James Kirkup cheerleading for Justine!

[LapdanceShoeshine]

blogs.spectator.co.uk/2018/04/if-mumsnet-can-stand-up-for-free-speech-why-cant-mps/

‘Long before Mumsnet or the internet even existed, we created a place where people’s views could be heard and discussed, where opinions could be aired and compared. We even employed a group of people to ensure that such opinions would be raised and considered. The place is called Parliament and the people are called MPs. As a result of writing about this issue here over the last few months, I have come to know that quite a few of those MPs, from all parties, think that the sorts of questions the Mumsnetters are asking about gender are quite reasonable and should be answered. But precious few of those MPs will say so in public. They are not willing to do what Justine Roberts has done and say openly that there is nothing transphobic about debating gender and sex, even if some people don’t like some of the things that are said in that debate, because – and this cannot be said enough – there is no right not to be offended.’

Justine Roberts has shown she has the balls to stand up for free speech and sensible political debate. The time is coming for MPs to show some courage and do the same.

👏🏻

Hurrah James Kirkup. And hurrah for Justine (again - it can’t be said enough)

Brilliant!

Thank you James. Again!

Magnificent!!!! Hurrah for both of them - and what would we do without them!

THANK YOU Justine and James

That's a really good piece and worth reading in full. Thanks for the link OP.

Excellent article!

More balls than Millwall!

If anyone can’t read it because they’ve had their free limit, let me know & I’ll post the full text 😊

Fantastic piece - kudos to James.

It's all the more powerful because it's by a man. Sad but true (still).

Great article. I do like a James Kirkup article: lucid and concise

I will be meeting my MP to discuss (some of) the issues and questions. I'm looking forward to the meeting. To have an out loud conversation, even if MP doesn't agree, will feel like progress. Personally I'm finding the silence deafening.

James Kirkup is absolutely right. It is shocking that I have to say he is brave for writing that piece. I went to the Woman’s Place meeting in Cardiff, as as appalled as I am by the prospect of women’s rights being eroded, I am equally stunned by the fact that we , a group of people concerned about legislation in the offing that directly affects women and girls, were called Nazis ..NAZIS ! For wanting to debate the issues . My husband and daughters are part Jewish. Being called a Nazi by people determined to crush my right to debate legislation, legislation made by people I am entitled to vote for, has made me extremely angry, with both the people crushing women’s views, and the people shoring up the activists. I am no longer voting Labour. I don’t know who on earth I will vote for. I find it all really rather sinister and scary .

As a result of writing about this issue here over the last few months, I have come to know that quite a few of those MPs, from all parties, think that the sorts of questions the Mumsnetters are asking about gender are quite reasonable and should be answered. But precious few of those MPs will say so in public

This is key. What is going on that MPs agree that the concerns should be addressed, but aren't saying so?

I suspect it's the conflation by trans-rights activitists of LGB and T issues, which used to seem oh so reasonable, until a whole pile of 'interesting' T issues piled in to the debate, mainly ones that are aggressive and dismissive of other's rights, particularly the 'L'.

When lesbians should accept 'female penis' or be transphobic.

When drag queens are 'parodying trans women' and causing offence.

When children are being 'educated' to place themselves on a gender spectrum between Barbie and GI Joe.

The bullying, ignoring of women's concerns, voice and ability to speak. The appropriation of 'woman' to be anything you want it to be - "BECAUSE I SAID SO". It's shocking.

I'd encourage those MPs to un-paralyise themselves from their fear, and be brave enough to speak out, to address this issue. To discuss.

I think many people will be behind you, will support you during the onslaught of harrassment, abuse, and insults you will endure.

Because many females are experiencing the same right now. Wondering if those with a public voice will support us.

Not for being anti-trans, as the majority of us want respect, human rights, and dignity for all.

The claim of us wanting the 'erasure' of trans people is false, and another gaslighting tactic.

We are simply questioning a new ideology that tramples reality, biology, women's rights, and the ability to question.

I’m sure if James Kirkup was reading this, he’d say thank you for the kind words, about this and other pieces.

I also suspect he’d try, in a very gentle and polite way, to point out that posting the whole text of a piece published behind a paywall can have some downsides. The Spectator and its editor, bless him, are deeply devoted to free speech and debate, but they also have to make money, and they do that by persuading people to subscribe in order to read articles like this one. And one of the reasons a writer such as James Kirkup can get the space and backing to write so much about this is issue is that people are prepared to support that work by subscribing. In other words, pasting up full articles here makes it less likely that more such pieces will be written in future.

Which I think would be a shame. I think James Kirkup would think so too, because I think he’s keen to keep writing about this stuff. But I’m just guessing, of course.

Thank you James and thank you Justine for standing up.

I'm glad the article mentioned the crazy situation where Maria MacLachlan was told by a judge to refer to her male attacker as a female to be considerate to his feelings. I think that will shake a lot of people out of their slumber on this.

This is key. What is going on that MPs agree that the concerns should be addressed, but aren't saying so?

It's absolutely key. PencilsInSpace wrote a wonderful comment about the woeful failure of political leadership on this issue the other day. She and James are right.

Brilliant!! I love it! Thank you James & Justine

Hi TheRoadTo. It doesn't seem to be behind a paywall, but I'll clickety-click on it as much as James needs us to!

Lapdance already provided a clicky link at the top of this thread.

Click away everyone!

Good point Road

I wish all these articles would mention this petition though!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/214118

A valid point Theroadtoterfdom (can't do bold letters on MN), and duly noted. As an aside, I agree that this is a rich seam of material for a journalist.

Absolutely brilliant piece.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/214118

Doh! Thanks RosenbergW.

And to all those who are on main active boards going 'oh ffs, not another 'trans' thread'. "Hide".

It's not.

It's a pro-woman thread. Like most of the threads here.

Think about it: Mumsnet, that's given you "MIL threads", "Brian from Hull" threads, "Zombie threads", "style and beauty", "what colour gray for this room" "how do I leave my abusive partner" threads.

They're under attack from people who want to tell you #nodebate. They don't care about the support this site gives to women. They want to make a point, and aim to torpedo anyone who won't support their point of view.

Even Brexit, Trump, etc, has not targeted Mumsnet. Ask yourself why?

This place is the epitome of, "yep, we're going to talk about this thing". Don't let it be killed by the voices of, mainly, males, who don't like what you say.