Sir, – I reply to four pieces that have been published in The Irish Times over the last week. These are: “RTÉ's Liveline accused of facilitating ‘hate speech’ against trans people” (News, June 13th), “Trans Equality Together responds to Liveline” (Letter, June 17th), “Manufactured outrage dominated RTÉ discussion on trans issues” (Opinion, Saturday, June 18th) and “We need to see the manufactured debate on trans rights for what it is: nonsense” (Una Mullally, Opinion & Analysis, June 20th).
I was a contributor to one of the Joe Duffy Liveline shows referred to in these four pieces.
The main point I made in my contribution to Liveline was that there are parallels between gender identity theory and religious beliefs. I explained gender identity theory as involving the idea that a person’s internal sense of gender is different from, and often more important than, their biological sex. I also suggested that people who do not subscribe to this theory are being treated as heretics or blasphemers.
Since the three Liveline shows in question, contributors have been accused of engaging in a debate about trans people’s right to exist. I did not debate anyone’s right to exist, and neither did any of the other contributors. I unequivocally support equal rights for all, including for trans people.
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It was also suggested in the Trans Equality Now letter (signed by a group of organisations including the Irish Council of Civil Liberties and Amnesty International Ireland) that “Liveline provided airtime to what we believe was a co-ordinated group of organisations”.
The only organisation I am a member of, apart from local poetry groups, is the Heterodox Academy. This is an American-based organisation with an international membership whose motto is “great minds don’t always think alike”. The Heterodox Academy mission is to promote open inquiry, viewpoint diversity and constructive disagreement on university campuses.
From my own perspective, I believe that I behaved to other speakers on the show in a respectful manner – even though we may have had very different opinions. Indeed, I said on air that I understood that gender identity is very real for people who do have a gender identity and that their voices are important and must be heard.
I believe my views, and those of the other contributors, have been misrepresented in broadcast and print media outlets nationwide, as well as by politicians.
I do have many concerns about the Irish Government’s adoption of gender identity theory that is being rolled out through all sectors of Irish society through national strategies. These strategies influence education, trade unions, libraries, the media, the arts and culture sectors, sports and business too. My concerns are articulated in greater length in my opinion piece “The Gendrification of Ireland” that was published online in the Critic on Saturday. June 17th.
Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a lunch in Dublin with around 60 other women, all of whom are deeply concerned about the growing and pervasive influence of gender identity theory in Ireland. The organisers did not tell me why an invitation was extended to me but I can only assume it is because of my article, “A New Religion” (published on Broadsheet.ie on April 26th) in which I articulated some of my own concerns.
At that lunch, attended by women from North and South of the border, we honoured our fellow Irish woman Helen Joyce whose best-selling and critically acclaimed book Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality was ignored by Irish media outlets despite being glowingly reviewed in publications elsewhere.
I met many people at that lunch who I had never met before. All of us are alarmed by what is happening in Ireland around gender identity issues and all of us are committed to raising awareness about our concerns. I am not a member of any of the groups who did attend that lunch but I have happily made friends with many of the individuals who did attend.
I believe there is a climate of fear in Ireland in relation to discussions about gender identity theory. People who do not subscribe to the theory are being vilified. Is this the Ireland we want for our children and future generations?
Following the Liveline shows, I have received communication from complete strangers telling me that they are afraid to speak up on this topic and are worried that if they do speak up they could lose their careers.
I believe we should be able to have open honest respectful discussions about this and other issues which impact on all members of Irish society. It is important that a diversity of perspectives are listened to. The strategies I have mentioned had no consultation process with women’s advocacy groups and women are being silenced.
We all enjoy the same rights under the Irish Constitution, including the right to freedom of expression. To frame the expression of my concerns about a theory that impacts everyone in this country as an attack on others is to invoke silencing and censorship and it instills a culture of fear.
I do not want to live in a State of fear. – Yours, etc,
COLETTE COLFER.
Waterford.