whole Olympic thing? Is being mocked on Australian TV. We mock ironically because Sydney was almost definitely the start of rampant idiocy in this area, but Sydney was never quite so daft as to lose Australia the cultural advantage of being freely associated with the Olympics, which London has effectively done. I'm afraid there is much international criticism and will be more. And less positive coverage of the Olympics for the 3 second illustrations of points that used to be shown are no longer permitted, so current affairs and comedy programs are using other footage and that other footage isn't as sexy as someone winning a race. Defining Olympic rights in that way has, I suspect, cost the UK most of the international benefits of having the Olympics.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard much about how the Olympics are being seen from outside the country, but what I have heard hasn't been reassuring. Even Mitt Romney took time out to express his doubts about whether the people of London were "up for it" (or possibly "up to it").

Displaying the South Korean flag during the North Koreans' opening football match seems like a pretty open own goal, too...

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

I missed that. That's right up there with the map of Australia one Commonwealth Games (in Brisbane) that forgot Tasmania.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

The reason, I'm afraid, for the employment statement is that it's always been there in whatever protocols they've used- I suspect it's a little bit of Victorian 'you can't have something for nothing' that they're simply unable to let go of and you're right, it is ridiculous.

I for one am fed up to the back teeth of this Olympic nonsense being allowed to destroy what little democracy and freedom of expression we have left in this country of ours!

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

It's funny how this "can't have something for nothing" principle doesn't apply to anyone else, though, isn't it?

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Been fighting this stuff for nigh on forty years, as you know. There are those out there who would still prefer to see us back in the good old Orwellian 'unperson' days but I for one am not going back there without a fight!

This, as you say, is a draft protocol only and if you fire off a complaint and others do likewise......... we wrecked the attempt by the RCP to do something grossly foul of a like nature a while back and it can happen again.

It behoves those of us with professions and letters after our names to make it obvious that we're not all easy targets for being pushed around!

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I sent in my comments, don't worry! If you'd like to see the document and do the same (assuming you haven't already), pm me with your email and I'll forward it.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I've just been sent a copy via a friend (our ex MP as it happens) so have already reacted. They must be fed up of the sight and sound of me after all these years. I plan to make them fedder upper whenever possible! They tend to hate it when it's folks who've already jumped all the hoops, because we're largely unbully-able. :o)