Critics of transgenderism attack report by charity the National Childbirth Trust for 'removing the word mother'
Critics of transgender ideology in Northern Ireland have rounded on a childbirth charity for all-but jettisoning the word "mother" in a new report.
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) uses the term only once in its 30-page document, before adding the words “… and birthing parents”.
On the other hand, its report refers repeatedly to “women and birthing parents” and “birthing persons”.
At one stage it refers to “women parents”, instead of mothers.
Terms such as these are used by transgender activists because they believe that men can also give birth, as can people who belong to ‘non-binary’ genders which are neither male nor female.
The NCT has told the News Letter that it is committed to “using language that includes everyone so that parents of all gender identities feel welcome”.
The charity is headquartered in London but operates in Northern Ireland too, where it runs antenatal classes.
It describes itself as “the UK's leading charity for parents”.
Its report is titled 'From expectation to reality: Parents’ experiences of pregnancy, birth, and life with a newborn’.
Jonathan Buckley, a DUP MLA who has spoken out against transgender ideology, has said it is “deeply concerning that in recent times, some activist organisations are clearly attempting to devalue, or even remove the word mother from their language and descriptions of family life”.
He added: “Mothers should never be sidelined or diminished to satisfy ideological trends…
“Any approach that seeks to erase or downplay motherhood ultimately undermines the very foundations of family and community life.”
Meanwhile, pressure group the Women's Rights Network said that it is “shocked” by how NCT “twists and confuses normal language”.
“Many of our members have used the NCT in the past and even volunteered for them,” said a statement.
“They are saddened today that the NCT can't understand that the erasure of the word mother is another way to minimise the good and bad experiences we go through as we bring life into the world…
“It now appears that reality and mothers are no longer at the centre of the NCT's concern.
“They have decided to bow to an ideology which erases the experience of mothers and, as the UN Special Rapporteur Reem Asalem has said, it is a human rights violation to remove the rights of a mother.
“Mother is not a fluid, ambiguous concept.
“Only women can experience pregnancy and childbirth.”
NCT told the News Letter: “For 70 years we have advocated on behalf of women, and we will always focus on their experiences of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
“Protecting and upholding women’s rights is a foundational part of our work as a charity.
“Today our charity has a clear mission to support people as they become parents.
“Our vision is that everyone who becomes a parent feels confident, connected, and safe.
“Most people who give birth are women and call themselves mothers, and we’ll always advocate for and support their experiences.
“Being there for every parent also means using language that includes everyone so that parents of all gender identities feel welcome, visible and understood.
“The language used in the report reflects the 2,000 people who completed the survey which was a mixture of women, men and people who have diverse gender identities.”