"People Who Oppose Trans Rights Have No Place In Labour," Says The First LGBT Mayoral Adviser

[RadicalFern]

Andy Burnham, Mayr of Greater Manchester, has hired an advisor, Carl Austin-Behan, to help him think of what to do about "the row" over All-Women shortlists. Austin-Behan's solution? Party members who campaign against trans women being fully accepted as women should no longer be allowed in the party.

Austin-Behan described opposition as "Utter rubbish; if people are trans women, then they are women.”

www.buzzfeed.com/patrickstrudwick/people-who-oppose-trans-rights-have-no-place-in-labour-says?utm_term=.mdWBWxEelr&bftwuk#.mkdLwq18nP

I had no idea Andy Burnham was so ignorant, and so uninterested in women’s rights. How very disappointing.

I think I've said this elsewhere, but this flagrant disregard for safeguarding women and children makes an absolute mockery of his high profile work with the homeless.

I lost faith in the LP a few years ago, hackmum. After voting for them all my life. People who position themselves “on the right side of history” are often far bigger bigots and hypocrites than those who make no such claims for themselves, I have found.

I wasn’t fully aware of that work of his, silentcrow, though now you mention it, it rings some bells. And yes. It’s extraordinary how far cognitive dissonance can be stretched, isn’t it.

People who position themselves “on the right side of history” are often far bigger bigots and hypocrites than those who make no such claims for themselves, I have found.

One thing that's really come to me with age is to beware, and I mean really beware, of those who assume moral superiority over others. Once they put themselves in such a supremely comfortable position, they seem to be able to justify all kinds of stuff to be done to the morally inferior (This isn't a Left vs Right thing.)

No they are not. I think we should be emailing this person- I will be anyway.

I think I've said this elsewhere, but this flagrant disregard for safeguarding women and children makes an absolute mockery of his high profile work with the homeless.

Whilst no in anyway excusing this, I think it speaks to the incredibly powerful and persuasive power of lobbying groups involved. It is a serious cross-party concern.

makes an absolute mockery of his high profile work with the homeless.

Whilst there has been some focus on vulnerable women in prisons and those needing refuge services. Vulnerable homeless women are also very likely to be affected and this is rarely discussed.

Single access homeless projects have predominately male service users but there are women who use them too. Hostels are often mixed but may have separate areas / floors for males and females.

see thread for examples in USA, including the concerns of an experienced homeless worker after a woman she worked with was murdered by a trans woman:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3266198-No-True-Transwoman-transadvocates-question-whether-TW-is-genuine-after-said-TW-sexually-harasses-women-in-homeless-shelter

Apologies, I meant single person direct access (eg those without a statuatory responsiblity)

As I understand it homelessness in Manchester has increased since his pledge to eradicate it.

Homelessness is escalating everywhere and seems likely to continue to do so.

I'm disappointed in AB - I've had various dealings with him in the past, and he always seemed to be one of the good uns

You can email questions about policy on the Labour Party website automated questions thingy. It’s all very well is all chatting here but the more people start asking them direct what they’re ill do about all this the more it’s going to hit home that people are not happy.

But transwomen can be included.

Why does feminism have to be inclusive? Who made that rule?

No, I meant included in politics, not feminism. Politics should be accessible to every group. All Women Shortlists should be for women (obvs).

Actual on-the-street homelessness is off the scale in MCR - I’ve not seen anything like it since the early 90s in London.

Cross as I am with Andy B, it would be unfair of me to blame him - it’a going to take a lot longer than he’s had to fix it (and I’m not convinced it’s possible with a Tory government and a council that is enthralled with Gary Neville and his army of overseas property developers).

Betty I agree with you. I did make the point partly because I am cross with Andy and partly because it is true, or was a few months back, that homelessness had got worse since he took up the role and made this promise. I am not blaming Andy for that. Manchester has a very right wing, labour council with only 2 councillors in opposition and just a handful of momentum types that Leese is wrestling with. Property development that brings virtually no affordable housing is part of the issue. That alongside Tory cuts and a whole host of other stuff has contributed to it.

Anyway in terms of the GRA, if there are any any political allies in Manchester, they are staying very quiet on the issue. Career first presumably.

Actual on-the-street homelessness is off the scale in MCR - I’ve not seen anything like it since the early 90s in London.

Yes was up there for a conference a couple of weeks ago (have been many times before) and it did seem to have got really bad in certain areas.

On the one JB declares that there is no such thing as a real women, the smirk when JB says it is so telling.

"Duping delight"

https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/duping_delight

"The first time I changed the world was when I told my mates to call me she rather than he. I literally constructed a new world where its possible to understand myself as a genderqueer woman, despite being asigned male at birth simply by changing the language to describe myself. This is why language and pronouns are so important. Its about creating a world in which trans people are allowed to exist"

Jess Bradley 'To My Trans Sisters'
edited by Charlie Craggs (publ Oct 2017)

The first time I changed the world was when I told my mates to

Yup. Tell people to. Order, coerce, decree. That's just lovely.

He changed the world, though. Gotta give him credit for that . The monumental ego is terrifying. What a fucking sap...

I will be writing to my Labour MP t o explain I have learned that they no longer want my vote.

presumably JB believes there's a 2nd time.... 3rd, 4th?

"The first time I changed the world was when I told my mates to call me she rather than he. I literally constructed a new world where its possible to understand myself as a genderqueer woman, despite being asigned male at birth simply by changing the language to describe myself. This is why language and pronouns are so important. Its about creating a world in which trans people are allowed to exist"

Trans minded people have existed since human life began, this man did not invent this. I am so over their ingenue recency. They have zero understanding and knowledge of the dignity shown by people with this condition through the ages.

Many people before him have shown great dignity and forbearance whilst indulging their fetish quietly and with consenting partners.

For this new generation of arrogant, synthetic hormone fuelled poseurs I have zero empathy.

The first time I changed the world

What a monumental ego.

"The first time I changed the world was when I told my mates to call me she rather than he. I literally constructed a new world where its possible to understand myself as a genderqueer woman

No, you literally emotionally coerced your friends into validating your nonsensical personal worldview. Nothing earth shattering happened for them or anyone else.

It's important to remember that all the main parties support trans ideology. This is coming from the Council of Europe (not EU related).

This guy said he would dress and play like a girl...now he would be put on the pathway to transition.