Hel Spandler
@hspandler.bsky.social
Editor, Asylum the radical mental health magazine. Prof at University of Lancashire. Ambivalent mental health politics. Mad Studies. Madzines. They/them. ❤️🐶 🌈
Which means trans women are not men, just like adopted (or other) mothers are not childless, they've just taken a different route to being a mother. They're room for us all, right?
December 8, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Which means trans women are not men, just like adopted (or other) mothers are not childless, they've just taken a different route to being a mother. They're room for us all, right?
Yes, just like birth mothers & adopted/other mothers are both kinds of mothers. Just like we need to expand the category of mother we need to expand the category of woman. We can still recognise, protect & celebrate our differences without denying trans people's existence.
December 8, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Yes, just like birth mothers & adopted/other mothers are both kinds of mothers. Just like we need to expand the category of mother we need to expand the category of woman. We can still recognise, protect & celebrate our differences without denying trans people's existence.
Not really no. It is true & it is a big deal, especially for the mums (or dads) and the women (or men) involved. One has (usually, but not always) given birth so they might be a birth mother, but they're both mothers. Rather like cis & trans women. The beauty of human diversity! 😊 🌈
December 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Not really no. It is true & it is a big deal, especially for the mums (or dads) and the women (or men) involved. One has (usually, but not always) given birth so they might be a birth mother, but they're both mothers. Rather like cis & trans women. The beauty of human diversity! 😊 🌈
To me, the parallels are very clear. Think about it! 😊
December 7, 2025 at 9:06 PM
To me, the parallels are very clear. Think about it! 😊
If you have no problem referring to them both as mothers or fathers (despite biology), why not refer to people who have transitioned as male or female (despite biology)? Or does biology only matter in some cases and not others?
December 7, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If you have no problem referring to them both as mothers or fathers (despite biology), why not refer to people who have transitioned as male or female (despite biology)? Or does biology only matter in some cases and not others?
I'm still confused. So you're now saying they *can* be two mothers or two fathers then, despite 'biology'? Good. By that logic, we can be trans, right? Phew, we got there in the end! Biology isnt destiny! 😊
December 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I'm still confused. So you're now saying they *can* be two mothers or two fathers then, despite 'biology'? Good. By that logic, we can be trans, right? Phew, we got there in the end! Biology isnt destiny! 😊
Now that's confusing! So if two women have children together one has to be the father? I guess you can see how that would be considered homophobic. This clearly shows how transphobia & homophobia work together & (often comes from the fundamentalist religious right).
December 7, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Now that's confusing! So if two women have children together one has to be the father? I guess you can see how that would be considered homophobic. This clearly shows how transphobia & homophobia work together & (often comes from the fundamentalist religious right).
I'm trying to make the point that homophobia & transphobia are deeply linked & entangled. Some would consider the refusal to see two women (or two men) having children together as mothers & fathers as homophobic. I think that would be reasonable, don't you?
December 7, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I'm trying to make the point that homophobia & transphobia are deeply linked & entangled. Some would consider the refusal to see two women (or two men) having children together as mothers & fathers as homophobic. I think that would be reasonable, don't you?
Then you'll know the answer depends on what you mean by 'affirm'. I certainly wouldn't deny it.
December 7, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Then you'll know the answer depends on what you mean by 'affirm'. I certainly wouldn't deny it.
Did you read the article?
December 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Did you read the article?
No, but are you saying that means they're not mothers & fathers?
December 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
No, but are you saying that means they're not mothers & fathers?
Good, cos that's my understanding of gender affirmative therapy. I found this helpful:
www.rewriting-the-rules.com/gender/what-...
www.rewriting-the-rules.com/gender/what-...
What Gender Affirmative Therapy is and is not - Rewriting The Rules
This factsheet describes gender affirmative therapy: what it is, why it is necessary, what it does, and what it doesn't do, in relation to trans and cisgender people
www.rewriting-the-rules.com
December 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Good, cos that's my understanding of gender affirmative therapy. I found this helpful:
www.rewriting-the-rules.com/gender/what-...
www.rewriting-the-rules.com/gender/what-...
Yes of course. Can you see the parellel?
December 7, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Yes of course. Can you see the parellel?
Genuine question. Do you believe that two women or two men can have children together? Are they mothers & fathers?
December 7, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Genuine question. Do you believe that two women or two men can have children together? Are they mothers & fathers?
Curiosity & an open mind to all possibilities without thinking one outcome is preferable and another is undesirable or impossible.
December 7, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Curiosity & an open mind to all possibilities without thinking one outcome is preferable and another is undesirable or impossible.
Yes, but not if the assumption is that you can't be trans. What if they can gain self acceptance by accepting they are trans & transitioning? Lots of LGBs had distress about their sexuality & that's why some submitted to things like aversion therapy
December 7, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Yes, but not if the assumption is that you can't be trans. What if they can gain self acceptance by accepting they are trans & transitioning? Lots of LGBs had distress about their sexuality & that's why some submitted to things like aversion therapy
Biology is complex! Sex involves primary & secondary sex characteristics, hormones, chromosomes etc. Most of that can change. What can't change is chromosomes, but that is also complex. Most people don't even know what their chromosomal make-up is! (and it's often not what we assume). 😊
December 7, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Biology is complex! Sex involves primary & secondary sex characteristics, hormones, chromosomes etc. Most of that can change. What can't change is chromosomes, but that is also complex. Most people don't even know what their chromosomal make-up is! (and it's often not what we assume). 😊
I don't think LGBT+ people should be treated, electrocuted, persuaded or analysed to prevent them being LGBT. That is conversion therapy.
December 7, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I don't think LGBT+ people should be treated, electrocuted, persuaded or analysed to prevent them being LGBT. That is conversion therapy.
Barbaric yes, agreed. But many psychotherapists & analysts tried to change people's sexuality & gender too. More subtle, but also harmful. Aversion therapy treated so-called transvestites *and* transsexuals. Aversion therapists thought being trans was just about "wearing dresses" too.
December 6, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Barbaric yes, agreed. But many psychotherapists & analysts tried to change people's sexuality & gender too. More subtle, but also harmful. Aversion therapy treated so-called transvestites *and* transsexuals. Aversion therapists thought being trans was just about "wearing dresses" too.
Excellent documentary. Unfortunately alot of the media coverage keeps just referring to sexuality, not sexuality *and* gender thus erasing Trans folk. Then, some complain that they referried to LGBT in the first place!
Justice for all LGBT+ survivors!
Justice for all LGBT+ survivors!
December 6, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Excellent documentary. Unfortunately alot of the media coverage keeps just referring to sexuality, not sexuality *and* gender thus erasing Trans folk. Then, some complain that they referried to LGBT in the first place!
Justice for all LGBT+ survivors!
Justice for all LGBT+ survivors!
"If the ‘undesirable’ behaviour they presented with was ‘homosexuality’, then the stimuli used were homoerotic. If they presented with ‘transvestite’ or ‘transsexual’ behaviours, then the stimuli centred on ‘cross-dressing’" (Davidson et al. 2024)
December 6, 2025 at 12:17 PM
"If the ‘undesirable’ behaviour they presented with was ‘homosexuality’, then the stimuli used were homoerotic. If they presented with ‘transvestite’ or ‘transsexual’ behaviours, then the stimuli centred on ‘cross-dressing’" (Davidson et al. 2024)
Yes of course. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
December 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Yes of course. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
They showed her pictures of women, 'female' clothes etc.
December 6, 2025 at 11:05 AM
They showed her pictures of women, 'female' clothes etc.