Calling all Spartacus! Jenni needs us!

[iloveruby]

Am shamelessly posting in AIBU for traffic.

On Sunday Jenni Murray from woman's hour wrote an article saying that transwomen aren't women.

Full article here: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trans-females-can-never-be-real-women-says-jenni-murray-ht0xhcvrs

In light of the inevitable backlash that Jenni will / is receiving there are a number of efforts to show our support for her.

One of which is co-signing a letter to the BBC. The letter is below and anyone who would like to add their support please message me with your name and you will be added.

"There will undoubtedly be calls for Jenni Murray to leave her position with the BBC following her article of 5th March in the Sunday Times about trans women.
Whether her comments were ‘hurtful’ as Stonewall claim is irrelevant. Murray was bravely sharing her experience as a woman, a feminist and a broadcaster who has navigated a male-dominated society to enjoy a successful career.
Of course trans women have their own hurdles, but those who have spent their formative years as men will not understand the impact of the casual and institutional sexism that women are born into. That some trans women feel justified in wanting to silence Murray speaks volumes about the reality of the different ways men and women are taught and expected to behave.
It is perhaps noteworthy that Murray has made these remarks at the age of 66 with a robust and respected career to bolster her. How many others share her thoughts but are prevented from speaking out for fear of causing offence and sparking a hostile reaction?
To date the BBC has been remiss in its duty to 'educate, inform and entertain’ regarding the ideology behind gender identity. It seems the lobbying activities of groups such as Stonewall and Transmedia Watch have stymied debate, and vilified those who do not share the same viewpoint.
We stand in support of Jenni Murray, and in support of free speech. Please do not cave into the demands to end Murray’s career. The BBC has few older women in positions of seniority, and it would be to the detriment of both audiences and the reputation of the BBC if you were to remove her from post.
Yours"

I am not the author of the letter - that is an amazing women on facebook called Maggie who has organised this.

If anyone would like to add their name directly via facebook let me know and I will send you the link.

I am Spartacus! I am Jenni!

If OJ Simpson decided to come out as trans. His/her crimes would be seen as a woman's crimes.

it is not a case of being XX or XY and that's it.

What is it then?

Could you please enlighten us without bringing intersex into the discussion which has nothing to do with transgender?

Just read that Telegraph piece about Lisa Huxwell. The whole article is about women committing sex crimes. Are they saying that she's a female perpetrator? Somebody please read it for me because I can't quite believe I'm reading that right and they are using her/him as an example of a female sex offender.

Another worrying thing is whether his/her crimes and others like him/her will have their crimes recorded as being committed by a female. If they are this could seriously distort crime stats. Does anybody know the answer to this?

She hasn't been given a warning - DO NOT believe everything you read on the papers!! They've totally spun the official line - she's been reminded that if she's presenting a BBC programme she needs to remain impartial but her article isn't included in that - no official warning, that's nonsense

Fake, that's my understanding yes. And yes the stats will be massively distorted - perhaps useless - as a result (the number of women who assault strangers is tiny).

have also complained to the BBC about her warning

She hasn't been given a warning - the paper has completely misconstrued the line they've been given

I'd say: confusing intersex and trans is pretty bloody ignorant.

Yup.

"Jenni Murray is a freelance journalist and these were her own views, however we have reminded her that presenters should remain impartial on controversial topics covered by their BBC programmes." BBC statement as quoted by major news outlets.

Sounds like a warning to me. And it applies to her work outside the BBC if it includes "controversial" topics covered by her programme, which this clearly is.

It's not, it's saying she should remain impartial if she was taking about a controversial subject on a BBC show as a BBC presenter - but that her comments in this article she was acting as a freelance journalist and they were her own views

She's not been repremanded by the BBC

That's not what the quote says, sooper.

Hi OP. I've PMd you to be added. Thank you for doing this.

So is there only one opinion allowed now. I am Spartacus.

Hi everyone, sorry I've not been back to update sooner - there were lots of messages to get through.
For those who have posted here requesting a link, I will PM you directly either tonight or tomorrow morning.
The letter has now been sent with all the names which were submitted before this afternoon but there is still chance to add yours because I will be sending a mumsnet version (same text as in OP) with all the other names (there are lots!) tomorrow.
I will also be hoping to set up an e-petition - if anyone has any experience of writing one please do contact me.
Thank you everyone for your support - you are all amazing!

Hi op thank you for all you are doing. Could you send me the link?

Have complained.

Good point Bev - I seem to remember one which was challenging the replacement of sex with gender, I'll see if I can find it.

But yes, we could use Jenni as the hook to make a wider point.

Bev, I agree. For me, the major issue is biology.

Yes! We've got to sort out this massive misunderstanding about sex and gender.
I've heard of pregnant women going for a gender scan - how does that work then?

Oooooo that one has been grating on me badly. I'm so many of the Fb comments I've had to correct people on things such as

'Blah blah blah biological gender blah blah..'

'Um sex is biological, gender is a social construct.'

Grrrrr!

in so many

I know, and it means discussions go nowhere.

Can I have the link too please?

I agree Bev, in terms of the people driving this. But I think there is also genuine confusion - I have talked to people who think gender is a polite term for sex.