The Government’s new Science Advisor believes that biological males “are women” if they identify as transgender women.
On Tuesday this week, Professor Aoife McLysaght, Chair of Evolutionary Genetics in Trinity College Dublin, was appointed to the role of Government Science Advisor.
Minister for Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan, said that he was “delighted” to appoint her to the role, and that McLysaght “will assist in informing responses to complex and challenging policy issues” while based within his Government Department.
“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Professor McLysaght to the role of Government Science Advisor…I am looking forward to working closely with Professor McLysaght on policy issues and also how we can better communicate scientific issues to a general audience,” he said.
Professor McLysaght added that she is “very excited” to take up the position, and she will now also chair the new National Science Advice Forum.
Notably, Professor McLysaght has repeatedly affirmed that “transwomen are women” – i.e. that biological males who identify as women are the gender they identify as.
“I am a biologist, and I’m pretty sure that whatever you can think of, there exists both an example and a counter-example somewhere in nature,” McLysaght said in a 2020 social media post.
“Science doesn’t tell us right and wrong, we have to figure that out ourselves. My rule: above all, be kind. Trans women are women.”
#IAmABiologist and I’m pretty sure that whatever you can think of there exists both an example and a counter-example somewhere in nature. Science doesn’t tell us right and wrong, we have to figure that out ourselves. My rule: above all, be kind. Trans women are women. X https://t.co/uhvkhqYB5Z
— Aoife McLysaght (@aoifemcl) October 10, 2020
In 2022, responding to a proposed US law that would seek to prevent transgender biological males from competing in women’s sports, McLysaght described the proposal as a “brutal manifestation of transphobia.”
“1. Transwomen are women. 2. The origin of sex-differentiated sports is not to protect women’s sports but to marginalise them. 3. This law is a brutal manifestation of transphobia”, she said.
1. Transwomen are women.
— Aoife McLysaght (@aoifemcl) June 5, 2022
2. The origin of sex-differentiated sports is not to protect women's sports but to marginalise them.
3. This law is a brutal manifestation of transphobia.
She further added that “Saying transwomen are women does not deny that cis women are women.”
Who is denying that? Saying transwomen are women does not deny that cis women are women. Adding recognition in one place doesn't take it away anywhere else.
— Aoife McLysaght (@aoifemcl) June 10, 2022
Responding to a now-deleted post featuring a headline from the UK that read “Women-only facilities will be protected,” McLysaght said “What does it mean to ‘protect’ women-only facilities? Who decides who gets in, and on what basis? Hairstyle? Clothing? This is bullshit designed to hurt trans people and hurts us all.”
What does it mean to “protect” women-only facilities? Who decides who gets in, and on what basis? Hairstyle? Clothing? This is bullshit designed to hurt trans people and hurts us all. https://t.co/HKPvzH6wIK
— Aoife McLysaght (@aoifemcl) June 14, 2020
Notably, the Professor’s social media profile also features “she / her” gender pronouns.
Furthermore, during the Covid-19 era, she was a strong advocate for “Zero Covid” policies, and was affiliated with the Irish Scientific Advisory Council (ISAG).
I would really hope that estimate is overly pessimistic, but part of the reason to go for zerocovid is that it allows us to get back to normal much sooner. If the case numbers are under control then we can have much more comfortable lives.
— Aoife McLysaght (@aoifemcl) March 24, 2021
Brilliant ... we want zerocovid, pols want zero effort (on their part).
— Aoife McLysaght (@aoifemcl) March 23, 2021
It was never lives vs livelihoods. It was always lives*and* livelihoods. That's why we need #zerocovid. @ISAGCOVID19 @WeCanBeZero #WeCanBeZero https://t.co/3SyZiINViv
— Aoife McLysaght (@aoifemcl) February 5, 2021
Are We Surrendering to A Fourth Wave?
— Independent Scientific Advocacy Group (ISAG) (@ISAGCOVID19) April 6, 2021
PRESS CONFERENCE & PUBLIC MEETING ⏩
Wednesday, April 7th, at 12pm
Chaired by Prof. Aoife McLysaght @aoifemcl, with @GabrielScally & @astaines. @ISAGCOVID19 members will answer your questions.
Register at:https://t.co/WjjcMXPhJc pic.twitter.com/PXaU3CnwrY
In a statement on the appointment this week, Science Minister Patrick O’Donovan said he was grateful to have Professor McLysaght advising the government on scientific issues, because it is “essential” that the government has “the best scientific evidence available” when addressing modern challenges, “fully informed by quality science advice.”