AIBU about Hadley Freeman?

[NoSquirrels]

She’s a bit of a crush of mine.

I’ve always loved her writing. But this week she wrote this about 80s movies which is so good.

www.theguardian.com/film/2018/mar/27/1980s-favourite-film-decade-top-gun-stand-by-me-hadley-freeman

She’s been all over the anti-Semitism protests and other issues.
And now she has articulated what I’ve been trying politely to say for ages about the Self ID issue.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/mar/31/man-explains-what-means-be-woman?CMP=ShareiOSAppOther

Please have a read! Then if she’s convinced you sign the petition.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/214118

If she hasn’t feel free just to ignore or talk about 80s movies here, or general women-journalists-who-rock, or your own inappropriate crushes.

"I see the word 'suspect' becasue I have no evidence, except the pattern of behaviour I describe."

Exactly. So why do you then go on to use the word "know"?

@hackmum

Because I'd moved on to talking about anti pornography money and I know where that is given to rad fems by Christian fundamentalists, that wasn't speculation.

So, Transgendertrend, any idea who's funding them?

Why don't you ask Stephanie Davies Arai Stillscreaming? But I expect you wouldn't believe her given the enthusiasm with which you're throwing baseless accusations around.

I'm so grateful to HF for speaking up about this!

It is indeed a baseless accusation. On the FAQs on its site, Transgender Trend says:

"You’re just part of the intolerant religious Right aren’t you?

No again. Within our group we have different or no religious or political affiliations, we are mostly left-leaning and liberal but we don’t see this as a party political issue. We set up this project only to support parents and to challenge what is a completely new diagnosis and treatment of children. We are examining the trans narrative, its claims and how it is being applied to children and young people."

You don't know where the funding comes from. The fact that you don't know doesn't allow you to jump to an entirely baseless conclusion. I don't know how they're funded either, but the fact that I don't know how they're funded doesn't mean that therefore they must be funded by the religious right. You can't assume someone's guilty until proven innocent.

On closer inspection, their site says:

"We are unfunded and we appreciate any donation you are able to make to enable us to continue. Thank you"

So there's your answer.

@CapnHaddock

The rad fems have a history of taking money from Christian fundamentalists, that's not a baseless accusation, it's a provable fact.

Rolling back trans rights are another area in which rad fems and American Christian fundamentalists views match.

Transgendertrend have a very slick website that was obviously very expensive to put together, so I'm wondering if they are following the rad fem habit of taking money from Christain fundamentalists.

This is a question that comes from a suspicion I have, it's not a baseless accusation.

Does anyone know?

I love Hadley too. I have told her so on CiF more times than is probably acceptable.

We are unfunded and we appreciate any donation you are able to make to enable us to continue. Thank you

Not really, I'd appreciate donations but that's not proof that I haven't taken any money from Christain fundamentalists.

However, I'm happy to confirm that I haven't. It's not a big deal to me, I've never had a penny off them. I have absolutely no overlap of ethos with fundamental Christians.

I don't agree with her on everything, but when I do disagree I still find myself admiring the way she builds and makes her points.

'The rad fems'? Who are you talking about? Where are these 'provable facts'?

Why don't you email Transgender Trend and ask, like I suggested?

Brilliant article, nails it.

Bravo Hadley!

If you’re reading this Hadley, you’re a rockstar, thank you.

Whoah, epic attempted slur

she outed herself as aligned to powerful single issue lobbyists

Who?

I read all her articles this week. I think she’s amazing and outspoken and I’m kinda at the idea she’s being paid off by a single-issue lobby. On what basis?

the rad fem habit

What 'rad fem' habit? Who are you referring to, @stillscreaming?

I find it hilarious that women objecting to the infringement of women's rights are considered to be "outing themselves" therefore sinister and clearly up to no good!

I think she might have been 'outing' herself as Jewish.

Ffs

I thought the fact that HF is Jewish was well-known.

"I find it hilarious that women objecting to the infringement of women's rights are considered to be "outing themselves" therefore sinister and clearly up to no good!"

Oh, indeed. Women can't possibly be thinking for themselves, or funding their campaigns out of their own earnings, or from other women who support them. It must be that they're taking money from some sinister right-wing organisation.

I despair sometimes. I really do.

It’s a really well written article. Have signed the petition.

Right-wing organisations are not really known for being fond of women, women's rights, or women's bodies, are they?

So I can't really see them funding women's feminist groups.

On what basis?

No basis at all. In the absence of any facts, just throw mud, slurs and innuendo until some sticks (or drowns out the message).

Anti semitism and flagrant misogyny have been problems with sections of the militant left since at least the early 80s, probably earlier. Tactics are exactly the same now but with added social media.

Nimco Ali had an interesting take on this on Any Questions this week - that the militant left struggles with minorities and oppressed groups who don't fit the victim narrative well. I'm not sure I agree with all her points on this but I definitely recognise that mindset.