Artistic Director of Queer Up North speaks out on trans activism, Stonewall and women's rights

[SanctimoniousMorph]

medium.com/@JonnnyBest/the-story-of-my-first-brush-with-trans-activism-and-what-i-learned-3ef13e31fd37

or ? That's the only hard stuff that MN has on offer ;)

I have a better stocked bar, everyone can help themselves
🍷🍸🍹🍺🍻🥂🥃🍾

It's also important to get over to people is that Stonewall - the most significant LGBT charity in the UK - has transformed. It is no longer what it was.

Agreed entirely, Jonny. I was involved with Stonewall in the early days, and just can't believe what they've become. It really is topsy-turvey world.

And thank you for stopping by! Your article really is bloody good.

It's weird that you can only get red wine in both bars, not counting the IPhone champagne, Waddle

Thank you Jonny. Just had a very upsetting exchange with an old (gay) friend of mine who thought my recent FB posts on this were phobic and hate filled (they weren't) and I have shared your article with him hoping he may stop hating me!

@WarmWishes the LM FB thread has around 130 messages. It's still there if you want to learn more about Sarah and Zoe. Mostly dialogue between SB, Zoe and a feminist or 2.

Such a great article.
It saddens me to say it, but we need more men in this fight.

This is a good one @WarmWishes

"It seemed that we had hit upon a winning formula for protesting against transphobic discrimination."

Well no shit. Harassment and abuse will do that. Sarah Brown sounds like a psychopath.

"Several of the people who protested outside its awards in 2008, myself included, now work inside Stonewall to develop its trans workstream."

Basically admitting they bullied their way in and now call the shots.

What other tactic do they have?

Great article. Thanks!

Great article that helped me understand the issues

Was it Nic Williams (can't remember) who asked Stonewall outright if a lesbian is a female homosexual? And they refused to answer?

Brilliant to see you here and looking forward to more on Stonewall. It is seen as a debate-terminating slam dunk to produce a Stonewall statement or set of statistics, at the moment providing that 'appeal to authority' so often sought when a subject is new to people. (maybe Pride will start to take its place)

Sounds like Dr Nic! Dyketagnan used to doggedly ask twitter TRA 'is exclusive same sex attraction morally wrong' and never had a reply except variations on 'why should we talk to bigots' etc etc forever

Welcome to MN Jonny and thanks for an awesome article - measured and reasonable and basically sums up my views on the whole thing.

I'm glad for you that you are not facing too much vitriol. And I massively appreciate your understanding of how different that would be if you were a woman.

I can't help feeling it's a tad counter productive for Stonewall to actually deny their USP.

So very well articulated. It will really help me express my own view.

He has such a calm and respectful tone.

QUN was a fantastic festival, too.

Morning JB. Brilliant article thank you. Am currently having a load of formalised shit being thrown at me in work simply for saying the world isn't flat and doesn't have the sun revolve round it. To be able to verbally quote chunks from your piece will assist.
Thanks again.

Probs though the shit you will encounter will multiply now you've posted here.

I'm about to use it too. I'm very grateful.

I found this article very interesting and welcome. In particular, I was relieved to see the open criticism of Stonewall. You are so right, Jonny, that they are taken as the authoritative source on LGBTQ+ issues and many organisations and businesses adopt their policies without question, assuming that they are simply following best practice. It then takes a very brave person to question their employer's policy, knowing that the employer will point to the fact it's Stonewall best practice. Stonewall endorsement also acts as a stifling voice on society - it is very easy to assume that if you consider yourself an LGB Ally, then to take an opposing view to Stonewall must indeed put you on the wrong side of history. A spotlight needs shining on Stonewall's role in all of this.

Jonny, I am due to discuss this with my MP soon as I will take a copy of your article. Sadly, it is a form of armour against accusations of bigotry.

Apologies for inept bolding, originally caused by my writing LGBTQ* instead of +.

Thank you Jonny, your piece was excellent - my heart sings every time someone else comes out as being on the right side of reality.

Please keep speaking out

Thank you Jonny, this was a pleasure to read