The Silencing of the Lesbians

[JoanSummers]

(Apologies if this has already been posted on an existing thread)

blogs.spectator.co.uk/2018/05/the-silencing-of-the-lesbians/

I won't comment on the article now, except to say it made my heart pound to read it in a mainstream political paper.

It's funny to compare his output to that of, say, Little Owen Jones. Regardless of political slant it's pretty clear which one is the actual journalist.

What a well-written, thoughtful article.

James, if you are reading, I’d buy you a pint. 🍺

Kirkup is doing consistently solid work on this issue and has been for a while. I wonder if he's getting any pressure about it? If not that doesn't reflect well on similarly placed journalists who aren't as willing as he is to cover this. Why is it just him and Janice Turner (who as a woman will no doubt be getting nastier feedback than he is)?

What I particularly like about Kirkup's pieces is the pressure he is putting on politicians. Here again, he's nudging the MPs he's spoken to who are pro-women and are failing to speak out.

I am so, so, so glad someone with a mainstream platform is finally speaking for the lesbians, the coercive climate they've been forced into and the erosion of their spaces and community. And how shameful for the left-leaning outlets that it's been left to a) a man and b) a centre right publication to do it.

Indeed, he's been consistent in pointing out the multiple parties that are failing in their responsibility to deal with this issue.

Lesbians were the canary in the coalmine in terms of altering the rest of us to how trans ideology was going down a dangerous path and we all owe them a debt of gratitude for that. They've always had other women's backs, now it's time for us to have theirs too.

As well as the debate today on homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, Panny Mordant is also taking questions in her new position as Minister for Women & Equalities.
Link here to thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3251616-Parliament-debate-on-homophobia-today-tweet-MP-if-you-would-like-lesbian-voices-to-be-represented

Lesbians were the canary in the coalmine in terms of altering the rest of us to how trans ideology was going down a dangerous path and we all owe them a debt of gratitude for that. They've always had other women's backs, now it's time for us to have theirs too.

Yes, it really is.

Another excellent article from JK. I hope he gets recognised for his courage in tackling this issue, and the consistently reasonable tone he uses in setting out the facts. Are there any awards we could nominate him for?

One thing I'd like to have seen highlighted in this article is the misleading conflation between 'transphobia' and homophobia. His excellent summary of the situation would have provided a great opportunity to show what a massive red herring this argument is.

He is very clever. He has brilliantly pointed out the linguistic gymnastics required to avoid offence without actually saying anything. Bravo James.

I follow him on twitter and he gets a tiny amount of abuse compared to JT. A fact of which he is extremely aware!

The embedded link in the extract:
"Some of them express that argument in very blunt terms. (For more about what some call the “cotton ceiling” that excludes transwomen with penises from sex with lesbians, see this)"
links to terfisaslur.com/cotton-ceiling/

I think that this is so important to highlight how this four letter word is being used (cf another female specific four letter word which has dual meanings).

Thank you, James Kirkup. I have forwarded the link to my MP with the covering note saying that you say all I'd want to say and you say it better than I could.

@RatRolyPoly

Well I don't agree with Masoud, or the personal opinion of that academic philosopher, but I do agree with the author.

Interesting. Where do you see differences in their approach, the differences that make you not agree with them?

Lesbians were the canary in the coalmine in terms of altering the rest of us to how trans ideology was going down a dangerous path and we all owe them a debt of gratitude for that.

Yes indeed.

Fabulous article and such a critical issue

Is there a hashtag to add to social media posts about this today? Especially relevant if asking MPs to engage...

Hi @Juells, Masoud is quoted as saying some transgender people are “bullying lesbians into having intercourse with people they don’t want to". Now, I followed the link to that Tweet, and I don't think she's made any effort to say "some".

I think Masoud is deliberately general with her comment, whereas James goes to great lengths to express that this is a problem caused by a minority. He doesn't need to make it a problem of all transpeople against all lesbians in order to make us see that it is a problem worth confronting.

As for Kathleen:

My own view, for what it is worth, is that there should be a separate political and charity-based movement for transgender people, which is not attached to those people defined by sexual preferences.

I simply disagree with her personal opinion, based on the experiences of those close to me within the LGBT movement (they are mostly L and a few G). I don't disagree with her holding it, and Kirkup does very well in pointing out "There is, I dare to suggest, no single lesbian opinion or lesbian community, just lots of different people who think different things.".

Brilliant piece. Thank god for James Kirkup.

It is a great piece.

PP are right that posting whole articles is really not on. A quote and a link is fine though.

If you appreciate quality journalism, consider a subscription, spread the word, tweet the editor to say so ( @frasernelson for spectator). Use it or lose it.

Magdalen Berns on her concerns for young lesbian women at Universities:

I agree that we need to support the journalism by not reproducing articles in their entirety. The Spectator regularly (permanently?) runs a 12 issues for £12 offer if anyone is interested.

This is wonderful - thank you James.

Lesbians were the canary in the coalmine in terms of altering the rest of us to how trans ideology was going down a dangerous path and we all owe them a debt of gratitude for that. They've always had other women's backs, now it's time for us to have theirs too.

Also agreeing with this.

People who c and p-ed: adding to the requests to have this reported and removed.

We should be supporting the Spectator and James over this - he’s really putting his neck out in article after article. And he (or a friend..!) was on here the last time this happened to politely request that we follow the link instead.

Alerting...someday I will consistently type well, but clearly today is not that day.

Is anyone else finding adverts popping up when you click the link that make it impossible to read? Or is it just me?

Takes a minute or so after opening the article.