A reminder: What we did was brilliant. Is brilliant.

[lisamuggeridge]

What we did was amazing. We pulled the GUardian, Parliament, the House of Lords, the media, out of a position they were determined to have, we changed the debate, we showed women were a political force, we acted, all over the country we acted. In different ways. We were bound by the GRA review and as soon as that was done it was evident that power relations had recreated within a social movement. Yes some people by reflex did things that they would always have done. Now we get to relearn and renegotiate power relations by saying we dont play the way media tribalists did. Whatever fall outs there have been were always going to hapen but we still did that. Thats why htis board is permanently monitored by nutcases and acually the power we demonstrated is directly at the root of the toxic fallouts and is a mark of success in itself. Political spectrum reforming within this movement is alright, but it probably pays to remember how amazing what we achieved was and letting that guide what we can achieve., We changed the conversation we can keep doing that. Easily. By having the conversation we want and not bowing to social media tribalism that hides all sorts of nasties and existing political orgs. And learning in a way they cant.

Venice Allen - we have not talked about her enough. More balls than Millwall grin

Feminist Current article:

'The irrepressible Venice Allan on her fight against changes to the UK Gender Recognition Act
Julie Moss speaks with Venice Allan, the organizer of We Need to Talk — a series of events aimed at discussing proposed changes to the UK Gender Recognition Act.'

SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

(extract)
"There’s only one Venice Allan!” was the rousing chant during a meeting at the House of Commons — the home of British Democracy — about reforms to the Gender Recognition Act. Venice managed to organize the event, as well as a number of others, in the face of personal harassment, doxing, threats of violence and intimidation.

Julie Moss: Can you take us through what has happened over this past year with your group and the events you organized as part of “We Need to Talk”?

Venice Allan: The group started just over a year ago when I began organizing with a friend at the end of July 2017.

I was part of Momentum at the time, which is a sort of [Labour Leader] Jeremy Corbyn fan club. At the time, I didn’t think legislation allowing individuals to self-identify as the opposite sex would come to the UK, so I was shocked when I heard a speech by Corbyn in July, saying he fully supported British Prime Minister Theresa May’s intention to update the existing Gender Recognition Act. [The government was responding to the Transgender equality inquiry conducted by the Women and Equalities Committee, headed by Conservative MP Maria Miller.]

The report made 35 recommendations, including: allowing individuals to self-identify as the opposite sex, lowering the age restriction to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate to 16-years-old, making “non-binary” a legal category, and for “misgendering” to be categorized as discrimination.

He will just change his mind, I thought. He doesn’t understand, I thought.

So I posted an article from Fair Play for Women in a popular Jeremy Corbyn Facebook group, saying: “I’m a bit concerned. How can we stop predatory men from abusing the system?”

I still believed in “true trans” [the notion that some individuals truly are “born in the wrong body,” whereas some men might be simply “faking” being transgender, in order to access women’s spaces] at this point — the transsexual who isn’t a threat to women. In a couple of hours after posting this, I got 700 replies. People called me a bitch and a cunt. At that point I would never have expected that sort of language. (continues)

concludes:
It’s an issue that divides every party. David Davies wants debate. But all that lobbying. Groups like Stonewall and Mermaids have public money to brief the government — they have full-time paid employees to do that. We are just volunteers and mums. It’s so sinister.

One good thing is that the general public is behind us — the average person thinks this all is wrong. A YouGov poll sponsored by PinkNews found that only 18 per cent of people are in favour of allowing individuals to change their legal sex through self-identification. Nobody goes along with this shit.

I think we’ve proved our point with the meetings. Now, I think direct action is what we need to be doing. What lesbians did at London Pride is a good example — all types of people were talking about that. The UK government deliberately chose to start the public consultation about proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act during Pride week, but those women brought it back to lesbians.

It’s inspiring that just eight women can reach that many people. The “lesbian = female homosexual” message really shows the trans agenda for what it is. Trans activists forget that the general public doesn’t buy the notion that a penis is a female organ.

“Lesbian = Female Homosexual” is a great slogan. You’d have to be mad to disagree with that. We’re not just talking about young lesbians being pressured to have sex with men who claim to be women, but it’s become unacceptable (and possibly illegal, in the future) to have female-only meetings, book clubs, or festivals without including men who identify as women. Young lesbians are being told by society and the state that they are actually men born in the wrong body. Look at the 4000 per cent increase in young women and girls being referred to gender clinics for assessment.

I don’t think the average person actually understands that all lesbian and female-only spaces are under threat. That can engage quite a lot of people. We all have to keep fighting. The Consultation period for amendments to the GRA ends on October 19th, but we must continue fighting after that whatever the outcome.

JM: Do you have a message for Feminist Current readers?

VA: My message has always been that I’m just an ordinary concerned mother and woman. I haven’t really done anything and everyone needs to stand up — this is not the time to be worrying about our reputations and what people think of us. It’s now or never, and if these laws go through, we’re fucked. You don’t have to be an expert. Not everyone likes organizing events, but anyone can do something, and the more of us that stand up, the less they can attack us."

www.feministcurrent.com/2018/09/24/interview-irrepressible-venice-allan-fight-changes-uk-gender-recognition-act/

Sandy - your fabulous cartoons deserve a special place on this thread!

When DS was little he accidentally catapulted some Weetabix out of his high chair and onto the ceiling.

I had no time to deal with it, so bundled him off to nursery with the intention of dealing with it when I got home.

By the time I got back and got the ladder out, the Weetabix had dried as hard as concrete.

So I gave up and painted over it. It’s probably still there now (and DS is at university).

Shock horror India that women don't want penis in their sleeper carriage! How obtuse! Ohbyes it is actually true India someone with penis is a man! TwaNW!

Weetabix sets harder than cement.

Ahh Millwall.

Lions? Nah/ pussies

If you'd only mashed some banana into it, it would have stayed moist enough to be removed, Betty.

Magdalen Berns

'There Is No Such Thing as a Lesbian With a Penis!'

Published on 10 Apr 2016
"Lesbian taking issue with the question, "WOULD YOU DATE A LESBIAN WITH A PENIS?" being asked by Arielle Scarcella who hosts a YouTube channel which purports to be aimed at lesbians called, GirlfriendsTV"

Sandy - your fabulous cartoons deserve a special place on this thread! thanks Agreed. Sandy cartoons always cheer me right up.

I also enjoyed the great MN Ocado exodus (and peaktransing of their customer service reps who tried to call us all up and get us to change our minds about leaving). All of course started by Posie's magnificent poster with the dictionary definition of woman on it.

Peach Yoghurt
16 Feb 2018

'Transgender and the Bicycle Analogy'

"There's no definition of woman that includes trans women. A woman is an adult human female and that excludes trans women. Trans people generally don't agree but fail to provide their own solid definiton of woman. This video is about the meaning of words and the flawed trans logic."

Ace cartoons Sandy especially funny the MN logo with the two fingers didn't go unnoticed!

Lesbian = female homosexual, reminds me of the awful cotton ceiling

How have Stonewall & Mermaids acquired access to public funds, do women have this? (Women and Equalities Committee?)

The recent Feminist Current podcast interview with Posie Parker has some wise words about seeking evidence before deciding if you are for, or against, someone. The whole interview is worth a listen, but that section is very pertinent.

Magdalen Berns was the conduit which led me to FWR. She’s deadpan funny, snarky and so smart and brave.

Peachyoghurt makes me laugh with her wickedly pointed videos - the feminist I most want to have a beer with.

The statues in their woman: adult human female shirts is unadulterated genius.

Man Friday was funny and so subversively clever you’d think it was an Ealing comedy. And surely will be one day.

Posie’s projections were so left-field smart I’m still laughing at their audacity.

Meghan Murphy for holding the line with calmness and clarity. Her podcast is excellent.

And the insightful, subversive, incredibly funny, narky, resilient woman of FWR, have grappled with this subject for so long that I think, collectively, the board is nurturing a revitalised understanding of feminism.

Thank you Sandy. I must find my old recorder.

It is so good to laugh.

collectively, the board is nurturing a revitalised understanding of feminism

not just this board, but brilliant women every where. I think in time this period will be seen as the birth of 4th wave feminism

and we were right here with it

it feels amazing (and unbelievably infuriating that it's so necessary)

it feels amazing (and unbelievably infuriating that it's so necessary)

This thread sums it up really.
So, so necessary to see it all in daylight.

those of you on FWR.

This thread sums it up really.
So, so necessary to see it all in daylight.

Daylight
Women standing together & honouring other's work is very powerful.

Those who want to disrupt this (for whatever reasons) can cause harm until its recognised for what it is. Then they lose the power they have abused.

Its the difference between strength and power.
Women's strength is underestimated by many.
for all the strong, witty, generous and inspiring women.

Yes we need daylight.

We need an environment where these issues can be talked about and discussed and, looking at the Scottish W&G report, where due process can be allowed to take place. Due process is not taking place in a climate where there is fear of reproach and control of the agenda by special interest groups.

All the bits and pieces in the media, writing to MPs and talking about it to your friends gives people the space and freedom to think and permission to talk about what affects them.

I think the statement by Lucy of the Deptford People's Project had a huge affect on many of us:

Statement from Working class community workers from Deptford. We are attending the women’s meeting at the House of Commons today. We would like to offer an explanation as to why this is necessary

After many years of working at grass roots within our community we have recently been made aware of an issue that directly effects the working class and women in our area. You must understand we are not graduate activists or or women’s rights campaigners. We are community workers and our concerns regarding changes to the GRA come from a lifetime of personal experience and having worked with some of the most marginalise people in our area.

The majority of our recent projects have been working with rough sleepers, the homeless and those that have been excluded from society. The issues they face include: unsupported/ mental health illness, sexual violence and prostitution, childhood trauma and abuse...domestic violence, poverty, ex care system issues, addiction, prison,rehab,homelessness and austerity.

The people in our community that we represent are the most likely to access/ be placed in sex segregated services.Some have and will access all of these services. Our local political and community organisations have been infiltrated by a group of well meaning white middle class goldsmith (uni) students. These people although well intentioned have rail roaded many vital projects by introducing identity policies and intersectional thinking. They do this without truly understanding or experiencing working class issues.

Meetings we have attended for the purpose of discussing community housing projects and women’s wellness etc have been used as a platform to re educate working class people on the new academic language expected within our organisations.

As anyone from a working class back ground will tell you, these theories and ideologies rarely translate into working class communities. The extremely small number of transsexual (I use the old term as this has a very different meaning to the university umbrella term currently thrown about) members of the community are and have always been excepted and protected by community organisations.

We are now informed that transgender people are being routinely abused (mis gendered) and should be protected above all other marginalised groups. All that has changed is privileged students have adopted a set of gender identities that allow them to be considered marginalised. The people we encountered were far from marginalised. In fact they were highly educated, openly classist and aggressive.

This new politics doesn’t equate in our community or for the people we support. We are dealing with working class issues with severely marginalised people and the trans lobby is a gentrification of working class social and political movements. Note the difference between trans lobby and trans people who we support.

No one will discuss our concerns regarding self id. Our local Labour Party has refused to comment or debate with the working class people. We are attending the meeting this evening as this is only place that is willing to discuss theses issues.

When we are being verbally abused and called fascists because we are concerned about the effects of policy change on marginalised people it is a direct attack on working class women and grass roots organisations. when sharing information about this event and attempt to shut it down be aware that you are complicit in the silencing of not only women but working class people who have not afforded the privileged of a safe space or university education. Thank you x

Meghan Murphy covered it and interviewed Lucy for Feminist Current here:

www.feministcurrent.com/2018/03/23/leftist-women-uk-refuse-accept-labours-attempts-silence-critiques-gender-identity/

That’s really good, especially

We are now informed that transgender people are being routinely abused (mis gendered) and should be protected above all other marginalised groups. All that has changed is privileged students have adopted a set of gender identities that allow them to be considered marginalised. The people we encountered were far from marginalised. In fact they were highly educated, openly classist and aggressive.

Lucy's statement sums up so many of my concerns. Thank you for reminding me about it.

I know this thread has moved on a bit, but I think:

BRILLIANT AND FLAWED

Would make a great T-shirt slogan for women and girls - even on a girl's babygro

This thread has reminded me of some amazing events over the last year, thank you

We need to keep pulling together!

Very important twitter thread:

twitter.com/BodmassIsBack/status/1090303261524013058