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Original poster

Lord Paddick resigns the LGBT LD executive

212 replies

RedToothBrush · 20/04/2018 00:42

LGBT+LD @ lgbtlb
Public statement by the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats executive regarding the resignation of our honorary president, Lord Paddick:
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The LGBT+ Liberal Democrats executive has reluctantly accepted the resignation of Lord Paddick as our honorary president.
2/4
Lord Paddick previously tended his resignation, which we declined when he made certain undertakings about his meeting with a group set up to oppose transgender equality legislation.
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We regret that those undertakings have not been honoured. Subsequently Lord Paddick tended his resignation again, which has been accepted.
4/4

Lord Paddick has form for resigning

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brian-lord-paddick-quits-over-tim-farron-gay-sex-comments-lib-dem-liberal-democrat-general-election-a7789816.html%3famp
Lord Paddick quits as Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokespeson following furore over leader Tim Farron's views on gay sex
The former Lib Dem London Mayoral candidate said the decision had been made 'weeks ago.'

He quit as LD home affairs spokesperson as he was uncomfortable with Tim Farron's views on gay marriage. The resignation prompted Farron's ultimately. He is an important and influential figure in the party.

I'm not quite sure what's going on here or why. It sounds like the LGBT LD didn't want him to resign. It sounds like its connected to trans issues and Paddick's position. The timing is interesting.

I don't want to read too much into this. But its suggesting a split in opinion and approach. (I don't believe this shows that Paddick is pro-women's rights. I suspect he is more pro-due process, at least at this stage). And that its damaging to the executive as a whole.

When is the meeting with Paddick scheduled for? It could be very interesting now. Looks like Paddick really is sticking his neck out.

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Melamin · 20/04/2018 12:43

Really hoping the WPUK/Mumsnet et al antidote is working

WPUK have stood firmly and resolutely civilised and stuck to their message, despite being tarred as 'transphobes' over the last few weeks on all over twitter, culminating with the cancelling of their meeting venue due to harassment of the hotel chain with more unfounded allegations. They are very impressive.

ChattyLion · 20/04/2018 17:21

Any update on this- i’m looking out for an interview somewhere where he talks about why he resigned in more detail..

Original poster
RedToothBrush · 20/04/2018 18:04

I've not seen anything. I'm not expecting one from what he's said.

He is saying this:

Brian Paddick @ brianpaddick
I’ve already spoken to people from the trans community (that was my starting point) but now I want to meet with representatives of the trans community that the trans community want me to talk to, not the ones I choose to meet with. I’d be grateful if only trans people respond.

If any one trans here would like to contribute.

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Greymisty · 20/04/2018 18:16

Does this mean that there might be hope that one of the main political parties in Britain is actually willing to listen to women? And in time for the May local elections?

Original poster
RedToothBrush · 20/04/2018 18:22

Its one individual in the party. Jo Swinson happily tweets away that transwomen are women. Paddick seems to be a lone wolf at this stage. And there is not guarantee he will agree that women's concerns are valid at all.

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Greymisty · 20/04/2018 18:41

Dam my optimism....

Original poster
RedToothBrush · 20/04/2018 19:41

Just tweeted.

Brian Paddick @ brianpaddick
RESIGNATION FROM @LGBTLD. In an ill-thought-through response to criticism that politicians were failing to engage, I inadvertently broke a promise I had made to @LGBTLD. This placed them in a difficult position. As a result I decided it was best for me to resign from @LGBTLD.
For clarity, in saying @WomansPlaceUK had "genuinely-held concerns" I did not intend to convey that I agreed with those concerns or that they were justified - I have yet to form an opinion. I was trying to say that @WomansPlaceUK have concerns that they believe to be genuine.
In saying I had talked to @LGBTLD, I did not intend to convey that I was acting with their blessing - on the contrary they had very serious misgivings. It is not true that I have been forced to resign or that I have been fired. It was solely my decision.
.@LGBTLD have been at the forefront of championing transgender rights. I would never do anything deliberately to undermine their work in this important area. I do not intend to make any further comment about my decision to resign.

Pinned this afternoon

Brian Paddick @ brianpaddick
The problem with refusing to listen & understand your opponents’ arguments is not being able to effectively counter them or to explain why there actually isn’t anything for them to worry about. And please don’t label people you’ve never met, and whose views you’ve never heard.

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SwearyGodPervert · 20/04/2018 20:42

Something is going on. The Greens have seemingly stepped away from their LGBT idiot too.

Lord Paddick resigns the LGBT LD executive
Ratherbehome · 20/04/2018 20:50

I think I'm following...

Women's Place tweeted that politicians weren't engaging. He was (rightfully imo) miffed because he had arranged to meet with them so he tweeted about that and in response he got this from the Libdem LGBT twitter:

"You told us there would be no publicity about your meeting with transphobes. This is a bit like publicity, isn’t it?"

Wow. I think that makes the Lib Dems LGBT group come across so badly. That tweet has a really bullying tone about it to me. Plus the idea that he was presumably told to keep his meeting with women's place a secret...wtf.

Ratherbehome · 20/04/2018 20:51

Oh interesting development sweary.

OvaHere · 20/04/2018 21:10

Was the Green party account involved in the letter to Miranda about her position as Labour LGBT officer?

Sounds like the parties are wising up that these unofficial accounts purporting to speak on behalf of the party are not a good idea.

ChattyLion · 20/04/2018 22:48

Oh. I was all set to get excited about Brian Paddick maybe being an ally. Then he writes this kind of mealy mouthed stuff:

For clarity, in saying @WomansPlaceUK had "genuinely-held concerns" I did not intend to convey that I agreed with those concerns or that they were justified - I have yet to form an opinion. I was trying to say that @WomansPlaceUK have concerns that they believe to be genuine.

Ugh. I find it really hard to see how it’s so hard for a professional politician ( or anyone) to ‘form an opinion’ about a political and material reality issue. especially when one side of the debate (gender critical people) are endlessly supplying facts and arguments and seeking out open discussion,
Whereas the other side of the debate (TRAs and handmaidens) seem to prefer trying to ad hominem silence anyone who merely questions the dogma (let alone anyone who openly disagrees with it), and as a movement who seems to tolerate individuals using manipulative or threatening behaviour and data breaches to make their points.

Original poster
RedToothBrush · 21/04/2018 09:50

www.libdemvoice.org/future-women-mps-weekend-deadline-extended-57269.html#utm_source=tweet&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=twitter
Future Women MPs Weekend – DEADLINE EXTENDED

DEADLINE EXTENDED: The location for the Future Women MP’s Weekend has now been confirmed as Milton Keynes. Apologies for the delay! Given this we are extending the deadline by 48 HOURS so applications will now close on Tuesday 24th at 23:59

Hmm...

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Popchyk · 21/04/2018 09:55

Astonishing that he needs permission from LGBT Lib Dems in order to speak to women. And that he had to "promise" them that it would be in secret as a compromise. That speaks absolute volumes about the power in that relationship.

His tweets come across that he meekly accepts that he has behaved unprofessionally in seeking views of women and therefore his bosses (LGBT Lib Dems) are rightfully very upset with him.

So of course he has to apologise to them and grovel.

He's done the right thing by resigning though. He's tried to be very accommodating to the trans cause and they turned on him purely because he wanted different viewpoints. It might give him food for thought.

R0wantrees · 21/04/2018 09:58

there are some people in the LGBT LibDems who are very forceful.

R0wantrees · 21/04/2018 10:05

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3211247-The-Lib-Dem-LGBT-twitter-feed-is-annoyed-at-Mumsnet

I cant find the thread prompted by the 'lib dem woman' who spoke up at WPUK London meeting about feeling bullied and silenced by some LibDem members when trying to speak about concerns for women's rights....

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 21/04/2018 10:05

there are some people in the LGBT LibDems who are very forceful

Yep. That twitter account is embarrassing. Yes it may please all the TRAs in twitter, but I'd bet that most lib Dems and potential lib dem voters are uncomfortable about the things they say. It makes the lib Dems look like a frankly bonkers fringe party.

R0wantrees · 21/04/2018 10:12

Its a bit tangled up as The Liberal Democrat party have said they aren't responsible for the LibDem LGBT+ twitter account although of course LibDem members, some who may have key positions, are tweeting from the account... they've commented a couple of times that there are four of them.
Anyway, I think the issue that 'LibDemWOman' raised was within closed LibDem facebook groups... there of course its much clearer who is saying what.
Hopefully things will come out in the wash soon.... this is a cross party issue!

R0wantrees · 21/04/2018 10:15

sorry.. the issues that LibDemWoman raised at WPUK and here were, I think, about feeling bullied and silenced in discussions within LibDem FB closed groups

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 21/04/2018 10:18

Its a bit tangled up as The Liberal Democrat party have said they aren't responsible for the LibDem LGBT+ twitter account

Huh. I didn't realise that. I think anyone would assume that the LGBT+ Lib Dem account wasn't official, especially as it states in their twitter bio that they are...

Melamin · 21/04/2018 10:26

Frankly, all the faffing about, vacillation and resigning that is going on on his twitter account does not fill me with confidence.

Pratchet · 21/04/2018 10:30

Did you see that Sophie Walker met WPUK

R0wantrees · 21/04/2018 10:35

It is important to be aware of the background to the depth & origins of feelings of discrimination against people who are transgender as outlined by Sarah Brown (libDem LGBT executive) in 2014
www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jan/22/voices-from-trans-community-prejudice
although in light of current concerns about the use of Social media by some TRAs worth considering...

In 25 years, Barrett has seen trans people become "a networked bunch" – more so than other people, he thinks – thanks to the internet. Lees, who also works for Trans Media Action, says social media is the "essential catalyst" for the transformation of trans people in society. "Society is in transition and we've woken up from the operation and there's no going back. We can't pretend that trans people don't exist any more," she says. "People have been taking the piss out of trans people for 60 years. The narrative on trans issues has been controlled by people who have no understanding of them. Social media is about us grabbing the narrative back and telling our own stories – this is our reality, this is what we go through and this is what matters to us. We're here, we're in your face, we definitely exist. That's the most important thing – realising we exist."

Pratchet · 21/04/2018 10:38

No one's brain is 'in the wrong body'. Discrimination against trans people is really discrimination against non-conformists and homosexuals.