Féile an Phobail cancels Women’s Rights Network event over anti-trans concerns

JK Rowling offers support to Women’s Rights Network after Féile cancellation

https://www.thenational.scot/news/national/26400329.jk-rowling-offers-support-womens-rights-network-feile-cancellation/

Women’s Rights Network to take legal action against Féile an Phobail after cancellation of event

DUP communities minister Gordon Lyons said earlier on Friday that he was considering pulling Arts Council funding from the festival over the issue

Article at https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/feile-organisers-offer-meeting-with-womens-rights-network-after-cancellation-of-event-ZRCTNKP3ZJFUDG465JIY4CLKIQ/

Well this is as clear as mud:

Féile an Phobail claim 'vindication' as Women's Rights Network say cancelled event to go ahead 'at alternative venue'
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/feile-an-phobail-claim-vindication-as-womens-rights-network-say-cancelled-event-to-go-ahead-at-alternative-venue-8827825

and

Féile: Women’s rights event to be held at alternative venue after parties reach agreement
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/feile-womens-rights-event-to-be-held-at-alternative-venue-after-parties-reach-agreement/a/159342405.html

Its okay. MNHQ has approved!

Statement from Women’s Rights Network Northern Ireland

Following the conclusion of legal proceedings with Féile an Phobail, here is a clarification of our position.

When Féile cancelled Respect, Rights & Reality, WRN NI sought an immediate legal remedy on the basis of contract law, with the aim of securing reinstatement in time for the event to proceed on 4 August.

As proceedings developed, further issues of law and associated risks became clear. Having considered the legal advice, we concluded that reaching a negotiated agreement was the appropriate course of action in the circumstances.

We said we were delighted the proceedings had ended. That reflected relief at resolving a challenging legal situation, not satisfaction with the outcome. We remain deeply disappointed that Féile cancelled our event and excluded a lawful discussion about women’s sex-based rights from its programme.

The agreement was not a vindication of Féile’s decision. The proceedings concluded by agreement before the High Court heard the case or made any determination on the merits. There was no judgment that Féile’s cancellation was lawful, justified or correct, and there was no judgment in favour of WRN NI. Neither side won or lost in court because the case was not determined.

Under the agreement, neither party will pursue the other for legal costs, and Féile has agreed to meet with WRN NI regarding potential participation in future events.

We applied to Féile in good faith because we believe women’s voices and discussions about women’s sex-based rights belong in our community festivals. We continue to believe that. Any future engagement with Féile will be approached constructively, respectfully and in the same good faith.

Respect, Rights & Reality will go ahead on 4 August at an alternative venue, where women will come together as planned to discuss their sex-based rights, safety, privacy and dignity.

When women are silenced, nobody wins.

Our focus is now firmly on 4 August, the work ahead and continuing to advocate for women’s sex-based rights across Northern Ireland.

The legal proceedings have ended. The conversation continues.

https://www.facebook.com/WRNNorthernIreland/posts/pfbid029iMuMPMzEWewCCFTBh86uaVHpLCUCHDKtjRoai9TQoLRtGfTjGGodBR6Jjkini26l

“Employment tribunals and courts in Great Britain have accepted that people who hold, or do not hold, particular beliefs about gender identity may be protected against unlawful discrimination. That protection may apply both to so-called ‘gender critical beliefs’, such as a belief that sex correlates with biology rather than identity, and to so-called ‘gender identity beliefs’, such as a belief that everyone has a gender identity which may differ from their biological sex.

“In the Equality Commission’s view, industrial tribunals and courts in Northern Ireland are likely to adopt similar reasoning and conclusions when applying equality law here”. she said.

Ms McGahey said it was “misleading and wrong” to suggests that “people who hold protected ‘gender critical beliefs’ or ‘gender identity beliefs’ are not entitled to hold those beliefs or should not be able to express them respectfully”.

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/politics/equality-commission-chief-praised-for-common-sense-statement-in-wake-of-feile-an-phobail-ban-on-womens-group-8834957