Always be starting culture wars

Man does not live by bread alone

When a war is won, retribution against the losers and waverers follows. Some will escape their past and blend into the new regime, but others will pay the price for their poor decisions. 

In the aftermath of the Cass Review there is a strong sense that the battleground over this bitterest of issues has shifted in favour of the gender critical movement. My suspicion has long been that many people went along with certain ideas because they were worried about being seen as on the wrong side of history, as those who opposed gay liberation now are - despite the two movements being different in many ways. (Besides which, many progressive ideas do not end up winning, it’s just that there isn’t much of a cultural memory about their excesses).

Because of this, many liberals and even conservatives, in politics, the media and public life more generally, signalled their support for the transgender movement and even condemned its opponents, despite their instincts and discomfort. Far more simply expressed neutrality, by suggesting that both sides should be less toxic, or that we ‘shouldn’t start a culture war’ over it. Now that one side looks like they’re going to win, many will be tempted to hold them to account.