I know having a lot of people on the internet telling you you're wrong - even respectfully - is really upsetting. But, I'm very uncomfortable with discussion of trans rights in Ireland becoming dominated by either the hurt feelings or interests of privileged media people like me.

I'm not as seasoned as other writers but I do remember a time when Irish women's movements were also dismissed as cult-like, too uncompromising or too hard to support. I also remember what it felt like to watch our rights being debated by people with nothing to lose.

The fact is the people starting and maybe controlling this "debate" have nothing to lose if transphobia wins. Isn't that reckless? And there is no awareness of the fact that the right-wing groups they were always against are now celebrating what they're doing. That's concerning.