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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Lesbian Strength March and Rally in Leeds on 7 September 2019

262 replies

stumbledin · 12/08/2019 19:08

I posted a link to this even some time ago and there have been various comments and more recently one for an organiser of the event which has been really interesting.

Then just now mumsnet have deleted it saying it is because it has a go fund me link in it.

Well I posted that some time ago and nobody said anything. And as I have also posted that on a number of other threads I apologise if they get deleted.

What is the problem.

We are trying to support Lesbians and some red tape that users aren't aware of do this hatchet job.

Why didn't you just deleted the post with the go fund me link.

If I believed in conspiracy theories I would say mumsnet has been nobbled by the lesbian erasure strand of transactivism.

Heavy handed and unecessary.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Lippysoutherner · 08/09/2019 13:33

Me too.I think that we're watching the erasure of our younger sisters. Heartbreaking.

ThePurported · 08/09/2019 14:44

Thanks for linking Charlie's speech MrsL2016

Extract:

"There is no evidence that hormone blockers are safe.

This generation are guinea pigs, and the fact that scientists and doctors are staying quiet about this is criminal.

It is also concerning that once a teenager has started taking hormone blockers, they are much more likely to transition. And as far as I can see, this is because hormone blocking makes desisting difficult - it almost completely destroys any chance of their brains maturing properly, and working out their issues with their bodies.

This should be a huge concern for scientists, doctors, and other medical practitioners, but the research on the subject and conversations around this are almost entirely absent.

Where there should be research, there is silence.

Instead, we hear time and time again that hormone blockers are safe, despite the science suggesting they’re dangerous and we continue to commit children into a path of painful surgeries and lifelong hormone replacement treatment.

Lesbian youth are exceptionally vulnerable to this type of ideology, particulaly as many will be gender non conforming. Coupled with the oppression of the female sex more generally, many young lesbians will match the criteria needed for them to start hormone blockers from as young as ten years old.

Is that any surprise in a world that oppresses lesbians and idolizes straight men that so many young girls want to be men?

Young lesbians today are up against challenges that were not around when we were their age.

Instead of having no lesbian role models, they are surrounded by people who call themselves lesbians. These people are often males, who tell them that being a lesbian is transphobic - because you are meant to be attracted to ‘gender’, and not sex.

With few groups or communities for lesbian girls who reject this ideology, there are limited places they can go for support - I have no doubt that this further drives young girls onto the path of transitioning. Accepting males into their sexual orientation is a pressure placed on lesbians, but is not expected of straight men.

I could not have predicted that ten years into the future, I wouldn’t have the same feelings of self loathing as I did as a teen. I could not have predicted that by allowing my brain to mature, I would grow out of the idea that there is such a thing as a ‘boy’ brain or a ‘girl’ brain and I had been born with the wrong one."

Meanwhile, a year after it was promised the Equalities Office still hasn't commissioned the 'urgent' study into why so many young girls want to transition, and the BBC is pushing genderism in schools.
twitter.com/SafeSchools_UK/status/1169174010732695557

NeurotrashWarrior · 08/09/2019 15:20

Thanks for the link to Charlie's speech; I heard it was fab.

Weezol · 08/09/2019 16:10

the confused heterosexual man who looked at the women waiting to march, looked at the banners, and commented to his girlfriend in a bemused tone "Here, look, there aren't any men there..." plus his face when I explained why this was so.

I've seen that face - on my dad when informed him of the believers in a 'female penis'.

#BTAT

Aspley · 08/09/2019 16:19

If this kind of event happens again they need to get some gay male allies involved.
Let's see how brave the homophobic bearded idiots who protested (Hi RGFirth 👋) are once the men get involved.
All of the LGB should be outraged at what is happening.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 08/09/2019 16:22

Male allies? Oh my 😂, oh dearie me 😂 😂, gay... 😆 male... 😂 ally 🤣that’s a corker 🤣🤣😂 hmmm 😢

Tyrotoxicity · 08/09/2019 16:31

Aspley I can see that's a well-meant point, but I disagree.

I haven't got the right words for the ... emotional flavour? of the day, but the fact that it was a female-only thing felt exhilarating and liberating and actually properly empowering (not in the liberal choosy-choice bollocks way).

And the fact that lesbians, women, were able to police that boundary and have that accepted, in the middle of Leeds, while being openly and vocally done with men and all their shit - it was amazing.

It didn't need men.

It was more powerful for not having them.

Supportive males could have lined the route, booed the counter-march as it followed, taken to the surrounding streets to talk to people about what was going on and why - but they would have wrecked the flavour of the rally. And totally changed the vibe in the Secret Location afterwards too, more than likely.

LangCleg · 08/09/2019 16:37

I'm with Fekko and Tyro.

WichBitchHarpyTerfThatsMe · 08/09/2019 16:44

Agree Tyro. As it happened the lesbophobe opposition yesterday had no impact on the march or rally whatsoever. I was very surprised that nothing more aggressive or bullying went on given Leeds is Mermaid central, home of the vexatious litigator et al. So many trans unicorn acolytes in the locality but little noise made. I wonder why?

Whatisthisfuckery · 08/09/2019 16:57

We’ve just got home. We travelled 150 miles each way and I’m so glad we did. Such a great atmosphere between all the lesbians and allies. Here’s to many more events like this.

Oh, and thank you to the MNer who I shan’t name who let us carry the wonderful, and huge banner made by her and her daughter.

Aspley · 08/09/2019 17:28

@Tyrotoxicity
I do agree, I am sorry I couldn't make it myself, I could do with finding some real life terf lesbians. But this current situation will not end until gay men get on board.
It will only get harder to hold such events the longer this is allowed to go on.
Stonewall are ignoring us, they -wouldn't be ignoring gay men, sad but true.

TheBigBallOfOil · 08/09/2019 17:33

So glad this was a success. Will be very happy to join similar in the south as an ally

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 08/09/2019 18:37

Christ on a bike. Straight women marching alongside their lesbian friends and relatives and getting abuse hurled at them by the menz - it’s just like... well pre-2010...

Tyrotoxicity · 08/09/2019 19:42

I agree having men - gay or straight - generally in agreement with us and willing to stand up and say so would make a hell of a lot of difference. And I'm sure there are supportive things they could be doing that would help.

But being physically there in the march or rally to intimidate homophobic dickheads into not causing a ruckus - no. I'm still not being very good with words today but... Think of the optics? Strong courageous lesbian women marching for their right to exist regardless of male approval - and you'd have them bring along approving males for protection? It doesn't seem right to me.

DrLouiseMoody · 08/09/2019 20:21

Me speech.

medium.com/@drlouisejmoody/lesbian-strength-speech-7-9-2019-26a1cdfe66be

Mostly monosyllabic today. Literally erased by hangover.

Tyrotoxicity · 08/09/2019 20:47

Thought you might be, DrLouise. Very much doubt you're the only one!

When I nipped next door to pinch a slice of bread to accompany my hangover-mitigating bacon this morning, my brother actually made me a bacon and egg wrap. See, supportive men can totally do useful things to help the cause!

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 08/09/2019 20:48

Fabulous speech, DrLouiseMoody! Only wish I'd been there to hear it live.

Ereshkigal · 08/09/2019 21:10

Great speech!

PegasusRex · 08/09/2019 23:20

I've spent all day wondering if i dreamt yesterday because it was so amazing. I even escaped a hangover Grin

here's a link to my speech
medium.com/@boudiccarises/lesbian-strength-3654425c41e4

WichBitchHarpyTerfThatsMe · 08/09/2019 23:43

It was so safe and friendly. I was, quite honestly, expecting some serious aggro and hostility given the geography but nothing, nada. where were all the Leeds nasty troons?

stumbledin · 08/09/2019 23:54

In the end was able to make most of the event. Did look out for lavender signals but must have missed them.

Speeches were all great, and really good to have them online. And also good that organisers had signer at the event. Smile

Lots of brilliant banners. (thanks for photo links earlier in thread)

Assuming there will be another one (yeah) can I suggest that with all the travel and cost, (and rush) it would be nice if at the end of the march / start of the rally some bottles of water (and cake?!) were made available. It was quite warm and what outlets there were had rip off prices.

I am sure that all those that donated so generously to the go fund me (that must NOT be linked to according to MNHQ rules!) would accept this as a good health and safety measure and not a misuse of the money raised towards the cost of putting on the event.

And (always easy to be wise after the event) if there was a tiny bit on money to spare would be really good to have fliers to give out to those watching the march. I am not sure many really understood why lesbians were demonstrating. It would be a great consciousness raising and the opportunity to provide links to groups.

Oh yes - loved the fact that which ever bit of the Labour Party it was gave us all a cheer!

Twice as much time travelling as being there but worth it.

OP posts:
WichBitchHarpyTerfThatsMe · 09/09/2019 00:21

Ah Pegasus I recognise who you are now. Thank you for your honesty and courage.

Aspley · 09/09/2019 01:34

@Tyrotoxicity "Strong courageous lesbian women marching for their right to exist regardless of male approval - and you'd have them bring along approving males for protection? It doesn't seem right to me."

That is all well and good but unless something happens to make Stonewall pay attention it is all pissing in the wind ( this will read like I am being critical of the Leeds event and organisers but that is not my intention).
It is nothing about protection wtf?!
This is about getting someone to pay attention, afaik Stonewall have not even acknowledged this march? Double the numbers with a couple of hundred of gay men then they will start to take notice. They are misogynistic to their core so, sad but true, and will only pretend to react if the men get involved.

So many gay men (and the vast majority of lesbians?) are oblivious to what is going on.

Tyrotoxicity · 09/09/2019 07:32

Sorry Aspley, your first comment on the matter implied having men around would be a protection against homophobes. If that wasn't what you meant then I apologise for the misunderstanding.

Still agreeing with you for the most part - but I still think having men there on Saturday wouldn't have been worth it, because they might have boosted visibility simply by existing, but the tradeoff would have been not having that female-only, 99% lesbian-only space that was so valuable to so many. Which I personally think wouldn't have been worth the trade.

And yes to flyers next time!

Rubidium · 09/09/2019 09:24

From pimmsnlemonade:
"Some wonderful pictures here"
www.facebook.com/pg/mikebettneyphotography/photos/?tab=album&album_id=406462093337256

They are great pictures. However, Mike innocently thought he was just photographing some marching lesbians. He didn't realise he was actually photographing a "hate rally". The poor guy has had a TRA pile on, and no doubt been peak transed in the process.