Women's Place meeting, Oxford - 25th April

[TerfyMcTerface]

Just spotted on Twitter that Women's Place are holding a meeting in Oxford next month. I don't think the tickets are on sale yet.

Is anyone on here going to go?

I have a ticket and was hoping to come but commitments at home mean this sadly isn't possible.
I will follow the meeting on Twitter #WPUK & hope all goes well.

If you have a ticket but can't come, it would be worth contacting the organisers in case they can give the space to someone on the waiting list

I also dithered too long and am on the waitlist for a ticket.

Stay calm and enjoy the event everyone

I'm coming, with my teenage daughter. Bit worried about protestors, but won't get there in time to meet up beforehand.

Very much looking forward to meeting some of you!

In response to the Oxford University statement on their meeting today womans place have tweeted this:

WomansPlaceUk @ womansplaceuk
You will hear a lot of things about us. Some of them are truly terrible. The good news they are simply not true. We are a campaign dedicated to ensuring women's voices are heard and their rights are upheld in any changes to the law.

Its just had a response from Brian Paddick:

Brian Paddick @ brianpaddick
'I’ve only met two representatives from @WomansPlaceUK in a meeting that included 3 trans women & an academic. Nothing said in that meeting made me think they were anti trans rights. Participants didn’t agree on everything but it was cordial. Listening doesn’t hurt or corrupt.'

changey sorry to hear you're in the same situation but the baby's safety has to come first......and they know we feel that way and that is one of the ways they silence us - the Bristol tactics are of course going to mean women are too scared to bring babies.

Having said that, one of the things I find frustrating is how women who are asking "What about the protections for women and girls?" are painted as a small fringe group. For every one woman attending a meeting there are probably lots who dont even apply for tickets because of fears over safety, caring responsibilities etc. I'm happy to pm my details to a regular attending the meeting if they want to bring some small evidence of this to the meeting.....

Lollipops are good at stopping mouths. Get 100s of Chupa Chups, unwrap, and put into any open mouth.
(If wearing a mask, put into a hand. But unwrapped so they have to eat or it will stick to them. Maybe get your toddler to pre-suck?)

Lollipops are good at stopping mouths.

Good for toddlers, but not so much for encouraging respectful debate.

You can have a good natter over a shared packet of biscuits though.

We have supplies

Statement from WPUK on attempts to shut down meeting:
womansplaceuk.org/womans-place-uk-oxford-meeting/

"Woman’s Place UK is facing an orchestrated attempt by Oxford University student activists to shut down one of their public meetings in Oxford tonight about changes to transgender laws [1].
WPUK challenge politicians to defend free speech.
Previous meetings, attended by ordinary women, have been targeted with masked activists, harassment, violence and abuse. The women want to meet to discuss questions about proposed changes to transgender laws which they worry could erode legal protections for women and girls. Trans people are welcome at all the meetings, and WPUK have already had two trans speakers on the platform [2] who share the concerns.
The Oxford meeting is now facing a campaign by Oxford University Student Union societies and officers, who have issued a statement [3] containing many inaccuracies and calling on the University to condemn the meeting, and urges students not to attend. We believe this statement defames Woman’s Place UK and our speakers, and we are seeking legal advice.
The students’ call to shut down the WPUK meeting comes days after a 26-year-old “trans activist” was convicted of assault by beating a 60-year old woman at another meeting to discuss transgender laws [4]. Last week, at another feminist meeting in Bristol, masked protesters physically blocked women from entering the meeting [5]. Every meeting WPUK has organised has faced a campaign of harassment [6].... " continues

"inaccuracies" = lies in my book but I get they're trying not to inflame the situation more...

I haven't checked this list (from www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/your-local-mp-part-oxbridge-11398080 )

Oxford University
10 MPs graduated from a single college, Balliol in Oxford.
They include Boris Johnson and his younger brother Jo Johnson, the Tory MP for Orpington.
Of the other eight, five are Conservatives - Robin Walker (Worcester), Damian Green (Ashford), Julian Lewis (New Forest East), Charlotte Leslie (Bristol North West) and Rory Stewart (Penrith and the Border).
Three are Labour, including former leadership candidate Yvette Cooper, as well as Stephen Twigg (Liverpool West Derby) and Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood).
All of the MPs known to have graduated from Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford (Philip Hollobone, Dominic Raab, Harriet Baldwin, Michael Gove, Helen Whatley and George Hollingbery) are Conservatives.
So too are those from Magdalen: Nick Boles, John Redwood, Dominic Grieve, Alex Chalk, Jeremy Hunt

Brilliant! I'm definitely going to follow this on Twitter, I want to see a live feed of mumsnetters biscuiting bemused protesters!

Wishing you all a good meeting - will be keeping an eye on #WPUK

It's about time WPUK took a few of these people to court about the outrageous lies they tell. I'd certainly contribute to a crowdfunder.

An acquaintAnne of mine, someone I greatly admire, met an EDF demonstration targeting his mosque with custard creams.
It worked so well that some demonstrators even had a tour of the mosque.
Tea was definitely involved too.
Let me see if I can link...

Here

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/31/edl-english-defence-league-york-mosque

Mohammed does not mention the specific biscuit type but it was custard creams...

It's about time WPUK took a few of these people to court about the outrageous lies they tell. I'd certainly contribute to a crowdfunder

Yes, I would too.

Hi I'm supposed to be going tonight- stuck in awful traffic.

My brother was supposed to go with me but has read the unis LGBT statement and now won't

I'm quite nervous about going at all now to be honest. It sounds so scary to even get in.

I don't know who to believe now. But I know who are scaring me!

I just wanted to listen to what the changes to the law will/do mean in real terms.

I didn't realise people would think I'm a monster just for attending. My brother is quite offended that I'm attending after he shared to unis statement with me. I'm properly scared- is that ridiculous?!?!

You are not a monster and your brother needs to learn to think for himself.
I would love to be there. This is a very important time in women's history. Don't miss it because people are telling lies.

Keep going @Doublemint - I went to the London one, it was fab. There were protesters outside but they didn't get in the way.

If you're worried you will find that everybody is very happy to go in together with you - you will not be alone.

I think MsMcWoodle is right. It is an important time in women's history. Press on - all the WPUK meetings have been good so far

Doublemint there is nothing to be scared of, just some students in hoodies.

The meeting is to discuss women and children's rights. At least one transwoman has said she'll be there.

Sorry your brother isn't coming. It's a shame the letter put him off hearing part of the debate tonight. Did you show him Brian Paddick's tweet.

That uni statement said it was a transphobic outrage to discuss whether women might be discriminated against on the basis of their sex not just their gender identity. It's really not.

Also I've heard rumours there will be biscuits.