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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

We need to talk about the GRA - Glasgow

483 replies

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 11/11/2017 16:12

www.eventbrite.com/e/we-need-to-talk-about-the-gra-glasgow-tickets-39786635899?utm-medium

I may actually try and go to this if I am feeling brave.

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 12/01/2018 14:21

've only just looked at thread since I last posted, just to say no, I wasn't a TRA

Apologies Plectrum that was probably my fault Blush I was just making the point that potentially none of us are to be trusted. For us to organise off the boards there will need to be a leap of faith.

OP posts:
BetsyM00 · 12/01/2018 14:23

So, purple hair protester (not Joanna) was among the last to leave Costa, but got to the Grand Central before Venice. That's reassuring, at least he didn't follow/come with Venice.

terryleather · 12/01/2018 14:30

I'm with Seeing and Lemon (hello both!) and would prefer to use WhatsApp.

I know it seems ridiculous that we have to go all this trouble but for so many folk being doxxed could cost them their job so it's potentially really serious.

It will be good to talk to like minded people irl as I think many of us are not able to do that, but for myself I would hope we can make plans to take specific actions like meeting up with MPs which I very much think will have more effect if done as a group.

53rdWay · 12/01/2018 14:30

We don't even know it was a leak. Maybe the protestors just phoned up all potential venues in central Glasgow and asked them directly, who knows? Also it doesn't have to be that suspicious that activists got inside the venue, they could've just bought tickets like the rest of us and acted quietly enough until the talk began.

It is such a shame that these discussions have to be so secretive in the first place. I do understand it (and this is why I don't want to do stuff via FB) but it does make it harder to talk about any of this to people who aren't already on board. It feels like there's just so little public space where we're allowed to discuss the rights of women and girls - we're shouted at, shouted down, intimidated, have to talk in pseudonyms and meet in secret. I was speaking to someone I actually know there on Wednesday and we each had no idea the other would be going!

I wish we still had an equivalent of the second-wave consciousness-raising groups. It felt a bit like that on Wednesday.

MrsKnightley · 12/01/2018 14:34

I would be keen to be involved online. My remote location makes central belt meet ups an issue. But keen to do what I can. Have been on here under this and 2 other user names for 4-5 years. Was on the Indy ref threads a lot under another username. Am on Facebook and happy to pm.

terryleather · 12/01/2018 14:41

@AgentProvocateur

I was sitting with you to your left and you told me your username cause I asked but I don't think I told you mine!

AgentProvocateur · 12/01/2018 14:47

Hi, terryleather! Grin

Lemonjello · 12/01/2018 14:51

And I was to your right Agent! Smile

terryleather · 12/01/2018 14:51

53rdWay No one checked tickets so once the activists knew the venue there was absolutely nothing to stop them coming into the room.

One of the three who was part of the demo inside was at the toilet at the same time as me with the TIM waiting outside for her but I didn't think they seemed any more nervous than anyone else.

People have the right to protest and it didn't stop the talk from going ahead in the end, but I think after Speaker's Corner there is now the worry of actual violence (and I don't mean misgendering Grin)

terryleather · 12/01/2018 14:54

AgentProvocateur and Lemonjello Are we a trio now...? Grin

Candog · 12/01/2018 14:59

I'm also interested, but wasn't aware of the event.
I'd be surprised if people were dismissed from jobs just for discussing this issue. If women are so scared already, it doesn't bode well for the future.

SonicBoomBoom · 12/01/2018 15:01

Venice definitely didn't come with purple hair TRA. Venice and Joanna (red haired TRA who stayed) arrived together.

Leak might have come from Joanna then.

Redonionricedpotato · 12/01/2018 15:10

Joanna was chatting to Venice at Costa, I heard her saying that she wanted to come along even though they were on different sides.

The TAs knew that it was the Mercure from the day before, and they knew it was the Grand Central from 5.30 - look -

www.facebook.com/ACQueeScotland/

They were encouraging people from 1730 to harass the Grand Central Hotel.

I have no idea how they could have known that it was the Mercure, or found out the new venue, before any of the guests did.

I can't believe it was Venice who leaked it as I think she'd had to pay out of her own pocket for the new venue of the Grand Central.

53rdWay · 12/01/2018 15:19

I have no idea how they could have known that it was the Mercure, or found out the new venue, before any of the guests did.

Phoned up every hotel/conference venue in Glasgow and just asked them directly, I bet. Pretty sure that's what's happened at previous talks.

Redonionricedpotato · 12/01/2018 15:25

They really are obsessed loons, aren't they.

Redonionricedpotato · 12/01/2018 15:26

I'm surprised though that Venice didn't book it in a different name, that can be the only way they would have found out?

ALLIS0N · 12/01/2018 15:32

It’s a good suggestion to phone or email the Central Hotel and thank then .

They neee to know that the people who attended are more likely to spend money there in future than the protestors outside.

53rdWay · 12/01/2018 15:32

I've booked venues for events before and they always wanted to know what the event was as well as what name it was booked in. So I don't think it'd be too hard to find out. I don't know, maybe there was a leak somewhere, but I don't think there's much point spending time speculating on deliberate acts by specific people like Venice or Joanna or the journalists when it could've just as easily been a phone call saying "oh hi, I'm coming to the We Need To Talk About The GRA event tomorrow, can you confirm if it starts at 6 or 7?"

53rdWay · 12/01/2018 15:34

good idea ALLIS0N. They handled it well and didn't cancel even when getting harangued with phone calls telling them to. They're definitely on my list for booking stuff in future (or just getting drinks!).

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 12/01/2018 16:38

I've just made a secret Facebook group. Please PM me or Redonionricedpotato if you would like to be added.

OOAOML · 12/01/2018 16:39

I imagine if you book an event then turn up and run a differently-named event the hotel can refuse you, probably some kind of public liability insurance issue or similar. Especially with an event likely to be protested.

RJnomore1 · 12/01/2018 16:41

Thank you to everyone who went and posted. I need to work again tonight but I'm going through catch up about it over the weekend

PerfectlyDone · 12/01/2018 16:56

I feel ambivalent about all this cloak and dagger stuff re venues etc and wonder whether it may not be more beneficial for our cause to have public meetings, announced in the usual way with tight but 'passive' security and an ironclad rule that nobody gets physically involved with anybody, let security deal with any trouble-makers from any ideological camp.

Shouting and fisticuffs is just embarrassing and juvenile and makes everybody involved look bad.
If there was an event in which TAs went all shouty and disruptive and that was caught on film and broadcast while women stood by and behaved sensibly, it may skew opinion in our direction. I hope.

Although, actually I think the biggest problem is that the vast majority of people, men and women, don't give too much of a shit about all this and are utterly unaware of what's going on.
What transpeople I know in RL are quite horrified by what the more extreme end of TA is up to in their name. They do NOT feel represented by those nutters and really just want to live their lives. Which are difficult enough without being lumped in with extremists.

PerfectlyDone · 12/01/2018 16:57

I don't FB but would welcome a PM re any meet-up v much Thanks

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 12/01/2018 17:57

PerfectlyDone Noted :)

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