WPUK and Lyra McKee

[Tartie]

Namechanger...

WPUK are currently under attack for posting about Lyra McKee as part of their "Women Icons" series. Lyra is the journalist that was shot dead a few days ago. She was gay and supported trans rights. Thus, a lot of people are angry with WPUK for doing this.

I must admit, I'm on the fence here. I think it's nice for WPUK to post a tribute, but I also think that it may be too soon...

WPUK's tribute was:

"Lyra McKee (1990-2019), Irish journalist, writer and lesbian activist killed while reporting. Winner of 2016 Scottish Refugee Council and Write to End Violence Against Women awards. Penned letter to “my 14 year old self.”

Can't see anything wrong with that.

The tribute was fine. However, WPUK must know that they're a controversial organization. For that reason, they need to be a bit more sensitive with stuff like this, I feel. A few friends of Lyra are commenting saying that she would not have liked WPUK, so it seems in bad taste.

Btw, I'm a huge fan of WPUK. I think they're brilliant. That's why 8 was surprised to see this as it seems a bit misjudged.

WPUK are not a controversial organisation.

There are a small number of people that get very upset over every single thing they do.

They are not the priority or focus of the organisation.

They are only controversial because standing up for women and girls is now seen as controversial.

I personally do not friend them controversial. I find them necessary and brave.

However, you have to accept that not everyone feels this way. Some people dislike WPUK, as is their right. According to her friends, Lyra was one of those people. Therefore, I think WPUK should delete their tribute for now. It is too soon. Tensions are high, etc.

Yeah, you have slightly different viewpoints, therefore how dare a political group that fights for women’s rights show respect to a woman who has passed away! Shame on anyone who shows respect. We must always check our worthiness from now on.

We have to accept ?
Well really we don't

Feminism is about standing up for all women, whether you agree with them or not. It’s not them-v-us.

A Woman's Place is Speaking Out. Feminism is about supporting the rights of all women, even those whose opinions you disagree with.

It is most appropriate for WPUK to publish a tribute to a woman who spoke out for the rights of women.

Lyra isn't here to defend herself and tell us what she would have wanted. Because her death is so recent, we should listen to her freinds. Her freinds are saying that she wouldn't have liked this. Therefore, we should respect that. There are many other women WPUK could post a tribute to.

If that’s what is happening

I'm really really confused by this whole thing.

So if you don't agree with absolutely everything a person says or does you must never speak of them?

Because Lyra may have believed TWAW, WPUK are not allowed to speak about her bravery, her journalism, her lesbianism.

If a person is trans, or believes that TWAW that is the only notable point about that person, irrespective of any other achievements.

Bizarre

Is Lyra on record as disliking WPUK? If she is then fair enough, remove the tribute. If she isn't then I don't see any reason why it shouldn't stand, unless her family/NOK ask them to. Obviously that would be the respectful thing to do then.

They could have remained silent - them geek criticised for not giving a shit.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

Been, not geek. Fucks sake.

"Therefore, I think WPUK should delete their tribute for now".

WPUK are free to make a respectful tribute on Twitter to a woman who was murdered. And then they are free to not delete that tribute just because you and others think that they should.

You are free to namechange and start a thread on here about it.

And I'm free to find it all rather tiresome.

WPUK have done nothing wrong. And it really is low that certain people would use a young woman's death in order to orchestrate an attack against WPUK. But nothing surprises me any more.

But we're not bloody stupid on here.

Any excuse to silence women OP

I'm seeing an awful lot of hate and abuse on that thread - and none of it is from WPUK. Those people are not doing their cause any favours. On the contrary, they make themselves look like intolerant bigots.

When someone dies, people pay their respects, whether they agreed with them about everything or not. It's the decent thing to do.

I wonder what would have been said if WPUK had done nothing.

Tattie, we understand that some trans people need to try to control people and their behaviour and language as a way of coping with their symptoms but it's something that not everyone will participate in all of the time. There may be some angry friends but that's really to be expected isn't it, it's part of the controlling behaviour. Best ignored really.

I'm sad that a female lesbian journalist was murdered doing her job in an act of terrorism.

Her views about transwomen are neither here nor there. The twitter backlash is shameful

Lyra isn't here to defend herself and tell us what she would have wanted.

So why are posting that you think they should delete the tribute and post one about someone else? Who the fuck are you to say what WPUK should do?

This is a particularly grim tweet to
@WomansPlaceUK
How dare you use Lyra to push your narrative, we refuse to allow our allies to be strung up as human puppets post-mortem, to be used by a group that would have degraded and mocked her for her beliefs.

She wasn’t one of you, so stop playing with her body you ghouls.

What an absolutely repulsive way to go on.

Lyra was a supporter of trans rights and sex workers rights, so I doubt a WPUK tribute would have meant a lot to her.

Having said that, it is possible to admire someone and respect their views without agreeing with them, and if they want to mark that respect, fair play to them.