Helen Joyce and Julie Bindel at Oxford Lit Festival 2025

"Litteracy festival" is outrageous comedy. These people are truly amazing.

But call it what you like, the event is going to be a throwing-down of the gauntlet, in the eyes of certain individuals and groups. They can be quite imaginative in their disruptive efforts (remember the insect release) so I'd expect them to be hatching some nasty plans.

I read this from Smolly's article linked by Helen Joyce

Making out that trans and gay people’s movements are being infiltrated by child abusers is deeply disparaging. Yes, the Pedophile Information Exchange (PIE) wanted to tag itself onto the LGBTQIA+ community. They were however never accepted and actively opposed.

If you haven't already, please bear this comment in mind and go and read the current active thread on PIE.

I like the last paragraph:

More than one person, including a journalist, got in touch with me to ask whether Sophie Molly was a parody account – I can assure you it’s not; some of my friends in Scotland have interacted with him far more than they would like, including in person. One friend even asked after the “litteracy festival” post if Sophie Molly was my alt. I wish I was that funny.

I missed out on booking this but would love to meet at a pub afterwards so if anyone else wants to, let me know. I've been to the TT and it's a lovely pub but anywhere will be good.

Just to add, I really wanted to go to this, but I am propping up the patriarchy that week and buggering off to Paris on my honeymoon....but enjoy, all of you who are going, and be safe.

Hang on, I thought WE were the far-right agitators? Do I need to take down my Mussolini poster again?

Looks like the Sheldonian Theatre- where the talk is- seats between 800 and 1000.
That's alot of tickets to sell that quickly!

I really hope so too. As far as a quick scan goes, it's the only one sold out so far. Might take DS to the Michelle Paver one, having had a gander at the other things on offer! 😊

Gah, I've missed my chance. It's the only sold-out event which I hope means that there's lots of support for Helen Joyce's views, not that it's been block-booked by TRAs.

That would be a pain in the neck. Who are the ‘far-right agitators’ these days, anyway?

I am travelling from Bristol but no idea how to send a DM on the Mumsnet App!

Oh shit, sold out already?? I'm down the road and thought I'd go. It's not the sort of talk that would usually get sold out so far in advance, so I hope it's not going to be hijacked by far-right agitators.

I went to Sharron Davis last year. There weren’t any protestors then, there was one person with a DSD asking questions and relatively mildly objecting.

It may well be different with it being Helen Joyce.

Male-pattern violence always is. Bastards

Yes! Although is no-one also concerned about the abuse of the poor innocent reflexive pronoun?

I know. I am genuinely thinking about mitigating self protective measures (simply making sure I get to the venue 2 hours before etc). I'm a 51 year old woman with back problems and arthritis. I cannot afford to be beaten to the ground and kicked as happened to the brave woman at Hyde park speakers corner.

Yeah, it is, @MyCatIsTheHeadChef , but I feel it nonetheless. My teenage dd told me to be careful going! There is so much hate on Bluesky.

yes me too, but isn't it a shocking indictment that we are worried about being physically harmed while perfectly legally attending a talk that recognises actual reality - not reality as the nutters wish it to be. And of course the violence has always been one-sided.

Anyone who missed out on a ticket there is another event with just JB on the Wednesday.

There's also two "queering" events so will be interesting to see if those authors pull out - their "priniciples" will have to fight with their desire to promote their books!.

There are one or two people appearing that I wouldn't go and see because I disapprove of their politics but I wouldn't try and get them banned!!

The festival had Sharron Davies last year so they have some experience of dealing with the usual suspects.

There is a Catholic Church in Oxford that was rumoured to be in the hands of Opus Dei so maybe someone will spot HJ sneaking in through the back door!!!

I'm going too. I'm slightly concerned about TRAs at the event - anyone else?

I really can’t wait to go to this. Need to book a place nearby. We moved away from London. I often wonder if it was a good idea!!!!

😭