Stonewall petition

[paulaspoodle]

Has anyone got any theories as to why only 8,599 people signed the petition calling for Stonewall to reconsider its approach in terms of trans matters? I mean that's only about 0.6% of the LGBT population of the UK, even if you go by one of the lower estimates. And, of course, seeing as a few straight people would have signed the percentage is likely to be even lower. The petition was very well publicised and, as it's anonymous, there's no excuse about people being scared to sign. Surely if so-called trans ideology is such a problem for lesbians as we're led to believe then the figure would be far higher? Has anyone got any theories? The only one that springs to mind is that most LGB people don't see it as a huge issue

I'm not gay so I don't feel I should sign

You are not gay but you are presumably a woman and you presumably agree with it.

I think if you're an older lesbian in an established relationship you probably haven't been on the sharp end of this

Although having been a lesbian back in the day, I do think we were more political and had far more women's spaces than there are now, so I'd expect more awareness.

I don't think I signed it, I think I might have been worried about what would happen with my data.

I used to belong to a Stonewall lesbian mother's group and it breaks my heart to see what is happening to young lesbians. I feel very bitter about Stonewall's part in all this.
I also signed it in my own name - I have taken to heart Julie Bindel's comments about women needing to speak out in our own names and not leave it to a minority of women to front it. (That's not meant as a criticism of anyone - careers and safety matter - just an acknowledgement that the more we are open, the harder it is for them to target individuals).

As a comparator, the #gwiththet petition, founded by millionaire Antony Watson, a Stonewall donor, which had support from MPs and lots of PR in the LGBT press, achieved only 850ish signatures.

That's interesting Thanks Jonny.

You are not gay but you are presumably a woman and you presumably agree with it.
Oh, do you think it's okay to? I'd be very happy to sign in support. Chalk up one more then.

Done.

Signed.

Signed

8716 now. Is that over 100 new signatures from this thread?

8733 now. This thread has been very influential .

I am so pleased the OP had such a positive effect I'm publicizing the petition in this way

The petition was very well publicised and, as it's anonymous, there's no excuse about people being scared to sign.

Huh. Interesting- I didn’t know about it so not sure how well publicised it was. Off to look...

Thanks to everyone who has signed and encouraged others to do the same. I see there's been some discussion of who is eligible to sign - the answer is everyone who wants to, whether lesbian, gay, straight or whatever.

Just to respond to discussion about how the petition was publicised: it was launched in October last year with a letter to the Times and an article in the Times by Lucy Bannerman. That day, the BBC picked it up for the radio news bulletins and then I went on BBC Radio 4's PM programme to do an interview with Carolyn Quinn and Ruth Hunt. Ruth would not discuss with me - she would only agree to speak if she was able to do so after me, with no right for me to reply. The segment can be heard here:

You will hear Ruth misrepresent the current UK law in her interview when she states that 'trans women are women is enshrined in British law' (or words to that effect). I contacted Carolyn Quinn the day after the interview to correct this - having sought advice from RadFemLawyer on twitter - and Carolyn did then correct Ruth's statement fully on Oct 18th in an interview with law prof Peter Dunne from Bristol university. This misrepresentation (there's a less polite term I could use, I know) is one that Stonewall repeats at every opportunity.

Finally, to respond to the question about Alison Moyet (sorry, I can't remember who asked it) - I have not been in touch with Alison recently. I hope she copes ok now that she's back on the scene tweeting as herself. She got a lot of shit last October when she signed the petition - and I think it was a hell of a shock for her.

Oh, one more thing: this was Ruth Hunt's response to the petition. www.stonewall.org.uk/stonewall-stories-category/come-out-lgbt/our-work-trans-equality-heart-our-mission-acceptance

Note this line: "The petition also asks us to acknowledge that there is a conflict between trans rights and ‘sex based women’s rights’. We do not and will not acknowledge this. "

Stonewall so disappointing in their response. You would have to hope that someone in the organisation read the thousands of comments and thought about the issue surely.

Wow - the petition number has gone up to 8,810 - that's over 200 signatures since this thread started

You must be so pleased OP - well done - such a helpful thread for bringing it to people's attention.

The OP must be very proud. 200 signatures. Hope you have signed it OP, given that you were worried it wasn't getting enough traction. And shared it.

Bumping in light of the attack on Julie Bindel and Pink News' response.