New Women and Equalities Minister?

[RedToothBrush]

Being reported by fairplayforwomen but I can't find any other source.

Therese Coffey in apparently.

If it is her, this Twitter thread by Rob Jessel will be of interest - he went to see her, armed with a Powerpoint!

Lang I had a look at that Twitter thread and this looks promising. If she is GC and if she can see the bullying of GC women and the threat to freedom of speech everywhere, this is a good thing. Especially if the lobbying is already underway. Siamesy mentioned on another thread that a Tory MP had been on Twitter when there was awful misogynistic bullying. If Conservative politicians see this level of misogyny and intimidation directed at women, I am really hoping they will do something to address it.

That speech is worrying for me. It’s dreadful that we have someone who may we’ll be GC but if she turns out to be a raging homophobe it will be a disaster. The last thing lesbians need at this point is yet another person in the mix who thinks that really they should just do dick

I think she will draw a lot of fire from Stonewall. Let’s hope they do their worst. And show govt ministers what happens when you don’t cosy up to this lobby group.

I don't read that as homophobic at all, reading between the lines it could be making reference to a family structure about having a father and a mother which could be homophobic or traditionalist. I don't agree but as a PP said I'm grateful for the crumbs! I'm worried about Self ID in Scotland being brought in so having a GC Min of W&E is useful for the UK, for that alone!

I can't imagine that the same sex marriage bill is about to be repealed, there would, quite rightly, be complete uproar if it was, but there is no motivation for that and TC will Chair the LGBT GEO which will advise on this as well as trans rights.

I'm going to look into her background a bit more...

I can't imagine that the same sex marriage bill is about to be repealed, there would, quite rightly, be complete uproar if it was

I agree. I really don’t think that the majority of Conservative MPs would dream of doing something so idiotic. I am not a big fan of Boris but I am confident there’s no way he would countenance something like that. I think there aren’t enough Conservatives who are aware of the existential threat to freedom of speech and the misogynistic bullying and intimidation of women who criticize the trans lobby. Also WTF is going on with the police? The extent of regulatory and institutional capture needs to be unraveled. But I have no idea how this could be done

I see a conflict here on FWR: the whole point of GC is the right to criticise and hold alternative beliefs. If we allow that, then we must allow the same of others whose beliefs we feel uncomfortable with. Freedom of speech except for catholics or evangelicals? Lots of people were unhappy about same sex marriage, should none of them be represented in parliament? If so, why just that topic and not exclude GC voices?

I’m not advocating that catholics and evangelicals not be represented, I wholeheartedly support their right to uphold their beliefs, to express them and be heard and respected, and for them to be part of the debate on where we go nationally when setting the laws our society as a whole agreed to live by.

I question whether someone who holds beliefs such as ‘I am against gay marriage due to my religious teaching on what a family is’ is the right person to uphold an Equalities brief though. I personally consider it quite an extreme viewpoint for modern society.

(she) could be making reference to a family structure about having a father and a mother which could be homophobic or traditionalist
For me, if that is ‘traditionalist’ then it seems interchangeable with homophobia - I feel it’s the outcome and how it impacts people that is important, not the intent.

If Conservative politicians see this level of misogyny and intimidation directed at women, I am really hoping they will do something to address it.

^ this.

Addressing the censorship is vital. The rest follows naturally from YesDebate.

Please, let's not get carried away by the Catholic upbringing.

I was born in Liverpool into a devout Catholic family with traditional views about family and about the role of women in society. All it did was turn me into a feminist at the age of eight, although I had no idea at that tender age that feminism even existed. My Mass-attending auntie told me when I was older that the Pope might have his views on contraception but she had hers, and what would he know as a celibate man anyway? She still saw herself as a devout Catholic, just a pragmatic one.

My Catholic upbringing still pops up in my thinking but this is secondary to what I see, what I've learned and what I know to be real life truth. I was conflicted about same sex marriage for much the same reason as Therese Coffey (yeah, kill me now) even though I've happily accepted and supported same sex relationships for years. However, I would now firmly vote against any attempt to repeal same sex marriage.

We don't have a hive mind, you know.

I am quietly reassured by her appointment. I think it actually sends a subtle message.

The people who introduced me to feminism were nuns.

I can imagine saying to my teacher Sr Concepta age 8 tgat TWAW & her response. ‘Dont be silly, human beings cannot change sex, now we have much more important things to learn about & do today, look lively,no slacking.’

Who would have thought my soul would be uplifted by a Boris Johnson cabinet confused Where the heck are we and what happened to everything

Don't get too excited. There is still Priti Patel and Dominic Raab......

They are also continuing to confine civil partnerships to people of the same sex, perpetuating what is effectively a two-tier institution, either by not repealing the law or by denying it to people of opposite sexes.

This was one of her objections to the same sex marriage bill, and I think this is a reasonable objection. Why should gay people have the right to choose either civil partnership or marriage when heterosexuals don't?

I remember at the time being surprised that some gay people were against same sex marriage. I can't remember what the arguments were, but being anti same sex marriage is not necessarily to do with homophobia.

Plus it will be very easy for Dawn Butler, Pink News etc to point score against her I suspect. ‘Well she’s a massive homophobe anyway’ is a lazy ad hominem (ad feminam!) but once it’s uttered many people will instantly dismiss anything else she has to say

I think she is a lesbian herself, though......

Please, let's not get carried away by the Catholic upbringing

Many catholics now consider their catholicism to be to be cultural, rather than religious....John Mcdonnell, is one example. (At one point in his life, he was considering the priesthood).

I think the appointment signals long grass for all things GRA and also all things rights-based generally. It'll be on the back burner until Brexit is sorted and the Tories decide whether or not they're going with ECHR or a British Bill of Rights.

A mixed bag then, but on the whole good for us as it gives us time to get case law cemented (if the cases go our way) with the various actions like Fair Cop, SSA, Maya, the Guides, etc.

Re Gilligan, he was appointed as a transport adviser to Johnson. But obviously given his close involvement with the issue it's unlikely he wont be giving Johnson advise on the issues with the GRA.

Many catholics now consider their catholicism to be to be cultural, rather than religious....John Mcdonnell, is one example. (At one point in his life, he was considering the priesthood).

The first point is true. The second one was thoroughly debunked in the lead-up to the GE, by none other than John McDonnell's own teacher at the time.

However, my point is that Therese Coffey probably questions her own thinking more closely because of her Catholic upbringing and, having made up her own mind, is not afraid to hold her position even though it might go against huge vested interests. I doubt we'll be seeing her jumping hastily onto the woke bus for woke points. That in itself is a huge improvement on previous Equalities Ministers.

Still quietly reassured.

I think this is awesome news. Finally someone non woke.

As per previous posters, yes - a lot of gay people were against same sex marriage. In brief, because it was a heterosexual thing, and they were not heterosexual.

Re Gilligan, he was appointed as a transport adviser to Johnson. But obviously given his close involvement with the issue it's unlikely he wont be giving Johnson advise on the issues with the GRA.

Also, I'm sure Boris's sister is GC.

Is this good news?

I hope you more optimistic women are proved right! I think I just feel jaded and generally distrustful of the Tories as a whole. I will try to be more open minded and judge Coffey on what she does next. It could be so much worse after all.

I think we all know that lesbians can be homophobic though, just as women can be misogynistic, black peoples can be racist etc. The joys of socialisation and internalising negative things . Also - is she lesbian? I’ve seen articles referring to her as ‘single’ and ‘childless’, and ‘plain’ . Is that supposed to be media code?

Obviously sexuality is an intensely private thing, I don’t want this speculation to be interpreted as prejudicial - I’m uncertain of the relevance to the role, but think there is probably some.

I will try to be more open minded and judge Coffey on what she does next.

That's a fair point and that's all we can do.

I joined the Conservative Party recently (until very very recently, that was an invitation for opprobrium on MN and I'm glad to see signs of greater tolerance already on political views) and my primary purpose now is to stop Self ID. I've ready emailed my Conservative MP with a view to meeting and will be reminding her that the new definition of "woman" is Adult Female Human With A Vote.

Every little helps.

If you’re discussing things civily on FWR then you’re probably a good egg in my book Singing, and the conservatives need as many of you as possible!

"They are also continuing to confine civil partnerships to people of the same sex, perpetuating what is effectively a two-tier institution, either by not repealing the law or by denying it to people of opposite sexes."

As this has only recently been changed to make civil partnerships open to heterosexual couples (comes into effect in January) wonder what her position it now.

(I was going to post a new thread about the change to civil partnerships as it was publicised as a feminist victory but then realised I didn't care about either marriage or civil partnerships)

But I do think that if she is portrayed by the media (who will be influenced by Pink News / Stonewall) as being anti trans self id because she is homophobic, it will mean yet again that the important issue of the negative impact on women's rights wont be discussed. (Only used by the media when they want to give Jo Swinson a good kicking )