Simon Fanshawe calls for calm

[MrsSnippyPants]

“There’s been an absolute sleight of hand and it’s got even worse with LGBTQIA Plus, and I don’t know if the joke works on paper, but I always say that, you know, they’ve turned one of the great passions of my life, which is fighting for lesbian and gay equality, into a slightly secure password on the internet."

www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,cofounder-of-stonewall-calls-for-calm_14648.htm?

Very clear, he covers a lot of ground and acknowledges how lesbian women supported gay men in battles that weren't their own.

Simon is fantastic in that article - clear, compassionate and balanced. Thank you Simon and colleagues for fighting this fight.

Crikey!

Did he miss anything? That is such a well written piece that I REALLY fear the backlash!

Measured, thoughtful, articulate and calm. Great stuff, thanks for sharing.

I read that and can’t imagine how anyone logical could argue. I know they will, but not in any rational way.

And hearing the history is fascinating. Clear-minded discussion and gradually winning round the public despite the government not being behind them is literally the opposite of the current situation.

Pushing through laws that will alienate the public when the effects become clear is the worst possible pathway. The eventual backlash will be huge.

Excellent interview. He covers some of the main issues very well.

It's a feature of this debate that first made me sit down and question what I thought at the time were instinctive liberal inclusive views, that all the adult sounding voices are on the GC side. He's not saying anything many respected women haven't before him, I hope his voice and his credibility adds another brick to the pile and makes a few more people start to look deeper and ask themselves questions.

That's so true, Prion.

Great article. Published in an important place too - the magazine for policy makers in Scotland.

I really don’t understand why there is any argument at all with any of the things he says in that article. Every day I see someone who I think is reasonable say that those views are transphobic because TWAW, and I just feel disappointed and confused as to why this is happening.

What a very clear and considered article, thanks MrsSnippy. I hope it gets widely shared and read.

(Your shortened name made me think 'Mississippi'!)

He's got entirely positive responses on Twitter so far.

He’s done really well to get all that in. When you read these articles, by women as well as men, you can hardly believe there is an argument to be had because all GC people are asking for is a bit of common sense

Heard him being interviewed on LBC last week. Came across as very compassionate and quite sad that he needed to do this.

Love the joke about a slightly secure password on the internet

It's an excellent interview. Clear and focused. And pointed towards the gay men who benefited from lesbian support in the past. I hope a few of them feel gently chastened.

That article is fantastic. What a humane, smart man Simon Fanshawe comes across as.

I’d love for as many politicians as possible to read that. One to send to my MP I think

You can’t self-ID out of female genital mutilation – that happens because you are a woman. Your access to abortion and getting pregnant – that happens because you are a woman. Stonewall has confused legal and biological questions with social identity and when you do that, you start to make bad law

Well quite

Absolutely fantastic article. I'm so impressed that it covers pretty much all the main issues so clearly. The history was fascinating to read and the support lent by lesbians who are now betrayed by this new ideology.

He hasn't said anything that women haven't already explained, but it is good to see more men speaking out and with his background and credentials, it's going to lend a lot more weight behind the GC arguments that will make it harder for the general public and politicians to ignore as some 'tiny faction of crazy old feminists'.

And in Holyrood magazine no less! :)

BernardBlacksWineIceLolly fantastic idea! It's the most comprehensive yet gentle piece I've seen and a perfect intro to the topic. Will be sending it to ALL the candidates in my area.

Brilliant article. Thank you for sharing it. The contrast between calm and compassionate debate and violence, threats and screaming slogans is made very clear.

And if you allow self-ID to become the basis for the law, which means that a man on his say so can be treated legally as a woman, it then means that men can claim discrimination against them as women.

He nails it. Anyone that cannot see this is the outcome of self-id is either too distracted or purposely vindictive.

I like him. It's sad that he will be heard more than the women who have been saying the exact same thing for yonks, but he's in a powerful and visible position, so thanks for saying it. Good article, calm, measured, no hate, no 'erasure'.

The formation of LGB Alliance is the best move imaginable.
Simon will be able to refute any accusations of transphobia and with such a strong and knowledgeable team of co-founders I feel optimistic for the first time that sense will prevail.

This interview lays out very clearly the manifesto of the alliance which I doubt could be interpreted in any other way than its intention.

I for one am celebrating this and each development,it's made my year.

Oooh! Wonder what combination of words enticed that ?