A Cork City Councillor has called for a full debate on “identity politics and transgender theory” saying that ordinary people are tired of being described as “transphobic and homophobic” and “shouted down” for raising concerns.
Speaking to Gript after a vote in Cork City Council, Independent Cllr Albert Deasy, said that he had friends who were active in seeking Marriage Equality but who wanted “nothing to do with the LGBTQ+ movement” because they say it “has been hijacked by transgender ideologues.”
Cllr Deasy said that “so many” of his constituents had expressed similar views, and that people were “sick of the hysteria” that greeted any attempt to discuss the issue. He said that calls for a reasonable debate on transgender issues were being shouted down and those asking for such a debate were accused of being “phobic” in one form or another.
The Independent Councillor spoke in the council chamber this month as a motion proposed by Labour’s Cllr Laura Harmon called on Cork City Council to “stand opposed to all forms of homophobia, transphobia and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.’
In response, Cllr Deasy said that “the motion suggests that we, and the people of Cork whom we represent, are guilty of such phobias. I do not agree that we are.”
“People, however, are very alarmed at the emphasis on Identity Politics, and in particular Transgender Theory. Naturally, the rights of adults to dress or present themselves as they wish is a given,” he said.
“However, I have friends watching here tonight who were actively involved in the Gay Rights and Marriage Equality Movements, but who want nothing to do with the LGBTQ+ movement because they say, and I agree, that it has been hijacked by transgender ideologues. So many constituents have expressed similar views,” he said.
“Debate on this issue is set up so that any criticism of the theory is misconstrued as an irrational phobia, i.e. if you question this – you are a very, very bad person,” the Independent councillor told the chamber.
“However, the tendency of activists to prevent debate rather than engaging in debate is problematic. There are very serious implications for single sex spaces, sports and the functioning of society, so this debate must be facilitated. Activists are demanding that biological women displace themselves, to their own detriment, in order to accommodate what is actually a theory,” he continued.
“This ideology, under the guise of so-called affirmative care, promotes the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery for minors. In addition, the ongoing furore surrounding the teaching of Gender Identity theory, as fact, in our curriculum, is proof positive that this issue is far from settled,” Cllr Deasy said.
He also shared that “several people in this chamber have told me privately that they see through the destructive and divisive nature of identity politics” – adding “but it seems they think it is going to go away all by itself. I am here to tell you that by all appearances, these ideologues are coming for the hearts and minds of your children and grandchildren.”
“This is no longer a remote issue, it is the issue of our time, and it will have direct negative repercussions for women and children, therefore it is the time to stand up and be counted. I’m calling for a no vote on this motion,” he concluded.
Responding, Cllr Harmon said that Cork City Council had a “proud history” of supporting LGBTQ+ community in Cork city and that rights were being “rolled back” in other parts of the world, encouraging “all the councillors here” to attend Cork Pride if they hadn’t already done so.
Cllr John Sheehan of Fianna Fáil also supported the motion, saying that people who were different had been “othered” in the past and demonised, and that society needed to be more inclusive, describing trans people as “vulnerable”.
However, Cllr Deasy told Gript that his views were “mainstream views” held by “the vast majority of people”, who he said were tired of being shouting down. He said he would continue to represent his constituents on these and other matters.