full thread from @RadFemAngryBird in response to activist's attempts to shut down WPUK meeting in Oxford.
(I've taken out the # for easier reading)
twitter.com/i/moments/990001689422979077
l‘m not condemning the meeting of @Womans**PlaceUK but the shameful campaign of bullying and intimidation organised by the students and transactivists outside of the QuakerHouse.
I’ve studied in Oxford, once a capital of freethought and freespeech, known for its fair debates with respect to the opinions of one’s opponents and refreshingly skilful and witty arguments challenging their views.
Bullying, although surfacing occasionally, was never welcome, especially, in the LGBT circles having too many victims of it knowing only too well how much it hurts. But last night the tables have turned - and the bullied became the bullies
I founded TransOxford in 2015 to promote the greater unity and more extensive communications between the separate transgender groups some of which had no idea of the others existing in the same city.
It eventually became a connecting hub between the trans groups in London Brighton, Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Bath.
I was promoting unity and understanding between these groups and the society around them, acceptance and equality and, most importantly, social integration of trans people with the rest of the world.
After all, we all are humans and have more things which unite us than divide us. I stepped down after a while having my doubts about the direction transgender movement was taking and being too busy with my motherhood duties.
Being a woman, i’m a feminist. In the eyes of some radical feminists, I may be a ‘delusional male’ which doesn’t bother me. I look like a woman, live as a woman, accepted by the world at large as a woman, and that’s enough for me, I need no further justification.
My friends include feminists who care for the real cause: women’s safety, health, equal opportunities, empowerment of women and recognition of their achievements.
In today’s Britain where misogyny isn’t a crime but transphobia is, we have too little time to discuss biology and chromosomes. We need to talk about the more important issues. And yes, we all need to talk...
But every time I suggest this to the trans activists, I hear the same arguments in reply: they won’t listen to us, there’s no room for debate, transrights aren’t debatable, they only invite cisgender people...
I believe that ‘cisgender’ and ‘terf’ are as much hurtful and derogatory terms as ‘trannies’. Let’s avoid that language!
I think @Womans**PlaceUK do invite everyone as long as they have something to contribute to the debate. I know a number of transsexuals who attended and spoke at their events (and were immediately branded as apostates by the transcommunity).
‘No debate’ is the only option? What are you going to do with so many women and transsexuals who support @WomansplaceUK ? Eliminate them? Charge them with hatecrime after your lobbyists push through another piece of legislation?
Inviting anyone for an open debate is not a hatecrime. @WomansPlaceUK has only five things on their agenda they want to discuss. Only five. Is that too much?
They want an open debate on how the new transrights might affect womensrights - what’s wrong with that? It is obvious that their rights will be affected in some way - so why not discuss their concerns in a civilised and evidence based way?
Women only spaces, women only services, gender statistics - all these things matter to a lot of women, men and transgender folks - and need to be discussed.
I think the best way for transwomen to stop transphobia is to start acting like women, looking like women (which would resolve issues of misgendering and access to the women’s #toilets), stop forcing their way into womanhood, wait until you’re accepted & welcomed.
...and if you dislike social expectations of you as a woman (dressing/looking/acting as society expects a woman) - join the #feminist ongoing battle against the patriarchy! Women have a lot in common, so if transwomen are women - they should be able to relate!
There’s so much we could do together.
I’m against transphobia.
I’m against misogyny.
I’m against bullying.
I’m against childish tantrums.
I’m against #patriarchy.
I’m for the gender equality.
I’m for the humankind unity.
I’m for #reedom of speech.
I’m for a dialogue, debate, creativity, wit and peace.
I love you all x
~the end~