...to think that if Comic Relief are going to do a "Woman Wednesday" blog about "inspirational female figures", it should have an inspirational female figure in it?

[ArcheryAnnie]

Comic Relief are doing a new weekly blog, about inspirational women.

"Women Wednesday’s is our new weekly column for Gender Justice month here at Comic Relief, where we will be giving the spotlight to one inspirational female figure per week. We focus on women who have created change and spearheaded movements for other women, and stood up against discrimination against gender and sexuality."

Fantastic, right? They've got links to all kinds of amazing women, working in very challenging conditions across the world, who are helping to create a better world for everyone, not just themselves. What a brilliant blog theme! What brilliant, inspirational woman are we all going to learn about today, I wonder?

Well. Here's who they picked as their "inspirational female figure": www.comicrelief.com/news/women-wednesdays-heres-why-lili-elbe-our-inspirational-figure-week

Women deserve better, Comic Relief. You've really screwed up on this one.

I won't donate to them again. I am not donating or watching CIN tonight either. I've not given them a penny this year. I have picked 2 local charities instead and have already done one of them. I'm still researching the other cause before I donate.

Their complaints department clearly have very little training and has been given a couple of draft emails to send to any kind of complaint. I can just see the 17-year old high school work placement teenager sitting at their desk in a panic after being bombarded with emails from pissed off women.

I had the same response so have emailed them back pointing out that this is supposed to be about women and not men or trans. Wonder how they will or not respond to that.

FekkoThePenguin
aw, good note TheWickedWitchofWestYorkshire, you forgot to ask them what exactly Lili did for humanity to make them suitable to inspire 50+% of the population.
I asked that in my original complaint. Strange that they haven't answered that question

So in fighting gender based violence I assume they mean FGM? - nah that's sex based. So is murdering female fetuses and babies. They doesn't count. Now insult a transvestite by calling them he/she (sex based call rather than gender based call) and now we are talking.

Maybe you need to change your name to Bernard and ask again?

Fekko yes they’re the important suffering ones, silly me!
We need to find the email address of someone higher up (with better apostrophe use).

Same response to my email, I replied:

You seem to have ignored my basic point: a trans woman is a man, and should be applauded for the journey they have made.

When you ignore biology and choose to conflate biological sex with the social construct of gender you render your mission statement useless.

You could make it truthful, you are "tackling gender-based violence and supporting men, women and girl’s empowerment"

Why not do that? Why not simply be factual?

But mostly, if you are going to include biological males in you definition of "women and girls" could you not have waited until week 2 to celebrate a biological man? Why always relegate biological women to secondary status?

Unlike some posters I did used to support comic relief because it used to report on poverty in Africa without making people victims or the poverty porn aspects.
I’m sadly not donating to them unless they change their stance on trans issues being a woman is not about wearing makeup dresses etc (although I do at times) it’s not a choice you just are.
I love and support my DH and my gorgeous son but I also love my DD and will fight to keep her safe from men who want to invade her space to take the first place in women’s sport, to take a job specifically for women ie working with women who have suffered domestic violence and especially from those who want access to female changing rooms and toilets to intimidate or do her harm.
I’ve decided to sponsor a girl via plan or donate to action aid will discuss with my daughter and decide.
I think if all of us who object to trans women’s rights trumping girls and women’s human rights we can make a difference by withdrawing support from charities who support trans agenda.

lighthearted

This made me laugh on Twitter, and yes we won't be donating to CM again

Much better "on message" candidate

I got the same email response to my complaint. I’m responding now.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/09/cosmetic-surgery-british-woman this woman is exactly as inspiring as the person comic relief chose, with the bonus that her tragic story doesn't make a hero out of a nazi who performed forced sterilisations...

I got "Thsnk you for your email. We are a small team and currently managing a high volume of enquiries but will aim to get back to you as soon as possible" in reply to my complaint.

I complained about promoting the tragic story of a victim and a future Nazi doctor responsible for forced sterilisations as a the first inspirational story for Woman Wednesday, instead of highlighting one of the countless strong inspiring women they could have chosen.

It is also our firm belief that every individual has the right to be who they are and to define their identity.

Comic Relief do not believe this at all as this twitter thread shows mobile.twitter.com/comicrelief/status/1062651372829638657
This ^^ thread bothered me. Why would CR have an opinion on a Dutch bloke doing his own mad thing? It has nothing to do with poverty, or fund raising, it has no relevance to CR work at all. Not only that but it seems to make a lie of their statement that they believe everyone has the right to self define.

Ah bless them! A small team. I bet they are quite young too and couldn't have dreamed the would get anything like this response to something they have been told is the right thing to think!

We may just have inundated some pretty young people... which may prompt some more seasoned people to do their jobs properly and retain oversight!

I remember the first ever comic relief, we got very involved at school, led by pupils persuading the staff to let us raise money with fancy dress and skits... It was only about alleviating poverty then, not about belief systems.

they're still getting a roasting on Twitter, they can't silence dissenters so easily over there.

I bet they’re getting a large volume of complaints. Imbeciles.

After the first email about being a small team and dealing with a high volume of enquiries [complaints] I've just received the same mass reply as everyone else.

I've replied asking whether they read my complaint, as their reply has no relevance to my complaint.

I got the standard reply and have just responded thusly

Many thanks for the speedy reply. You say 'It is also our firm belief that every individual has the right to be who they are and to define their identity'. That's certainly not the impression that who ever is running your twitter account gives (see screen shot below). Does this carte blanche to self define one's identity extend to Anthony Lennon and Rachel Dolezal?

Look, I know you've got better things to do than exchange emails with me, and heaven knows your gender justice program does invaluable work for women and girls. But saying that a man is a woman because of the clothes he wears, the way he feels inside, or the cosmetic surgery he has, just reinforces sexist stereotypes. Humans can't change sex. I want my sons to understand that they can be sensitive and caring, wear bright colours, hug their friends and enjoy the company of women without worrying that they were 'born in the wrong body'.

You are a influential organisation. Please don't use that influence to set back equal rights for women and girls.

I don't intend to stop donating to CR. I think the gender justice campaign is great. If they talk nonsense but do good work I can live with that.

Children in Need are seeing none of my hard earned though.

Oh yeah I know, I won't donate. That'll show them. Punish the charities that benefit from comic relief, yeahhhhh!

You're all actually vile. I'm sure all your emails of complaints will be completely ignored as well they should.

Your considered and nuanced response is much appreciated honkersbonkers

For a start, we shouldn't be in a situation where we're having to preface "women and girls" with the word "actual"! Or "real" or "natal" or "biological" or the fucking horrible "cis"!

We certainly shouldn't. It's vile having to do that because of male bullies.

I'm a bit at the bit in the reply where they say every individual has the right to be who they are - how can anybody be who they're not? Everyone is 'who' they are, whatever name or identity they choose.

Just re-read my post and must apologise for the garbled language - difficult to use words in a coherent manner!