For Women Scotland - Public meeting on Women's Rights in Scotland - Edinburgh, 31/1/19

[CharlieParley]

On Thursday 31 January, For Women Scotland are holding their first public meeting in Edinburgh.

There'll be information on and discussion of the current situation in Scottish schools, councils, hospitals, prisons and any other areas affected by the ongoing erosion of women's rights and the undermining of safeguarding.

There's been a lot of interest and quite a few of the tickets are gone already, in just 24 hours. If any of you wish to go, you can book your ticket here. (The price covers the costs of the group as no-one funds us but us.)

As always, the venue will be announced on the day.

When I went to my first women's rights meeting (WPUK) on Valentine's Day last year, I was a little unsure and worried about going. Some wonderful women reached out to me here on Mumsnet and helped me feel welcome and reassured, so now it's my turn:

Feel free to DM me if you are worried about going on your own, I'm happy to chat any time and also willing to meet you beforehand.

Hope to see you there!

I'll be there!

Excellent!

As will I

And me

I'll be there too - looking forward to meeting everyone.

With bells on!

I can't make it but would if I could and will be watching the twitter for updates on the night. Pleased that this event is taking place, many thanks to the organisers.

I have bought a ticket. I'll need to check logistics / childcare etc. I'll also pm you, OP, if that's ok?

My ticket's booked - really looking forward to it. I'm so pleased this is happening, big thanks to the organisers.

Be careful. I don’t believe the SNP will tolerate this. At the very least expect to be labelled fascist, every ic and ism under the sun, and probably you will be accused of being “literally Hitler” and too.

Do you have any idea of what time it might end?

Be careful. I don’t believe the SNP will tolerate this. At the very least expect to be labelled fascist, every ic and ism under the sun, and probably you will be accused of being “literally Hitler” and too.

🤔

I think we're fine, thanks.

Be careful. I don’t believe the SNP will tolerate this. At the very least expect to be labelled fascist, every ic and ism under the sun, and probably you will be accused of being “literally Hitler” and too.

That would be the same SNP that Joan McAlpine MSP is a member of then?:
www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11875&i=107390

@MarshmallowSnowDon Do some research about who you are patronising. You are talking down to at least one woman who has swum in a men only pool wearing a mankini and hand knitted beard.

What idiots think or say about us after that kind of exposure is the least of our worries.

Suffragettes The eventbrite page says 9pm but I would think there will be the chance to stay on longer for a drink and a chat, either at the venue or close by.

I've bought a ticket although still need to check against DH's and DS' diaries.

l'm laughing quietly at the attempt to paint this as an SNP issue when Labour has the AWS issue, the Greens have non-men and then there's the Lib-Dems LGBTQ on Twitter

I'll be there! Can't wait.

Marshmallow, have a watch of this wonderful piece of telly and prepare to be impressed with the level of debate in Scotland - it's Rosa Freedman and Susan Smith giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament (Culture etc. Committee) on proposed changes to the Scottish census. I watched it several times over the holiday period. Organised by the Scottish Parliament with MSPs from all parties there, it was everything that you would hope a evidence session in a Parliament would be. Calm, evidence-based and respectful with no-one shouting anyone down, and everyone present listening carefully to what was said and asking pertinent questions. I'm secretly hoping that Rosa will be one of the speakers on the 31st because I have a bit of a crush on her because she's so amazingly smart and well-informed.

www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/culture-tourism-europe-and-external-affairs-committee-december-6-2018

I think this is the clip of McAlpine asking that question last week:
twitter.com/ForwomenScot/status/1083666616121024513?s=20

Also, in the committee session linked above, Annabelle Ewing and Kenneth Gibson (both also SNP) were very sharp on the topic. I've never been an SNP supporter, but I think we have to be fair that there is division internally on this and some of their MSPs are getting their teeth into it and doing great stuff!

As, indeed, are members of most of the other Scottish parties which is fantastic to see.

Yes, this Times article names several SNP MSPs who have concerns, including the East Lothian branch who have questioned the guidance given to schools regarding young transgender people.
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/grassroots-backlash-forces-snp-to-rethink-trans-policies-n0pvh25qx

I was also pleased to see the Labour party start asking questions, particularly Kezia Dugdale's parliamentary question which established that many women's organisations have a funding dependent requirement to be transwomen inclusive.
www.parliament.scot/S5ChamberOffice/WA20181204.pdf

I wonder if any MSPs will be attending the meeting?

Ticket booked, can't wait.

MarshmallowSnowDon Be careful. I don’t believe the SNP will tolerate this. At the very least expect to be labelled fascist, every ic and ism under the sun, and probably you will be accused of being “literally Hitler” and too.

You are mistaken. This is a cross party issue. All parties in Scotland seem to have their champions and their detractors of self-id, and I have certainly seen very objectionable utterances made by individual politicians of any creed. I have also seen statements expressing concern about the impact on women and children from members of various parties, even the Green Party.

Most importantly though, the SNP has made no public statement condemning critics of GRA reform in any such derogatory terms and in its function as the Scottish Government has not judged views critical of self-id in its report about the GRA reform consultation in these terms either.

My own SNP MSP not only met me twice about the issue and now understands and shares my concerns (having had absolutely no idea), they also advised me to see the minister responsible for women's rights to make them aware of the issues. Not that the minister is showing any inclination to see me so far, but I wasn't dismissed, insulted, or condemned by my SNP MSP but asked to keep them up-to-date on my progress.

Education, Communities and Justice
Kezia Dugdale
(Lothian) (Scottish Labour):
To Ask the Scottish Government Whether its funding for violence against women specifically requires organisations and projects to be trans inclusive and, if so, where this requirement is stated.
(S5W-19971)
Christina McKelvie: Applicants To the Equally Safe Violence Against Women And Girls Fund are required to provide their LBTI Inclusion Plan (or An GBTI Plan for organisations providing direct support to men) as part of their application. Applicants Without these plans in place are not considered.

disgraceful

I'm glad Kezia forced an answer to that question. It was one of the points I raised in my consultation response ie that they should be transparent about funding being dependent on having TA-friendly policies.