In this episode of Solid Ground, Simon lets viewers know he and Rachel are currently in Perth for a classical education conference and then focuses on New Zealand’s proposed ban on prescribing puberty blockers to new under-18 gender dysphoria patients, now under judicial review.
Simon notes that despite all the growing evidence of the harms and worse mental health outcomes around so-called ‘gender affirming care’, New Zealand legacy media are larging ignoring said evidence as well as other significant events overseas. He points to recent legal cases in the United States and a settlement for a nurse in the United Kingdom who wouldn’t use the pronouns of a convicted sex offender.
Simon suggests the likes of the Rainbow Tick initiative and others are impacting what is reported as organisations focus on maintaining these credentials rather than representing a wide rang of often conflicting views. He also ponders whether the BSA seeking to widen its mandate will also have implications on free speech.
Finally, he talks about his recent podcast on the topic of free speech with Sarah McLaughlin from FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) and mentions Greece’s proposed under-15 social media ban.
