"When it mattered most, Long sided with cis power over trans survival" - My meeting with Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long to discuss why they backed a puberty blocker ban - open.substack.com/pub/hleehurl... - ThreadSky

hleehurley.substack.com • 8 days ago

"When it mattered most, Long sided with cis power over trans survival" - My meeting with Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long to discuss why they backed a puberty blocker ban -

https://open.substack.com/pub/hleehurley/p/exclusive-naomi-long-tries-to-explain?r=1vhvfh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Comments

dubnobass.bsky.social•6 days ago

The answer to this question is Yes, she would make the same decision

They have all seen how SNP were neutered by the Tories over GRC and none of them have the heart to take on the battle in case it costs them politically

SF could have had a field day with this but took the cowardly route

genderqueeries.bsky.social•8 days ago

📌

moschops.bsky.social•8 days ago

Thanks for writing this. Very disappointing from a politician I think gets a lot more right than wrong. Glad that you met with her and wrote this after though.

xxiainxx.bsky.social•8 days ago

Can’t wait for the alliance to do their “we really care about your concerns” tour if the doorsteps the week before the next election. They’ll get the same response the DUP do now

moschops.bsky.social•8 days ago

Yep.

hleehurley.substack.com•8 days ago

Thanks 😊

georgiehazel.bsky.social•7 days ago

Not subscribing to read one article but is it because they just don't care about trans people? Or is it some religion based excuse?

nickycdr.bsky.social•7 days ago

This makes me absolutley furious, how dare she try to justify the sheer devastation she has caused trans children. My son started puberty just as the ban came in, she will never understand just what that did to my child.

nickycdr.bsky.social•7 days ago

I feel more angry and let down that this woman claimed to be supportive of trans people. I remember her being on here talking about how she had no choice as they had evidence pb's were harmful and yet, still can't produce any evidence.

sunflowerdreams.bsky.social•7 days ago

Thank you for this, its a great article.

Frustrated at the seeming lack of acknowledgement of the harm this is causing, but not shocked.

I've been considering meeting with her myself as an individual, I did write to her when this all happened, but I'm just not sure if there's any point.

erikasgarden.bsky.social•7 days ago

So basically she was told they were dangerous, she knew there were no cases of people being harmed by them and instead of asking for the data she just voted for it and took their word for it?

Yeah that's ridiculously stupid

msgreent.bsky.social•8 days ago

So she seems to know or have some degree of knowledge of what is going on but chooses not to fight it. What even is the point of being in politics if you just fold when it gets too hard?
There is literally nobody fighting for us. 😢

urmaskoeli.bsky.social•7 days ago

Politicians are in it for the power. That’s the point of being in politics: power. A politician is not going to save us.

hollybrigstocke.bsky.social•7 days ago

I've come across too many cis who claim "the policy said" or "so and so" said even when wrong or challengeable or, at least, requires further investigation.

This is the mind of a bureaucrat not a decision maker living up to their job title. It's so much easier when it doesn't effect *them*.

caponatacommie.bsky.social•8 days ago

I could have told you it be a waste of time before you bothered, I am honestly very perplexed why you are giving representatives of this shitlib party so much time and benefit of doubt?? Asking genuinely.

hleehurley.substack.com•8 days ago

Because elected officials from that party have done very real things in the real world to help me and people close to me and if there is a chance we can reach someone in a position of power, i'm going to try.

xxiainxx.bsky.social•8 days ago

I think it was worth it because a lot of us in n. Ireland would vote for long/alliance (even if only to piss off the DUP) so it is very useful to understand what is quite a surprising turn

caponatacommie.bsky.social•8 days ago

I am surprised you'd vote her tbh. I don't understand why so many comrades now think she's good, years ago we all had her number including people I knew living in the six counties.

xxiainxx.bsky.social•8 days ago

I vote pbp if they’re standing in locals but for general I hold my nose to piss of the DUP cos there’s no one else

caponatacommie.bsky.social•8 days ago

And not like SF are any better on this either.

brendanjharkin.bsky.social•8 days ago

There is fundamental value in getting this kind of 1 on 1 interview where you can show the public how these sorts of politicians try to justify how they use the power they have been given to "represent" people.
Not everyone is a disillusioned leftie and they need to be shown stuff like this.

caponatacommie.bsky.social•8 days ago

That's fair enough and perhaps this exposing is important in that context, as it is tangible and can be understood via example.

brendanjharkin.bsky.social•8 days ago

The critical lens as well is so important in this too, there's plenty of established NI media types would just softball that entire interview and do a generic balance piece to keep the channel open instead of going "well here's how what they just said is straight up bullshit actually".

imamammie.bsky.social•8 days ago

I genuinely think when we left she congratulated herself on a job well done! I believe she thought we bought into her ridiculous reasoning. I don't think she will be expecting this article!
Thanks for getting this out Lee, I know how much it took xx

caponatacommie.bsky.social•8 days ago

I think it was a mistake to devolve ideology from liberation - history is littered with libs being unreliable, weak + fairweather friends to minorities. I'm sorry you have felt let down personally, I get it must hurt but I think it was extremely naive to expect better from people with such ideology.

caponatacommie.bsky.social•8 days ago

(for what it's worth I did feel for you on a human level that she seemed to have this cognitive dissonance from the fact you were actually trans person in front of her and how awful that must have felt to be confronted with that callousness)

imamammie.bsky.social•8 days ago

If we don't try and don't engage we may as well say we are giving up!! I refuse to give up. I will NEVER stop fighting for my daughter's right to live and thrive and would sit in a room with the devil if it helped! We have to try!

caponatacommie.bsky.social•8 days ago

I just don't believe Long was worth your time both in terms of relevance or reliability as an ally. She's an opportunist and has little sincerity in any beliefs - anything she's done for trans people or the wider LGBT+ community should always be seen in the context of cynical PR + promotion.

shel56.bsky.social•7 days ago

Having spent 15 years amongst politicians of all parties the performative actions are all one expects. Even when presented with overwhelming evidence of subterfuge, bribery, peer reviewed medical evidence, politicians will not see what is front of them. Wilful, party whip or ideologically ignored.

smartymarty.bsky.social•7 days ago

Very insightful Lee. I am sorry for the impact that meeting had on you personally though. I hope you can find a moment to carve out some joy to restore ♥️

hleehurley.substack.com•7 days ago

Thank you. I think the weight of everything was perhaps to blame for my mood this last week, more than just this meeting on its own. But I have a great fiancé whose support is invaluable and we laugh a lot 😊

I'm all good but appreciate the concern!

aminaerin.bsky.social•7 days ago

Laughing is important x

nickycdr.bsky.social•7 days ago

I'm glad you have support, and I really appreciate all that you are doing, I know it's not easy.

smartymarty.bsky.social•7 days ago

Glad to hear it <3

unicornsrockuk.bsky.social•8 days ago

An ally? Yeah right. With allies like that who tf needs enemies.

jambodes.bsky.social•8 days ago

Makes for really hard reading. Can't imagine how that must've felt for you.

With allies like this...🙄

In solidarity. 🏳️‍⚧️

skywomble.bsky.social•8 days ago

Bigots

bearealally.bsky.social•8 days ago

at this point it will be crucially important we make sure these people KNOW there is blood on their hands and that blood won't ever wash off! it's unforgivable what these people have done to trans. I will never again be apologist for anyone not fully supporting trans rights nor give benefit of doubt

vorox.bsky.social•7 days ago

They know our blood is on their hands, its their goal.

clairestranstalks.bsky.social•8 days ago

It's a great article that highlights one really important thing, imho.

We simply cannot trust cisgender people, especially those with power. Ever.

gloriasync.bsky.social•7 days ago

You are 100% correct. This is the most important lesson to learn right now. There ain't no justice, just us.

hollybrigstocke.bsky.social•7 days ago

This is one reason why I believe self-id and informed consent access is essential. It takes abusers out of the loop.

clairestranstalks.bsky.social•7 days ago

Yeah, absolutely.

hleehurley.substack.com•8 days ago

Thank you 😊

evilniamh.bsky.social•8 days ago

Thank you for all you do

genderaffirmative.bsky.social•7 days ago

Have you considered moving to a non-usa based publishing platform like https://steadyhq.com/en/

hleehurley.substack.com•8 days ago

Apologies for taking so long to get that published, was ill for a few days but, mostly, I was just depressed as fuck after it.

I probably should have known better but you hope, you know?

moif-velocita.bsky.social•6 days ago

I'm sorry you've had to endure this Lee. It's been nagging at me ever since I read it and I can't imagine how soul crushingly frustrating it must have been to sit through.

I would have left that interview in tears

hleehurley.substack.com•6 days ago

I was frustrated more than anything, then really deflated, but it is what it is and we go from here! At least we know, now.

mclintock163.bsky.social•8 days ago

When you just expect the shit takes, I think it makes them easier to get away with. You have to hope. Even though it hurts.

peebeejaybee.bsky.social•8 days ago

🫂💜

fiercemum.bsky.social•7 days ago

I wonder if the MHRA's advice was the same as the Commission on Human Medicine's.

https://bsky.app/profile/fiercemum.bsky.social/post/3lgsa4ktrds2r

hleehurley.substack.com•7 days ago

If it was, nothing like that was even hinted at. It seemed mostly be concerns around Gender GP

sobekhotep97.bsky.social•7 days ago

I think you said it perfectly: while she may not be a transphobe, not being transphobic is not the same as being pro-trans. The fact that she knew about the concerted political effort to push medical disinformation and still supported the ban is concerning.

heatherether.bsky.social•7 days ago

That was particularly depressing to read. So much prevarication, so slippery, lacking conviction from a political so admired here. We’re sleepwalking into something truly awful. I’m so sorry.

concerned-person.bsky.social•8 days ago

In 2025, if you are not pro trans, you are transphobic. You allow lies and misinformation to rule your decisions then you are a bigot. Your conclusion was too kind. She can rot in hell.

mesoho.bsky.social•7 days ago

Cis people just cannot be trusted not to fuck us over at any time

turnedtofire.bsky.social•8 days ago

Thank you so much for doing this difficult but valuable work. And please, do not feel bad about needing time to get well. You matter, and not just because you're serving the community.

I think this hopefully gives us areas we can work on, but I am really dismayed that she's so near yet so far.

hleehurley.substack.com•8 days ago

Thank you 😊

trasinscneach.bsky.social•8 days ago

As cynical as I was this still feels like a punch in the gut. Very demoralising

pastel-bunny.bsky.social•8 days ago

I don’t know how these people sleep at night. Cis people are so removed from the devastating consequences of their actions. It’s all hypothetical to them.

sophie-black.bsky.social•8 days ago

I don’t think Naomi Long will get it until - say - her own access to contraceptives or abortion is suddenly removed by a ministerial order using the same trumped up reasoning, and the same concern that there is one particular private provider allegedly giving out the pills a bit too easily.

sophie-black.bsky.social•8 days ago

Cis privilege is about people complacent in their confidence that such an outrageous injustice could never or would never happen to them, and about to get a colossal shock when it does. Perhaps even quite soon.

imamammie.bsky.social•7 days ago

We actually had this very discussion with her at the meeting too, she is aware, she understands the rhetoric and wording she just doesn't care enough about Trans kids to take a stand for and with them. It's that simple.

theomegageek.bsky.social•7 days ago

This makes me certain that when they eventually come for us adults, people like her will just shrug.

imamammie.bsky.social•7 days ago

Me too. Politically you're just not important enough or large enough in numbers to give a shit about.

sophie-black.bsky.social•7 days ago

Thanks for clarifying that. I’d have likely told her to go to hell at that point.

Somewhere in her soul she knows she will. I think most politicians do.

It’s just another thing they literally don’t give a damn about.

imamammie.bsky.social•7 days ago

I promised lee I would remain civil, he deserved a chance to try and get through to her. He did indeed try!

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