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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Mermaids vs LGB Alliance and Charity Commissioner - First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) Thread 4

615 replies

nauticant · 07/11/2022 12:40

UPDATE: a transcript of the proceedings has been published and can be found here: lgballiance.org.uk/tribunal-transcript/

The Tribunal started on 9 September, witness testimony was heard from 12 to 15 September, and then, following a break, closing submissions are taking place on 7 and 8 November.

[This paragraph is probaby now redundant] To obtain access to view the proceedings, send a request email to [email protected] about case CA/2021/0013 - Mermaids vs Charity Commissioner and LGB Alliance and ask for permission to join. You then have to provide certain information and agree to a judge's direction in order to be able to join.

There is also live tweeting from www.twitter.com/tribunaltweets

Abbreviations:

J or judge: Presiding Judge, Judge Lynn Griffin
AJ or Judge: Assisted by Judge Joe Neville
MG: Mermaids counsel is Michael Gibbon KC
KM: LGB Alliance counsel is Karon Monaghan KC
AR: Karon is assisted by Akua Reindorf
IS: Charity Commission counsel is Iain Steele

(Also the witnesses, PR: Paul Roberts, JN: John Nicolson. BB: Belinda Bell, BJ: Beverley Jackson, KH: Kate Harris, and EG: Eileen Gallagher.)

Thread 1: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4629679-mermaids-versus-lgb-alliance-in-court-today
Thread 2: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4632780-mermaids-vs-lgb-alliance-and-charity-commissioner-first-tier-tribunal-general-regulatory-chameber-thread-2
Thread 3: www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4633653-mermaids-vs-lgb-alliance-and-charity-commissioner-first-tier-tribunal-general-regulatory-chamber-thread-3?page=31&reply=121335177
Thread 4: ongoing

Witnesses for the applicant (Mermaids):

Paul Roberts - CEO of LGBT Consortium (12 September)
John Nicolson MP - Deputy Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LGBT+ Rights (13 September)
Dr Belinda Bell - Chair of trustees of Mermaids (13 September)

Witnesses for the respondent (LGB Alliance):

Beverley Jackson - Co-founder and trustee of LGB Alliance (13-14 September)
Kate Harris - Co-founder and trustee of LGB Alliance (14-15 September)
Eileen Gallagher OBE - Chair of trustees of LGB Alliance (15 September)

Witness Statements:

Paul Roberts: www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Paul-Roberts-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf
John Nicolson MP - www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/John-Nicolson-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf
Dr Belinda Bell: www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Belinda-Bell-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf
Beverley Jackson: www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bev-Jackson-Witness-Statement-Exhibits-1.pdf
Kate Harris: www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Kate-Harris-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf
Eileen Gallagher (two statements): www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Eileen-Gallagher-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Eileen-Gallagher-Second-Witness-Statement-Exhibits.pdf

Submissions:

www.lgballiance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Volume-4-Submissions-CA.2021.0013.pdf

(Header format follows the gold standard established by @ickky)

post updated by MNHQ at OP's request in order to include the most up to date information.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
FusilliFettler · 08/11/2022 10:18

I had to come out and go in on another browser before I got in

WallaceinAnderland · 08/11/2022 10:17

Can't have it both ways, either they are a sham or they aren't. Basically, you can't be a little bit deceptive. Good point I thought.

Chrysanthemum5 · 08/11/2022 10:17

I'm still waiting

nauticant · 08/11/2022 10:15

If Mermaids say there's no "sham" then it's not open to them to argue that the Articles do not declare honestly the real stated objects of LGBA.

OP posts:
LipbalmOrKnickers · 08/11/2022 10:15

Having missed the set-up, I thought for some reason KM had a dollhouse on her desk.

nauticant · 08/11/2022 10:14

KM: Mermaids are not saying that there is a "sham" in LGBA having sought to be registered.

OP posts:
LipbalmOrKnickers · 08/11/2022 10:13

Finally in.

nauticant · 08/11/2022 10:11

KM starts her submissions.

The most important issue: what is the purpose of LGBA as established, then, is there public benefit, then are there detriments?

OP posts:
ickky · 08/11/2022 10:11

Clerk letting more in now.

LipbalmOrKnickers · 08/11/2022 10:10

This is really frustrating. I waited an hour yesterday and was then timed out, then got in - today I logged in at 9.37 and am still waiting in the lobby. 😕

Birdsweepsin · 08/11/2022 10:10

ickky · 08/11/2022 10:05

No Akua Reindorf today?

She has just arrived, embarrassingly there wasn't a chair for her....

IdisagreeMrHochhauser · 08/11/2022 10:09

27 still in lobby

WallaceinAnderland · 08/11/2022 10:08

AR has gone to upload electronic version of something.

ickky · 08/11/2022 10:06

Must say, these proceedings are very tardy, had none of that with Judge Goodman!

chilling19 · 08/11/2022 10:06

Still in lobby

LipbalmOrKnickers · 08/11/2022 10:05

I've been waiting for the conference host to join since 9.37am. Still waiting.

AutumnCrow · 08/11/2022 10:05

Thanks btw to everyone who is able to provide the running commentary for those who for one reason or another aren't watching live - it's very useful and entertaining!

I'm hoping that KM is fully able to spell out the MM madness today while making LGBA's case.

And yes - bundlejuice. Inspired.

ickky · 08/11/2022 10:05

No Akua Reindorf today?

FusilliFettler · 08/11/2022 10:04

Just been chucked out! Sigh

Ameanstreakamilewide · 08/11/2022 10:04

I was probably the little mug who was still in the lobby at 16:00 yesterday...

ickky · 08/11/2022 10:03

Woohoo I'm in, I waited about an hour yesterday.

WallaceinAnderland · 08/11/2022 10:02

Looks like it's going to be busier today. Lots more arriving online.

AutumnCrow · 08/11/2022 10:02

Morning all

IdisagreeMrHochhauser · 08/11/2022 10:02

I'm in!

IdisagreeMrHochhauser · 08/11/2022 10:01

I'm in the lobby. Glad it hasn't started yet.