Eternal reunion collapses after disagreements over playing Pride.

Sounds like something Dolores Umbridge would say.

Can you explain why you think they are so very rotten?

Personally I would not feel safe performing at Pride if I had previously been outspoken about my views on women's rights. Although it sounds as though their objection is actually that the trans rights movement has piggybacked on the gay rights movement, but that also has the obvious potential to create tension at Pride, even though it is a legitimate point of view.

Why should they perform to what might be a hostile audience?

Performing at Pride isn't compulsory.

Vernie went back to University and qualified as a lawyer, which is not the usual path followed after leaving a girl band.

Not sure if they are doing the right thing and it may be twisted against them. I think it may have been better for them just publicise their views about women's rights and see if Pride had a problem

Actions have consequences and the Bennett sisters are finding this out. If they’re going to hold these views, they can take the consequences without crying “poor me”.

They’ve always had a reputation as a pretty rotten pair and this has solidified it for me.

A lot of Louise's 'work' consists of LGBTQ gigs. I doubt she has any particular convictions and goes with the money.

Do you have any reason to think that they are homophobic, other than them being religious?

I don't think they would be complaining about the gay community being hijacked by the trans community if they had a problem with gay people.

Homophobia is a serious accusation and I don't think it's right to say that without more evidence than someone being religious. The most religious person I know (who is actually a vicar) is extremely pro LGBT rights.

This was covered as part of the showbiz stories on Forth Radio this morning with a clear tone of how awful that Easther and Vernie are anti trans and who cares about Eternal anyway. Disappointing as I had thought perhaps Arlene might have got it.

Yes, the shame is that Louise Redknapp is so quick to ditch her friends and band mates because she has a different take on something. To me that doesn't indicate that she's 'virtuous' and an ally, more that she's disloyal to long time friends to chase $£s. Shame on her.

Well done half of Eternal.

As for coming onto threads and saying "please don't @ me"...give over. You either engage or you don't. I think we are all a bit wise to the "innocent" attempts to police threads or set rules on them. MN set the rules. Don't like it? Find somewhere else. But you'll find all those other places pretty much only allow the TRA perspective, which is food for thought.

I'm a lesbian and wouldn't touch Pride with a barge pole these days.

And when I did attend Pride as a teenager, many years ago, I certainly would not have attended with my Mum. 🤢

I applaud the Bennett sisters.

Yes completely agree with all that.

All of that history for disagreement over an issue that is so very valid for debate.

It's upsetting this is where we're going - severing of ties over points of view, and then public shaming/ virtue signalling.

I know they have had previous friction but without the Bennett's talents, Louise's career wouldn't have unfolded the way it did. And I don't think E and V made public denouncements when Louise left the group all those years ago.

I would be less surprised if they didn’t play Pride at all due to their religious beliefs and believing that homosexuality is a sin. I wonder if this is a story where the narrative has been twisted by the TRAs or media to make it more topical and get headlines.

Well done Easther and Vernie.

But what a shame to see another nice thing we (mainly women) can't have because the toxic trans debate has poisoned it.

And another longstanding female friendship/partnership/earning opportunity ruined because of it.

When I see things like this, and hear women saying they are no longer speaking to their best friend/sister/brother/child because of it, I just think, OK so you care passionately about trans people and believe that women who want single sex spaces are wrong. But why do you care SO MUCH about trans people that you are willing to drive a rift through your own families and end decades long friendships over it? That is not a normal reaction to what is essentially a political disagreement. This is nastier than Brexit.

Wow. I wouldn't actually judge any band/ artist for playing Pride, it is LGB as well as T after all. And it's a big gig for many.

So Easther and Vernie must really feel super strongly about this and good for them.

Oh Louise, but you know what I'm not losing sleep over this one.

If it was because of their religion by the way they wouldn't play Pride for all the other reasons.

And yet I've been to many pride events and never seen those things.

It's almost as though you can't think for yourself and rely on being spoon fed by the media.

I can see this @allaroundthelamplight but I’ve also seen enough photos of kink, nakedness and gimps etc at pride festivals that I would be very cautious taking kids anywhere near.

There are a heck of a lot of gay and lesbian people who have nothing to do with Pride. And anecdotally, the ones I know who fall into that category were never sucked in by gender ideology.

It's to a significant extent an exercise in sexuality as identity.

https://twitter.com/LouiseRedknapp/status/1706010512108986517

Arent they both deeply religious? So I’m not actually surprised by their stance.

I think the Bennett sisters are throwing the baby out with the bath water, here.

Pride is still the biggest collective celebration/movement for LGB people and in refusing to attend they are cutting out all of those people. Not to mention actively refusing to perform for anyone who is trans (surely the definition of being transphobic).

I hate the TRA movement, but I take my teen (lesbian) daughter to Pride because she doesn't have that kind of representation anywhere else.

She lives in a family full of straight people, experiencing homophobic comments at school and at one or two Pride festivals a year she gets to be amongst people like her.

Please don't @ me to explain the problems with transactivism - I understand and share them. But I often wondered if any of the people who post in this section of the site have ever attended a Pride event, there is a lot of good in the movement, it really isn't as polarised as people on here like to make out.

The Daily Mail should report on any TRA attacks on these women, that follows from this - let's have it all out in the open.

When women speak up like this, I am astonished at their courage - and so grateful for it. These women have taken a big risk by voicing their concerns and it’s incredibly impressive.

Massive kudos to them - and thanks 💪🏼💐