The beliefs
If only people could grasp that they’re not the same thing.
Student psychotherapist wins apology over expulsion for gender-critical views
James Esses has reached a settlement with the Metanoia Institute in London, which specialises in training counsellors and psychotherapists. He lost his place on the course after campaigning against the government’s proposed ban on conversion practices.
Esses launched an online petition in April 2021 highlighting concerns that the proposed ban on conversion practices – the practice of attempting to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity – might end up criminalising explorative therapy for children with gender dysphoria. He was expelled from the course by email shortly after.
That’s where the Guardian goes wrong, right there – sexual orientation is not the same as “gender identity.” There are some very salient differences.
In the statement, the college noted: “Metanoia recognises that gender-critical beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010. These are the beliefs that sex is binary, immutable and biological and is fundamentally important.”
Of course they’re not actually “beliefs” – but they have to be framed as beliefs now because so many people have decided that sex is not binary, that it is mutable, and that it’s in the mind or personality or soul rather than the body. Those are the real “beliefs” but it doesn’t do to say so.
Probably not so much conflating the two as poor sentence structure. “…attempting to change an individual’s sexual orientation or their gender identity’ would have been better.
Not really though because genner idenniny still doesn’t belong under the heading of “things not subject to change.”
Well even if it did it’s more subject to change than sexual orientation is (though even orientation can be a bit muddy; more accurately is not subject to intentional change). The gobbos would admit that in their own literature when it’s convenient to do so.
I’m sorry, Ophelia, my mistake. I misunderstood what it was you were objecting to.
Ach no apology reqd.