Summary
UN official under fire for acknowledging biological reality - debunked: This article addresses and debunks claims made in another article that a UN official is under fire for acknowledging biological reality, arguing that the perspective in the original article is misleading and counters the scientific understanding of sex and gender, as well as the definition and impact of transphobia.
UN official under fire for acknowledging biological reality – debunked
In this article, we address and debunk the claims made by the UN official under fire for acknowledging biological reality article published by Unherd on the 18th of February 2025.
The UN official under fire for acknowledging biological reality article suggests that acknowledging biological reality is under attack by transgender human rights activists and certain NGOs. However, this perspective is misleading and counters the scientific understanding of sex and gender, as well as the definition and impact of Transphobia.
The UN official under fire for acknowledging biological reality article centres on the backlash against a UN Special Rapporteur, Reem Alsalem, for acknowledging the existence of two sexes in her reports.
It argues that NGOs, co-led by Planned Parenthood International (PPI) and Women Deliver (WD), denounce her “sex-based” approach as a “Western colonial patriarchal worldview” that marginalises transgender individuals. The UN official under fire for acknowledging biological reality article suggests that these NGOs prioritise ideological conformity over addressing violence against women and girls.
The article Stop Using Phony Science to Justify Transphobia published by Scientific America, directly challenges the notion that biological sex is a simple binary. It enlightens us that the belief that sex arises solely from chromosomal makeup (XX for female, XY for male) is an oversimplification. Biological sex is a complex system with the potential for change, a fascinating aspect of human biology. The article explains that XX individuals can present with male gonads, and XY individuals can have ovaries due to complex genetic signals. The SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome, plays a crucial role in directing the development of male gonads, but it is not a simple on/off switch.
Hormones also play a critical role in the expression of biological sex. The idea that “estrogen = female and testosterone = male” is an over-simplification. This information educates us about the intricate interplay of hormones in determining biological sex.
All humans possess levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, but sex differences are not always prominent. This knowledge makes us aware that environmental, social, and behavioural factors can also influence hormone levels, making us more conscious of the complexity of biological sex.
The Stop Using Phony Science to Justify Transphobia article argues against the idea of a binary “male brain” or “female brain”. While specific brain characteristics may be sexually dimorphic, these differences do not indicate distinctly wired brains in males versus females. Studies involving transgender people show that their brain structures can fall between those typical of cisgender males and females or align with their gender identity.
The UN official under fire for acknowledging biological reality article fails to address the actual harm caused by Transphobia.
Transphobia is defined as “the dislike, prejudice, discrimination, denial of identity, hatred, or violence towards transgender or gender-diverse people”. The Stop Using Phony Science to Justify Transphobia article notes that using unscientific and often biblical claims to dehumanise trans people has real-world consequences, including discriminatory legislation, high suicide attempt rates, and targeted violence.
The Amery and Mondon Review provides a framework for understanding how Transphobia operates within broader social and political contexts. It discusses the process of “othering,” where trans people are constructed as a threat to a supposed “moral and good” society. This process relies on exaggerating differences and creating moral panics to justify discriminatory policies and practices.
The Amery and Mondon Review situates Transphobia within the realm of reactionary politics, which often seeks to remove the rights of certain communities. These politics rely on authoritarian tendencies and aim to divert attention from real struggles faced by women and LGBTQLGBTQ LGBTQIA+ is an inclusive term that includes people of all genders and sexualities, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and allies. While each letter in LGBTQIA+ stands for a specific group of people, the term encompasses the entire spectrum of gender fluidity and sexual identities. https://abbreviations.yourdictionary.com/what-does-lgbtqia-stand-for-full-acronym-explained.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT+ people.
Populist discourse is often used to mainstream Transphobia by constructing trans people as “other” and creating divisions within society. In short, it is the culture war rearing its ugly head against just 0.5% of our society who actually suffer crime at twice the rate of cisgender people. Sadly, Reem Alsalem ignores this very fact.
This discourse is leading to the exclusion and marginalisation of trans people – something that is becoming ever-obvious as right-wing governments take power in the turbulent times we are currently living in.
UN official under fire for acknowledging biological reality – debunked
19/2/25
