[Ammi]

Youtube video

Starbucks has been praised for its advert featuring a transgender man, which was launched in support of trans youth charity Mermaids.

The advert depicts a young man struggling with being called his “deadname” (the name he was assigned at birth), before going to the coffee shop and asking for a drink for James.

Trans and non-binary Twitter users have praised the advert as “spot on”, with a few people explaining that they used their new names for the first time in public at a Starbucks branch.

The advert promotes Starbucks’ new project, #WhatsYourName, which celebrates trans and non-binary people as they use their new names.

Lucy Clark, the world’s first trans professional football referee, commented on the significance of ordering a coffee with her name.

She told the PA news agency: “They are spot on with their advert. Little things like this mean so much.

“Names and pronouns are important and this is a real positive step. Small things like this mean so much to trans people.

“I know for me the first time [ordering with her name] was a special time and I am sure it will be magical for many others.”

Cam, a freelance creator, told PA: “It [the advert] really hit home… To people outside of the situation, being called the name you choose may seem like it’s not a big deal, but hearing isn’t just affirming.

“Every time someone uses my deadname there is an ache, and it’s there for as long as I have to conform to who people think I should be based on my assigned gender. When my real name gets used, that ache goes away.

“The Starbucks ad really represented it well. I couldn’t help but tear up at the end.

“It is beautifully and thoughtfully done, and I really do believe that this sort of representation can make a huge impact on today’s trans youth.”

The coffee chain partnered with Mermaids with the aim of raising £100,000 for their helpline through the sale of Mermaid tail-shaped biscuits.

Announcing the advert on January 31, Starbucks said: “We were moved to discover that individuals find our stores a safe space to try out their new names when transitioning.

“Starbucks’ #whatsyourname campaign celebrates this signature act and the significance it can have for some transgender and gender diverse people as they use their new name in public.”

The advert won Channel 4’s Diversity in Advertising competition, with a prize of £1m of commercial airtime.

[Mystic Mock]

I've been demanding to be called Stephanie by Starbuck's but instead they called me Campaign to Unify the Nation Trophy.









Being serious well done to Starbuck's, not only was she a great character in BSG, but now she is trying to make a difference as a Coffee Shop.

But really being serious now, it's good to see that some businesses are showing that not all Trans people are monsters, because the Media very rarely ever comes to their defence.

[MB.]

They still need to pay their taxes but it's a nice touch!

[Cherie]

Cute ad

[Toy Soldier]

Erhhhhh it's a decent ad but... there are some issues with the Mermaids organisation. They are clashing quite hard with child mental health services and, from what I hear, are significantly more concerned with adult trans rights than they are with the actual wellbeing of children and adolescents.

[Ammi]

...well I guess that they more deal with all aspects...the rights as well as..?...I’ve only ever had one occasion to have any feedback about them from a children’s mental healthcare worker...it was the first time that I became aware of them...the feedback was really complimentary in the input of both organisations for the child concerned...that’s all I have to go on really...

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Erhhhhh it's a decent ad but... there are some issues with the Mermaids organisation. They are clashing quite hard with child mental health services and, from what I hear, are significantly more concerned with adult trans rights than they are with the actual wellbeing of children and adolescents.

Yep.

[parmnion]

So a company that fails in its tax contributions is awarded with 1m quids worth of free advertising...


You couldn't make it up.

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...well I guess that they more deal with all aspects...the rights as well as..?...I’ve only ever had one occasion to have any feedback about them from a children’s mental healthcare worker...it was the first time that I became aware of them...the feedback was really complimentary in the input of both organisations for the child concerned...that’s all I have to go on really...

In short, the issue is that they push the idea that any study / research into the best mental health approaches when it comes to children expressing gender identity issues is akin to questioning the validity of transexuality... They advocate a "if a child expresses any inclination that they might be trans, immediately consider them trans" approach when there is literally zero evidence base for that being the right approach, and a huge amount of evidence to suggest that pre-adolescent children are very unlikely to have any real concept of gender identity... And these are often not just average pre-adolescents, they're pre-adolescents who are actively engaging with CAHMS services and often have various mental health concerns, trauma, etc. There are some absolutely MASSIVE informed consent issues.

I personally have to draw a hard line there; adults are free to campaign for adult rights on whatever political grounds they want, but people with no qualifications, and not even an evidence base to offer, seeking to influence child mental health policy? Not great. Also some questionable/unprofessional tactics used to try to push the issue.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by parmnion

So a company that fails in its tax contributions is awarded with 1m quids worth of free advertising...


You couldn't make it up.

We all know by now that corporate businesses are above the law sadly when it comes to these things.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

In short, the issue is that they push the idea that any study / research into the best mental health approaches when it comes to children expressing gender identity issues is akin to questioning the validity of transexuality... They advocate a "if a child expresses any inclination that they might be trans, immediately consider them trans" approach when there is literally zero evidence base for that being the right approach, and a huge amount of evidence to suggest that pre-adolescent children are very unlikely to have any real concept of gender identity... And these are often not just average pre-adolescents, they're pre-adolescents who are actively engaging with CAHMS services and often have various mental health concerns, trauma, etc. There are some absolutely MASSIVE informed consent issues.

I personally have to draw a hard line there; adults are free to campaign for adult rights on whatever political grounds they want, but people with no qualifications, and not even an evidence base to offer, seeking to influence child mental health policy? Not great. Also some questionable/unprofessional tactics used to try to push the issue.

This is where I have an issue with gender basically replacing sex. Gender is societal "norms" for men/women and is pretty sexist (something women have been trying to quash for years and now it's like a step back into the past thanks to "gender") If we're pushing gender norms as a way to decipher if a person is trans then you're going to have alot of wrong diagnoses.