...to be baffled, sad and angry that Paris Lees is speaking at the Women's March tomorrow?

[ArcheryAnnie]

So, Paris Lees has been invited to address the "Time's Up" rally opposite Downing Street tomorrow, organised by the Women's March London. The "Time's Up" initiative "provides advice and support to women across all industries who have experienced sexual harassment or abuse at work."

But wait! Paris Lees is in favour of street harrassment of women, and writes articles in places like Vice, making sure lots of men know that catcalls are cool and sexy, and making sure lots of women know they have been "infantilised", and aren't nearly as brave as cool, sexy Paris, if they don't like it.

www.vice.com/sv/article/zn7b79/enjoying-catcalls-paris-lees-column

AIBU to be absolutely baffled, as well as sad and angry, that Paris Lees has been asked to speak for women at an event opposing sexual harrassment?

FFS you could not make this shit up.

When is it going to stop? It isn’t is it?

Trans is not the issue for me here, that article is

I agree with this.

I can't go anyway, but if I was free, I don't know whether the right thing to do would be to turn up and heckle (possibly with choice quotes from Paris' article) or just write the whole thing off and stay away.

What were they thinking?

* "This is kind of my problem with the debate around street attention. It’s part of a culture that infantilises women and teaches them to be constantly afraid. I wasn’t brought up that way and I don’t feel frightened when some spunky dude comes and talks to me."*

Well hardly a ducking surprise when according to the BBC "Paris, now 25, grew up as a boy in the former mining town of Hucknall, in Nottinghamshire."* and transitioned at university.

(www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-24538594)

Forgot an * there!

I hoe they boo her. She’s a hypocrite- writing about how it’s affirming of femininity to be sexually harassed in the street.

And then addressing a “Times Up” rally.

Fucking hypocrite. Who asked her? We should deluge them with complaints.

Not in my fucking name! Where can I complain?

Trans people like Paris Lees just live for attention so of course they love the attention of catcalls, they lap it up as it affirms them as "real women". But real women who have grown up with this shit would much rather walk around without catcalls, leering and intimidating behaviour. Another failed attempt at impersonating an actual female Paris.

Fucking ridiculous.

Invited by who?

Ffs

I could cry women are silenced while males talk for us and decide how we do and should feel

Paris will attend any platform where Paris can discuss women’s rights regardless of what Paris has said or believes becuase Paris knows best

Paris Lees is a nasty misogynist.

I was going to go to this march when I thought it was about women but it's clearly not, is it?

FFS

Well I have never been catcalled therefore I can only presume I am not actually a real women.

The 3 children I birthed have no bearing on if I am a woman or not.

What I don't get,and feel free to shoot me down...what I don't get is how it's all in your face..surely they want to be seen as a real 100% woman..so why not keep the fact they are transisoning to themselves.how can it be a good thing for everyone to know you were born a male ,dosnt it distract from the aim of trying to be female..what do I know thou..when I was at college,women's studies meant women with a uterus,now they have balls,..I just don't understand why it isn't treated as a mental illness..

Dear God. This is the same Paris Lees who thinks it's hot to fuck someone while they are crying.

www.vice.com/en_uk/article/vdqm89/everything-ive-learned-about-sex-paris-lees

Plus sex tips.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.vice.com/amp/en_uk/article/nnq44q/paris-lees-the-21-sexiest-things-about-sex-696

It's absolutely laughable that they are talking about sexual harassment.

Not only does this damaged person court sexual harrassment, they shame women who don't.

Their 'sex pozzie' attitude is a mindfuck of mammoth proportions.

Urgh. That article is depressing as hell.

Paris being transgender isn't my issue at all on this but how can someone with this opinion be invited to talk on sexual harassment?

Although, I did read the article and cringe when saying I wasn't brought up like that blah blah blah - no Paris, you have had male privilege in your upbringing and so don't know how a 13 year old girl feels being catcalled by men old enough to be her grandfather, how 10 year old girls got mocked for having big breasts/too small breasts by men old enough to be her dad...

I used to be cat-called quite often when I was younger and thinner and had volumes of long blonde hair. Funny thing is that since birthing two children and flipping the other side of 40 the street harassment seems to have completely stopped, so perhaps I should also conclude that I'm no longer a woman.

I agree it's inappropriate that she appears at this event as a speaker, but only because of the articles extolling the virtues of catcalling etc, not because she's trans. Unpopular opinion on here but anyone who has transitioned I do recognise by their chosen gender rather than their original gender.

Well I am no longer a women as no longer get catcalled

But I can walk past a group of men or a building site without feeling anxious and wishing they don’t see me ans hoping my boobs aren’t bouncing too much

Did the organisers not even do a cursory google on Paris's previous writing to see how grossly inappropriate this is?

@AHungryMum totally agree!!!

It's no secret that I disagree profoundly with the ideology.

But specifically in this case it's because Paris will absolutely jump at the chance to say they represent women.

When someone is banging on like a sex crazed man, but determinedly forcing everyone to pretend it's a woman talking, it's incredibly difficult to make them accountable.

Because it's pretty obvious that they are talking from male socialisation and a male attitude to sex, but the answer will always be what, can't women enjoy sex?

It's very effective gobstopper.

And it's only possible because of the transwomen are women rhetoric.

If this was a natal man talking, there is no way in heaven he would've been invited. And there is no way that people would think that is the way women talk, just because he says so.

He would be swiftly removed from the premises as a pervy fucker.

So yes it is about being trans.

@ahungrymum I know, right. It’s just a shame that all of the brave, beautiful women (the ones with two X chromosomes) were too busy when they were asked.

It’s something of an unfortunate coincidence you’ll agree but I’m sure the experience of being a boy for most of their life will make for a truly inspirational address.

A cat call has fuck all to do with appreciation of ones womanly assets. Its humiliation.
An act of terror really.
A trans woman would never, in a million years of hormones or hair removal, ever truly understand what that felt like as their body is an ode to their fetish. Her acceptance of this behaviour just makes it clear she has objectified the female body as a man, it ought to be available to men and to snub male attention is rude. Us uptight bitches should be doing a little dance when some random male pinches off some precious attention...I mean..whats wrong with us.

If anyone boos at Paris, you know other transpeople and their handmaidens will belt them. They’ve shown before how happy they are to be violent towards women. Unfortunately I’m nowhere near it or I would go. No booing or shouting out quotes as you’d be shouted down.

Just stand quietly with placards with a few Paris comments on them and maybe hand out some leaflets with her lovely views on sex. All done with sweet smiles and talking about what a wonderful representative of transwomen Paris is. Just stand back and watch people read the leaflets and their expressions when the penny drops. Absolutely no need to say anything negative. Surely you can’t be accused of being transphobic for showing how ‘enthralled’ you are by Paris’ writing. 😇😬