Threats from transactivists in Ireland.

[irishfeminist]

Just getting it out there that transactivists in Ireland have been making threats to any woman who has wanted to discuss the effect self-id is having on women's rights in Ireland. If anyone Irish is reading, you need to be aware. If you support these people, you need to know what you're supporting, and if not, you need to be aware of the threats that are being made. One of these people works for TENI and has spoken at a National Council for Women in Ireland conference.

Yes we do Stella. I really appreciate your support and that of all the women on here. This is horrible and frightening but the fact that there are people out there acting in solidarity is heartening. Truly, you’ve all made this so much better. Just to know that there are people out there who see this for what it is makes all the difference. There are so many petite out there who want to stand up and say that threats and harassment like this is unacceptable but they’re afraid that they’ll be next. When we are many and our hearts are in he right place, when it’s coming from
a place of love and a desire for protection of women from
misogyny and harassment, we can get through this.

7Days I remember all too well when I 'belonged' to that cult, impossible to erase.

This is sickening & infuriating stuff. These are fucking headcases, they're bullies, they're vicious, they're gaslighting...

And the American TRAs that jump into these pile-ons can go to hell. Ireland is a country that brought in gender self-ID before deciding it was maybe acceptable to vote on whether women were people or incubators. The fucking self-righteous disgustingness of telling women that their rights have never been 'up for debate' in that context, like.

(little bit annoyed here, probably doesn't show)

notyourhandmaid I am far more angry than my sparse posts here show, but I'm a single mum to young DC working for a 'super woke' company.

I tread carefully, for now, but very willing to be of use/help if possible.

I totally see your point foreverfaithless. It is scary. That's the point.

The crux is, no one wants to rain this down on their heads. We all know the truth. But Individuals, workplaces, institutions are scared of sm, and the way it is bleeding over into rl at an accelerating pace. But the longer we leave it, the worse it will get.

What can we do? What's next?

My mistake.

Not everyone is scared of social media.
There is a section which believes it is totally under their control.

I don't know if they are very very clever, and know something we dont, or if they are very very stupid and dont know that attitudes change but published words remain forever.

I can’t offer any advice on what to do next. I just know that after this experience I am even more determined that speaking out when something is unjust or threatening or just plain wrong, is not only a good thing but a wholly necessary thing. Our society is getting sicker and sicker and the lack of care for others is unremitting. Only by standing up for the truth and against violence and injustice can we bring about some kind of decent way of living for us all. I’m so tired now. It’s been such a twenty four hours! My life hasn’t been so turned upside down since having my first baby a million light years ago.

I am so sorry, Estelle. The distress of being caught up in something like this is so very real and all-consuming. They're like a pack of jackals and there's so very few people willing to call them out for it. I don't know how we got to the point where anybody thinks this type of behaviour is an acceptable response to a difference in opinion. It's a disgrace and these people are cowards. Much strength to you.

So kind of you. I won’t be starting my official classes online for a couple of weeks but please don’t feel under any obligation. Just having your solidarity is enough. Thank you.

7days

You have probably read this before, it is about the tactics of trans activists, an eye opener.

www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-document-that-reveals-the-remarkable-tactics-of-trans-lobbyists

@Oncewasblueandyellowtwo. Thank you, I won’t be doing my proper online classes for a couple of weeks but there’s no need to be buying classes. Sincerely, the support here today has been a gift. I can’t thank you enough.

OK, Hope you can get some sleep tonight after everything.

Here is another lovely hammerer

If only we had a James Kirkup, Oncewas. Instead our journalists seem capable only of rehashing press releases and writing rambly emotive columns. Stella's piece is a fine exception.

As ever, isn't it fascinating how their rage is directed at women rather than the men who are the ones who actually harm trans people? Instead of hoping that violent men are "terrified" and "smashed", it's women they want to attack.

I despair at the women who uncritically support these people and their methods. If they can't see what is right in front of them, I don't know how to help them.

Yes, pachy I cannot understand how any Irish person could allow themselves to be aligned with threats of physical violence.
Of all people, we should know where that leads.

It doesn't matter what the topic is, once someone responds to a point of view with threats of doxxing, physical violence, nasty personal attacks...really, you've lost the argument, because you dont have sufficient facts to back it up.

As for the on-line "pile-ons"- all that is really, is an indication that you feel so insecure in your opinions that you have to hide in a horde.

Estelle, that's awful. I can't imagine how you're feeling right now but I am so, so angry at the men bullying you.

Please do post back about your online lessons here. And please make sure you've written into your contracts that people will be kicked off for poor behaviour and not given a refund.

Can you have a friend ready on the "kick them out" button if someone starts being disruptive?

I remember the 90s pro-choice movement (although sadly it was only pro-the right to obtain information about overseas abortion providers -, no-one could have thought of repealing the Eighth Amendment in the 90s, it would not have passed). We hated SPUC (Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child for anyone who doesn't remember) - I remember our "SPUC OFF" and "Fuck SPUC" badges. We knew they were funded by American organisations and outranked us in political clout and wealth. There was shouting and hostility and at the marches. But at no point do I remember anyone on our side trying to get them sacked from their jobs or threatening real violence against them.

So young people should know that to behave in such a way towards someone who is your political opponent is not normal or civilised. The student union leaders who defied an injunction and carried on providing information about abortion faced actual prison. They were even told to pack a bag before the court hearing. And yet they did not call on their followers to punch anyone or terrify them or smash or hammer them. Women tend not to do that. You should pay attention.

(typo - "at the marches" not "and at the marches")

These people don’t even have the excuse of being young and naive. The one who’s going to ‘hammer’ women is middle-aged and this kind of thing is the preferred modus—infiltrate groups, build acolytes, then behave as you wish and the acolytes will follow. Just like a cult. No one wants to be the first person to say they see reality. That’s an uncomfortable place to be. It requires the person to admit that they were blind to and deliberately turned a blind eye to quite awful things. It requires the person to admit that they were fooled by what should have been obvious lies. That’s not easy to admit to yourself or anyone else. It’s a rotten situation, the whole thing.

With incredible timing, The Speakeasy Sessions in Skibbereen have just put up a video of a reading from my upcoming novel. Can’t believe how spongey I look on camera :( but since I bought myself a load of new bras after years, I think the next video will have me looking as pert as an 18 year old :). Anyway, obviously, I have no way of sharing this at the moment. So here it is. skibbereenspeakeasy.com/estelle-birdy-reads-for-speakeasy/

Oncewas thanks. There are two things in that Spectator article worth quoting in the Irish context.

First of all, the sneaking in of self-id under the goodwill of marriage equality legislation. The legislation was passed without any real public debate and most people to this day have no idea it happened.

*Tie your campaign to more popular reform.'

For example:

'In Ireland, Denmark and Norway, changes to the law on legal gender recognition were put through at the same time as other more popular reforms such as marriage equality legislation. This provided a veil of protection, particularly in Ireland, where marriage equality was strongly supported, but gender identity remained a more difficult issue to win public support for.'*

Secondly, transactivists avoid the news. They avoid discussion and scrutiny because they do not want to be asked hard questions and they know that most people will not be on board with girls and women being forced to share intimate spaces with men. They sneak around behind the scenes, they groom people involved in other causes, they do everything they can to avoid scrutiny.

'Another technique which has been used to great effect is the limitation of press coverage and exposure.

In Ireland, activists have directly lobbied individual politicians and tried to keep press coverage to a minimum in order to avoid this issue.'

We see you though.

I'm going to echo Pachy's thanks Oncewasblue.
I think I had read that linked from here previously ; but as it becomes more pertinent to one's own situation, it sticks more firmly in the mind.

Mr Kirkup has several astute observations on the Dentons report- and finalises by saying that:

"I’m going to conclude with an observation I’ve made here before, but which I think bears repeating in the context of [the Denton's] report and the things it might tell people about other aspects of the trans issue: no policy made in the shadows can survive in sunlight."

I am in Ireland. All this terrifies me. I posted JK Rowling's essay on my Facebook page and have been genuinely worried since that someone will report me to my employer. I work for a super-woke multinational. I've wondered if I should delete it but haven't so far.

It's just fucking ridiculous that I should even have to worry about it.

That’s an important quote there about things not being able to survive in the sunlight. More sunlight required.

Please stay brave.