Maya and the new EHRC chairwoman in the Times!

I understand your anger, I do. We should never have got to the point in the first place. So much 'undoing' to do.

not RTFT but what she’s saying would represent a massive cultural u l-turn for this ‘equality’ organisation if it is actually implemented and they recognise women and girls have rights too.
Is there going to be a mass exodus of EHRC staff or will they say they were captured? Either way so far there has been a massive sexist failure of the previous staff and more importantly Board member level leadership as their job is to guide the organisation.

The phrase 'gender critical theory' annoyed me.
Biological fact and female existence isn't theory. The TRA's like to frame us as the niche group instead of them when it's gender/queer theory that is the belief system of the tiny minority.

This is absolutely great- principled leadership seems to be so rare in a public body. They are always so scared of government disapproval because their funding comes from government. Maybe she is confident she has government backing for this or maybe she’s a principled leader whatever it takes. Either way it’s a big relief to see this.

I’m not sure about the anonymity online thing though- anonymity as GC women know can be essential to saying anything at all in the public sphere/online. Maybe I misunderstood?

Thanks, @SunsetBeetch . I feel I should be celebrating, but instead I am angry as hell.

One more on my list of demands: An enquiry on the conduct of outgoing Chairman, David Isaac, in particular, his conduct with regard to Stonewall. An enquiry into whether any undue influence was exerted over the EHRC as a result of DI's close ties (current and historic) with Stonewall.

(Trevor Phillips was investigated whilst he was chair, so there is historical precedent for an enquiry).

1.3K comments - I haven't a hope of reading them all

I assume as part of her appointment she was reassured that she would receive Government support if she took this line.

What it will do is force Stonewall out of the shadows they currently hide in in almost every area of public policy making. If they oppose what she says, they will need to argue against. If they have "dirt" on her expect some misogynistic attempts at character assassination. Otherwise they might even have to rely on logical argument.

Liz Truss is now one of the most popular senior figures in the Tory party. Male commentates express surprise and ponder about what she had done to now be considered as a potential future leader. I think women have a better idea of why she is trusted. The political credit she has gained from standing up to the Stonewall behemoth may not have escaped her bosses.

The first woman, and a woman of colour at that, being appointed as chair of the EHRC, and not a single line about it in the Guardian. Can you imagine this going unmentioned 10 years ago, 5 years ago even? How far that rag has plummeted. Katherine Viner really should be ashamed of herself.

We now need a clear and unequivocal statement from the ECHR that self ID is not the law; and that any company, school, public body, university etc making rules stating or implying that self ID is law, and more importantly, discriminating against women and girls in the creation and implementation of those rules, is acting in breach of the EQA, and must desist immediately or risk prosecution.

Further, that all training material and policies must be urgently reviewed, and any reference to self ID being law and any policies formulated on self ID being lawful be withdrawn immediately and reviewed/scrapped/amended as appropriate.

And further, that any disciplinary action that has been taken against anyone challenging self ID be immediately rectified, positions reinstated, compensation paid and public statements issued confirming the innocence of the party that was disciplined.

Finally, an urgent enquiry into institutional capture by entitles such as Stonewall, Mermaids etc. And an urgent enquiry as to the conduct of those within the institutions who went along with such capture, when the law on GRC (and the non existence of a law of self ID) are as plain as bloody day.

Wow.

Such a good article and wow - the comments! 1200 so far with over 1,000 recommends for the top rated and so many men with intelligent supportive comments.

Slowly slowly this tanker will be turned around.

And the massive majority of them absolutely on point.

I see several repeated attempts at the same statement and phrasing from several commenters: it's settled law (implication: it's over, too late to talk about), one of these involving a straight out claim that whatever Truss says, Self ID is in the EQuA.

That's not what the EHRC are now saying. And badly made, badly thought out, very badly phrased law that has caused this absolute mess where not even a judge can easily work out how its supposed to work really needs undoing and re thinking from scratch.

This is brilliant news. Looking forward to the Observer covering it tomorrow (she says hopefully).

Wow, over 1000 comments on the article already.

It's brilliant to have gone from not being worthy of respect in a democratic society to being entirely reasonable

Bloody hell!
I hope the Scottish Greens head scrote is reading

Came onto mumsnet this morning specifically to check whether a thread had already been started on this, really heartening to read that article this morning

I'm actually gobsmacked reading this! And it's another non-white, experienced woman standing up. (Lib dem nominated too!)

I hope she won’t be hounded out of the Lib Dem party for her beliefs...