Press for Change

[TimeLady]

We've had a look at Ruth Hunt and Stonewall. Another major player that seems to fly under the radar - but I suspect is hugely influential - is Press for Change www.pfc.org.uk/#. Interesting reading about their activities on the home page - the suggestion there is that they are restructuring and expanding. Stephen Whittle is a founder member and VP.

New Chairperson is Lewis Turner. uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-lewis-turner-80b1443 Not a name I've come across before.

Stephen Whittle thread. Enlightening stuff!

I remember that thread at the time, pencils. Patronising and complacent.

God yes! I remember it too. Everyone so busy in their own lives, no time to waste on the internet.... but apparently got time to press for change.

Lewis Turner was Stephen Whittle's co-author on this bit of word salad
www.socresonline.org.uk/12/1/whittle.html

This article from 2013 gives the background to formation of Press For Change with interviews of key individuals including Stephen Whittle and Christine Burns:
(extract)
"In the 90s, when she was chair of the Women's Supper Club of the local Conservative party association in Cheshire, she quietly joined Press for Change. Even then, the new activists dared not be openly trans. "The thing that held us back in the 1990s campaigning was that fear of being out," admits Burns. Eventually, she came out in 1995; she jokes that she realised she was more embarrassed to be a member of the Conservative party than openly transsexual.

Much of their campaigning remained on the quiet. The passage of the 2004 law to give trans people legal status was "remarkable," says Burns, because "the government was able to pass an entire act in parliament without anyone throwing a fit in the press". In popular culture, the activists became more forthcoming in their attempts to increase popular understanding of trans issues." (continues)

www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jan/22/voices-from-trans-community-prejudice

It's a tacky looking website. Their attention to detail is lacking: they've spelled Border Agency as Boarder Agency

Stephen Whittle's name associated with any project is a red flag for me. I think we should keep a close eye on Lewis Turner's activities in the transgender world too...

Oh look, a diversity award this year

www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/dr-lewis-turner/

A Lifetime Achiever award no less. For what, I wonder?

Role of Stephen Whittle acknowledged in the introduction to Women and Equalities Committee
Transgender Equality
First Report of Session 2015–16

"18. We are very grateful to our Specialist Advisor, Stephen Whittle OBE, Professor of Equalities Law at Manchester Metropolitan University, for his help and guidance throughout the inquiry. We are also grateful to Claire McCann, of Cloisters Chambers, for giving us her expert legal opinion."

publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmwomeq/390/390.pdf

Claire McCann was one of the panel of legal experts at the recent WEP Conferece discussing gender self-id proposals (TELI UK?)
thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3325882-WEP-conference-questions-for-panel-of-trans-rights-advocating-barristers

Provided briefings for some of those who were panelists on Ch 4's GenderQuake Debate:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3249035-Stephen-Whittle-s-blog-on-Genderquake-with-a-detailed-briefing-for-panelists

Commenting on MN thread he started April 2018:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3212371-Where-are-all-the-trans-men-An-Answer

Involved with drafting of the Yogykcarta legislation:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3228002-Yogyakarta-principles

2014 Described as a 'superhero' and featured prominantly in the CBBC 'I am Leo':
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x_u2cs8DpI

The events page on that website was last updated in 2012 & it looks like something somebody knocked up one evening in the 1990s.

A little background on Whittle and Lewis

socresonline.org.uk/12/1/whittle/whittle.html

Lewis is an independent researcher and stakeholder consultant for Lancashire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service on trans issues.

Christine Burns' book on the Press for Change campaign is available for free download on Amazon for the next 5 days. It appears to detail stage 1 - the transsexual era - but may shed some light on how we got to the crazy position we are in now:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00PB84AUM?tag=mumsnetforum-21