Conway Hall no-platforms Rad Fem Event

[Nyac]

The group formerly known as women is not allowed to organise politically. The law disallows it.

conwayhall.org.uk/statement-regarding-radfem-2012

"Statement Regarding RadFem 2012
In consultation with the organisers of RadFem 2012 and our legal advisors, Conway Hall has decided not to allow the booking in July 2012 to proceed. This is because it does not conform to our Terms and Conditions for hiring rooms at Conway Hall. In addition, we are not satisfied it conforms with the Equality Act (2010), or reflects our ethos regarding issues of discrimination.

We had sought assurances that the organisers would allow access to all, in order to enable the event to proceed at the venue. We also expressed concern that particular speakers would need to be made aware that whilst welcoming progressive thinking and debate, Conway Hall seeks to uphold inclusivity in respect of both legal obligations and as a principle."

Hehehe, yes to all of those, except the maths bit. Though I might have been had it not been for my teacher at a crucial age listening to Test Match Special throughout our lessons. Irony?

I don't even know what it is he finds problematic. Luckily my boss, though a sexist arsehole when it comes to his personal life, takes me as he finds me and is not threatened if I have better grammar than him or something.

rulers

No it doesn't work like that
You aren't a person to get to know and take as is
You are a woman and therefore behave like this and can't do that and any deviation from this stereotype will be met with slack-jawed incomprehension

I look feminine not because I do "beauty" but because I'm small and short. I have been told though that I have a male brain (what ever that is) and I am assertive. Why should appearance match with personality and why shouldn't men wear skirts and carry poodles in handbags if it floats their boat, without someone saying "hey you are a women" or anyone questioning their sex or gender. If only we could get past the gender stereotyping it might be possible for some men to just accept they are feminine men rather than be riven with angst. It seems to me that the transgender community face a lot of violence and discrimination which won't be made better just by stamping passports or changing birth certificates.

For what it's worth, some radical feminists completely condemn the whole idea of feminists having a "trans debate."

For example, Twisty Faster at "I Blame the Patriarchy." here and here.

At least one or two radical feminist contributors on MN have cited her views in support of their arguments on other issues but have made no mention of their diametric opposition to her views on trans men and women.

She gives an excellent explanation of the reasons why such a "debate" is all wrong in the first link.

Agree with all of that.

I also have the "male brain" and the "feminine" looks, even apparently when wearing a massive army coat and huge boots

This isn't about a "trans debate" it's about whether FAAB women should be allowed to gather by themselves to talk about things that affect FAAB women around the world.

I haven't read your links, too close to bedtime.

'And this whole transpeople debate is just another stick with which to beat radical feminists?

Genuine question. Think. Dig deep.

I suspect that latter.'

I agree Beachcomber. This situation is a way to attack organised radical feminists and it's worked hasn't it? All my life I've heard people attack feminism because 'it's not fair' on men. Every issue that women seek to organise on is faced with the same whine of what about the men. Sexual violence - men suffer that too so you may not speak about violence against women alone. Domestic violence - men suffer that too so you may not speak about violence against women alone. Health inequalities - what about cancers that men suffer from? Abortion - what about the man's rights? Parenting - what about a man's right to be a father. Women only space is hard fought for in every arena and bitterly contested.

I like a lot of Twisty's writings. I don't get her political trans-stance, not yours. But then I don't think you get mine, so it's a bit all round, isn't it?

Incidentally the coat and boots and assumptions are talking about when I was 15-25ish.

These days I wear bog standard clothes and don't get out much!

This is my favourite Tweet about it:

"Ya wanna know what "feeling like a woman" is like? It's like when a bunch of people tell you you're not allowed to do that"

Right on.

Twisty isn't a radical feminist. Most rad fems either boycott her or are banned from there.

But the huge issue with the argument twisty puts forward there is right at the start.

'Is there anything more demeaning than a bunch of people with higher status than you sitting around debating the degree to which they find you human?'

That is exactly what both sides of this debate are saying, no? Both sides will bridle at the idea that they might have 'higher status', both say this is about identity and other people's rights to define it.

So it is pointless to start the argument by effectively saying 'well, I won this argument already, here is the winning premise'.

The issue here is about whether a seld identified group of people can meet together to discuss their issues. I have no problem with Trans people meeting together to discuss issues of concern to them. Radical feminists just want to do the same.

You know from the reaction to this conference you would think radical feminists have a lot of power. I wish!

This is what was going to be discussed:

What is radical feminism?

o ?Women together for liberation?: building an anti-racist, anti-capitalist movement for all women

o Prostitution: hearing the voices of exited women

o Lesbian feminism

o ?Memory-bearing women?: sharing knowledge across feminist generations

o Ending male violence against women

o Radical feminist critiques of gender and queer theory

o Workshops for girls (early-mid teens)

o Feminism and anti-militarism

o Single mothers challenging patriarchy

o Mobilising our rage: strategies and organising

Do you think another venue will be found?

I think it's all entirely wrong. Other groups, political parties and special interest groups are permitted to hold meetings without the threat of others antagonising them.

If I went to a labour party conference (which i wouldn't) I wouldn't expect to find a Tory toff on the stage lecturing about grammar schools.

Those topics all sound fantastic, don't they?

Women don't have the right to freedom of association it seems.

I think it will be hard to find another venue.

I think it will be very hard to find a large enough venue for 300 woman, a creche, a history of the venue owners being harassed for taking the booking, in central London and 6 weeks to go till the conference.

Can it be held in an open space somewhere? I don't know London, but is there some common land where it could be held, or some sympathetic community owned land?

Chockfullatransstuff

Delighted they are so outraged at not being allowed to listen to this stuff. Looking forward to reading the transcripts (wouldn't dream of expecting to attend given my cis-privilege status) the trans-organised feminist conferences on similar themes, given their insistence on attending. Assuming the content was the draw).

Yes, I reckon this whole debacle will put other venues off hosting the event. Conway Hall's statement is all a bit ambiguous on the legal situation. They imply the event would contravene the Equalities Act, but don't say how it would. AFAIK the EA is mainly concerned with discrimination in provision of public services, employment and housing, not private events like this.

As beachcomber said earlier, this should really worry anyone who cares about freedom of speech and freedom of association even if they don't give a shit about radical feminism.

I don't think it will bother people because it's women that it's happening to, and women aren't human and therefore don't need the same rights as men. Injustices that happen to us aren't injustices. You just look at the masculinist programme the Conway Hall has on for the summer and it's head in the hands time. Women aren't allowed even the smallest corner.

There are so many people crowing about it on Twitter too, it's depressing.