Bear with me as I'm very much not a legal expert and I really hope that my solicitor isn't going to tell me I've written something wrong! This is an update on my case against Girlguiding for expelling me (see what I did there) for my beliefs that men and boys cannot change into girls and women.
Wheels turning slowly in the background
I've been waiting... and waiting... and waiting to be able to give you all an update. I can finally tell you something but it's still not a finished story!
Maya Forstater, who has been appealing her dismissal on grounds of her gender critical beliefs, lost her case against her employers but has now lodged an appeal (Mumnet link rather than her funding link for safety's sake: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3805218-Maya-appealing )
You probably don't know the ins and outs but the Employment Tribunal is not what's called a "binding precedent" - another court can independently come to a different decision. So, though this decision is indicative, it's not binding over the court my case would be held in.
After Maya lost her case, Girlguiding told us that since my belief case is so similar to hers, we should withdraw my case. We declined to do so; because Maya is appealing her appeal will be held in a higher court than my case. This means that if Maya's appeal is successful, it is binding to the court that my case would be held in.
Confused? I am as well but Maya's appeal is really hopeful both for her obviously, but also for my case.
This is going to be a long haul, though. Maya's appeal is some way off and we can't make any firm plans for my case till after that. Please share, Tweet, anything you can think of - please do use the hashtag #expelme
I have also asked again if Girlguiding will allow me to accompany my daughter to meetings, outings and sleepovers, and they have again not made any concession. This is massively disappointing to me and to my daughter, and is obviously extremely hard to explain to her and to her friends and their parents.
As an aside it was SO GOOD to meet so many of you at the WPUK meeting, including some current and former Guiding people.