Artistic Director of Queer Up North speaks out on trans activism, Stonewall and women's rights

Ask any therapist why they dislike working with Cluster B: splitting, shifting goalposts, hyperbolic sense of being under attack and responding in kind. Constant boundary violation. Constant and escalating need for validation.

This. With bells on.

Thanks for doing this JonnyBest.

We can give you loads of info, but you have the platform.

You've no idea how frustrating it is having all this data and no means of disseminating it.

So thanks.

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate all of this.
J

The BBC did a hatchet job on fair play for women, you could link the spec James Kirkup piece to yours via a quick mention.

JonnyBest
There is a new thread on the specific question of examples of silencing in the debate, started by Mamaryllis:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3341433-Examples-of-Silencing-in-trans-debate

Here's a couple of threads about being gender critical in the workplace/academia.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3162788-Whats-it-like-being-gender-critical-in-your-workplace

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/academics_corner/3097123-Coming-out-as-critical-of-trans-ideology-impact-on-career

And Jonnybest - strength to your writing arm (as an academic, I hope the PhD doesn't suffer too much ) - maybe you might like to include something somewhere about the fact that even with a GRC an [aristocratic] transman cannot inherit his father's title if born female (even though a GRC allows the altering of a birth certificate).

And an [aristocratic] transwoman can still inherit her father's title because born male (even though a GRC allows the altering of a birth certificate).

To me, this shows the ultimate proof that at the very centre of the British (English) establishment, no-one believes that "transwomen are women" #nodebate

as a very entitled undergrad tweeted at me before inciting a formal complaint to try to get me sacked

Yeah, Pippa Bunce. Woman some days, man some days, depends on how they feel when they get up in the morning

And I bet he doesn't take a pay cut on the days when s/he decides she's she.

Spiked

www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/women-dont-have-penises/21722#.W3qnMYqxWhA

Here are some threads on MN where we have talked about the definition of transphobia:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3228034-Is-it-possible-to-have-a-discussion-about-coming-up-with-a-definition-of-transphobia-that
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3185803-If-you-think-mn-is-strongly-transphobic
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3236288-Excellent-article-on-the-problem-of-transphobia

Trans Activism and the Lesbian community:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3146166-Transactivism-and-the-lesbian-community

"Gender Critical Greatest Hits" gives a good overview
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3318916-Gender-Critical-Greatest-Hits

Then there have been the cases of women being reported to the police:
Posie Parker
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3190731-Woman-questioned-under-caution-and-banned-from-leaving-the-country-for-criticising-Mermaids
Linda Bellos
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3237264-Linda-Bellos-arrested-Title-edited-by-MNHQ-to-make-clear-that-she-was-in-fact-interviewed-under-caution
An anonymous poster tells her story here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3329006-as-i-was-saying-about-the-police

And we can't forget James Caspian, a psychotherapist who specialises in gender and was blocked from researching detransitioners due to "political correctness" (i.e. alleged transphobia) despite the man being a trustee of the Beaumont Society
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3042941-Gender-surgery-regret-Academic-blocked-from-researching-it

The Speccie article is only 800 words and I probably won't have space to quote more than one or two people - depends how the draft works out. But I will be writing a longer piece on this subject and will have much more space to incorporate more of your real-life examples and thoughts.
Thanks.

I’m heartened that my male boss shared this article with me, apropos of nothing. So a totally different demographic are being reached when people like JB speak out. Thank you.

Thanks for getting the word out, Stickerladiesoftheworldunite

I'll keep an eye on this thread and read all comments.
Cheers

@JonnnyBest

I'm writing a short piece for the Spectator on the widely-drawn 'official' (i.e. Stonewall) definition of transphobia and its silencing effect. I'm seeking real-life examples of its use, opinions on how right/wrong it is - anything.

Here's a (helpfully screenshotted by Twitter) post from an MNer, which I think explains the position women find themselves in. To say that we cannot name ourselves, delineate ourselves, get accurate information about ourselves as a group - this, apparently, is transphobia. So y'know. I'm definitely transphobic. Because I will continue to name myself, delineate myself, and align myself with my sisters.

All that is needed is the intention to live in your acquired gender for the rest of your life.

Yeah, Pippa Bunce. Woman some days, man some days, depends on how they feel when they get up in the morning. Plenty of cross dressers who enjoy the sexual experience of cross dressing (trans and fully entitled to all woman access according to Stonewall) limit it to weekends and holidays since it doesn't mix well with working life.

And no evidence to be requested: means in practice that under self ID any man walking into any women's facilities will be assumed to have self declared just by walking in. Self ID means, in fact, any bloke can walk anywhere into the most private of women's spaces, and expect to be accommodated there without question, regardless of what distress and embarrassment and negative impact he may cause to the women in that facility.

The banging on about 'declared intent' is asking women to trust that everyone will be jolly good chaps and never abuse this open door access.

So let's ditch background and police checks for people working with kids and vulnerable people, eh? They can just self declare they're nice people who never abuse anyone and nothing can possibly go wrong.

I will be considerate in how I respond but in no way am I erasing his identity by knowing that he isn't what he believes he is.

Really good post. And even if someone does subjectively feel erased by your not validating and confirming their personal choice of identity, why and how should this be your problem to solve rather than theirs?

@JonnnyBest

Nic Williams of FairPlay for Women has all the info you need. Quotes, links, the lot.

fairplayforwomen.com/misogyny_hate_silencing/

Contribute to his next article
Jonathan Best
@JonnnyBest
I'm writing a short piece for the Spectator on the widely-drawn 'official' (i.e. Stonewall) definition of transphobia and its silencing effect. I'm seeking real-life examples of its use, opinions on how right/wrong it is - anything.

Sorry for the delayed cross post! Got side tracked. Thanks transplants :)

I truly wonder what nest stage of awfulness I am going to see or hear sometimes... not envy

OK, so I braved the vid and found the superb Kirsty McColl!!!

I try to avoid watching some stuff as it is just too disturbing or upsetting!!!!

Seafret

It's Kirsty mccall singing there's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Elvis.

What is that about please BraveandStunning? I don't generally watch random vids.

seafret

For you

I don't believe in 'trans' people as in some people are across both sexes.

I believe in biology where there are two human reproductive sexes which are fixed from conception.

I recognise sexism, where some people are more comfortable living out the stereotypes associated with the opposite sex than their own.

I recognise mental disorders where people obsessively feel there is something wrong with their body.

But 'trans' no.

It linguistically forces users into legitimising the phenomena of mental disorders and sexism.