The Guardian today has missed a trick. It reports (today and yesterday, when it was its lead story) that requests for gender reassignments have doubled in the last month. It is still a bit confused about whether this is a good or bad thing, but no doubt it will decide on good.
This subsequently makes any link with Brexit more problematic. It could be argued that the mis-assigned were expressing their alienation and rage and are now asserting themselves using Brexit as a pretext, as a protest against the virulent patriarchy that led the North to vote for Leave, but this would ally gender reassignment with racism which will not do. It could mean that Brexit has now liberated people to demand their rights, in a brave new era of choice and freedom, but that would be to see something positive in Brexit. It could have nothing to do with Brexit, but that would spoil the Guardian's attempt to lay all social upheavals without exception at the feet of the Brexiteers and/or the unwise Cameron Government who let us have a referendum.
I do hope they sort it out soon so I know what to think.
Meanwhile, the Editor of the Graun, one Katharine Viner, takes up 3 pages in her own newspaper to argue that it was the social media to blame for Brexit ( all those silver surfers I expect). Unlike proper journalism, the social media (including the web pages of dailies) deal only with dubious 'facts', including the 'lies' about the £350m weekly contribution to the EU, and the intention to end all EU immigration [I tire of repeating that these 'lies' were just routine exaggerations common to all politicians, and not likely to baffle anyone]. What is needed is proper journalism which will offer just facts (no sneer quotes), because the journalists are trained, noble, well-intentioned and highly perceptive etc.
They also have an advantage in that, unlike the BBC, there is no legal obligation to be 'balanced'. The Beeb has to react if 1 expert opposes the other 99 who prophesied economic doom, and present both cases (can't say I noticed). Newspapers have no such obligations and so can simply offer agreed wisdom.
If you spotted a vested interest in there, you are a cynic.
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