Julie Bindel v Damian Barr

[fatblackcatspaw]

So Julie Bindel gets retroactively cancelled for a talk in 2918 but Damian Barr who cancells Baroness Nicolson AND is found to have massive transphobia on his timeline is ... going to do a talk at Gladstones Library ?
www.instagram.com/p/CLMCOcTgyvL/

[PotholeParadies]

The man who used a transphobic slur while making fun of a transwoman for attempting suicide? That Damien?

I have no words.

[Kit19]

gosh what can the difference between them be I wonder??

but no no this is definitely not a misogynistic movement perish the very thought!!!

[vermillion]

That is bitterly disappointing.

I use Gladstone's Library regularly in ordinary times. It has very strong religious and theological ties and I would imagine many of its users would be extremely supportive the faith-based views held by Baroness Nicholson which led her to vote against same sex marriage in 2013.

Equally, I'm sure that many of its users would hold opposing views, as I do, but would be open minded and well-informed enough to understand that the way she voted was not motivated by homophobia. Regardless, being a place where people of all faiths meet and talk, Gladstone's whole ethos is one of tolerance and coming together to understand. From their website -

Today, the library offers its guests the possibility of individual reflection, as well as social interaction. With an evolving programme of courses and events the priority is to build and nurture a wide network of writers and thinkers in order to maintain Gladstone's legacy of engagement with social, moral and spiritual questions, helping people reflect more deeply on issues and ideas that concern them.

I know disgusted is a strong word, but it pretty much sums up how I feel about them supporting someone who has been guilty of such rank hypocrisy, has bullied a woman out of a public position, smeared her reputation and whipped up a twitter witch hunt to get her 'cancelled'.

[fatblackcatspaw]

I too have been to Gladstones Library twice! and I'm not sure what to do - should I call them out on twitter? They did have a writer in residence who I thought was a bit iffy when it came to women's issues last year I can't remember who. But on the otherhand in another post recently seemed to be trolling the Feminist Library! www.instagram.com/p/CKqc_8TgTyk/

[prisencolinensinainciusol2]

gosh what can the difference between them be I wonder??

It's a huge mystery to me. (Sarcasm smiley)

[yourhairiswinterfire]

If you're the owner of a penis instead of being a mere womb-haver, you're allowed to spout some clichéd guff about 'growing and changing' since your repulsive, actual phobic comments were made, and all is forgiven and forgotten.

Be a womb-haver who has the absolute nerve to want to be referred to as a woman, and you're done for, no way back.

But this isn't driven by misogyny, oh no!

[ArabellaScott]

Just noting that I had a post deleted recently on here for reposting a picture of the tweet Barr made. Presumably because it was so horribly offensive.

I'm not blaming the mods - the tweet was completely unacceptable. Cruel, crass and (genuinely) transphobic.

I just note that women aren't allowed to even point out what Barr's said. Yet he remains untouched. Amazing.

[fatblackcatspaw]

indeed ArabellaScott... its INFURIATING ! i will do a bit more spreading of this glorious news of the now washed clean Damian later in another place

[merrymouse]

As far as I know Julie Bindel has apologised for some of the things she has said, which weren't as offensive as the things that Barr said.

The only difference is that Julie Bindel still fights for women's rights. All this information was widely available back in 2018.

Apologies to Damien Barr if this is wrong, but I don't think he has ever fought for anyone's rights in the way that Julie Bindel has - I'm thinking about her tireless and often invisible campaigning with Harriet Wistrich.

However, the important thing is that Barr is male and toes the trans ideology line.

Patriarchy at work.

[merrymouse]

In terms of the event at Gladstone's library, the double standard is infuriating, but unless they would also ban Bindel is it relevant that they would allow Barr to talk?

[fatblackcatspaw]

I just think its interesting how utterly vile a man can be and have not a dent in his income - I note that the last academic post Bindel has had was 2017 from her website. Add on that lack of book signings etc that must cut into her income but Damian after being TRULY heinous and exposed for it goes merrily on. And poor Baroness still kicked out of the Booker which must hurt.

[Manderleyagain]

Damian Barr was recently hosting some kind of 'in conversation' event with jenny lindsay the poet who has been harassed by tra's, wrote about it, and has also written for the radical notion. I get it's frustrating that there obviously is a double standard at play in the sector, but the bookshop that apologise for hosting bindel, and this library are not responsible for each. This is consistent with their message linked to on instragram in a pp (which I really agree with) that libraries are democratic spaces, no one can tell you what to read. I don't think Barr should be barred from events any more than bindel or lindsay should be. He got a woman he disagreed with no platformed (baroness nichol) and should be sshemed but isn't, but I don't want to no platform ppl I don't agree with from library events.

[ArabellaScott]

Agree, Manderley, to an extent. We all say daft things from time to time, and I'm not into 'cancelling' people. But that tweet was genuinely absolutely vile. And the fact that Baroness Nicholson has lost her role at the Booker after his horrible bullying campaign, while he still merrily is a fixture on the literary scene, is galling.

[Abhannmor]

Barr sounds revolting. I have enormous respect for Julie Bindel. She is often, unfairly , cast as a man hater. But she is the only writer , male or female, who has written about the exploitation of boys and young men by rich western women on so called 'romance holidays '. At least afaik. This probably cost her support among liberal feminists.

[vermillion]

I'm also partly in agreement Manderley but I think that, as a theological library it's a poor move for Gladstones to promote the work of a man who got a women thoroughly cancelled, smeared and discredited purely for her religious views. And then, as Arabella says, was simply allowed to go on his way, whistling nonchalantly and bathing in the warm glow of his own righteous wokeness.

If he had ever addressed it, or shown any sign of wanting to open up discussion or explore issues around the church and homophobia or anything like that I think it would be different. But he seems to have publicly trashed the actual values Gladstones is built on, banging his big old beardy-bro gavel down on the charge of homophobia without any acknowledgement of other perspectives. As a semi-religious institution I would have thought Gladstones might have had some reservations about supporting him so enthusiastically.

[Manderleyagain]

Good points. It's true that it's all absolutely galling. He has acted in a way that does not align at all with the library's values.

"as a theological library it's a poor move for Gladstones to promote the work of a man who got a women thoroughly cancelled, smeared and discredited purely for her religious views."
"If he had ever addressed it, or shown any sign of wanting to open up discussion or explore issues around the church and homophobia or anything like that I think it would be different."
I hadn't realised it was a theological library & this is true. He should be asked about this in questions. But it is one of the most annoying things about having this as a core principle - the principle that different opinions & approaches should be heard, and that no platforming & cancelling isn't the way to go - that it means you end up defending someone's right to speak, even if they wouldn't defend yours. And he wouldn't defend ours. I still wouldn't want the library to give him the elbow. I would want him to be asked about this, and made to address these points.

[ArabellaScott]

I still wouldn't want the library to give him the elbow. I would want him to be asked about this, and made to address these points.

Yes, for sure. That would be the best course of action. Is it an online event?

[fatblackcatspaw]

if he could be made to account for his behaviour yes but somehow I doubt he will....

[BuntingEllacott]

@Kit19

gosh what can the difference between them be I wonder??

but no no this is definitely not a misogynistic movement perish the very thought!!!

I know! I know!

It's a willy!

[fatblackcatspaw]

where can I get one of these mythical willies? I hear that once you get one your income goes up ... people listen to you.... and you get to talk ALL the time.

[prisencolinensinainciusol2]

where can I get one of these mythical willies?

I know there is a film called Free Willy so they can't be expensive.

[ChattyLion]

Excellent post Manderley