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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Allison Bailey to sue Stonewall

999 replies

OhHolyJesus · 27/06/2020 08:20

There is a crowdfunder so I won't share the link but here a part of the text. It's long but brilliant and this isn't the half of it. Off to find my wallet...

The new trans activism: all scrutiny and critical voices labelled ‘transphobic’

In early 2018, when I first heard that plans were underway to make the lives of trans people easier, my reaction was that this was a good thing and I did not give it a second thought. I kept coming across the term ‘TERF’ but ignored it. I thought that bigots were simply being called out.

Then one day I clicked on a link: terfisaslur.com where someone had collated the online abuse that was being directed at women who I realised had entirely valid concerns and questions about the wisdom of replacing sex with gender.
I learnt that the new trans activism wants to smash the distinctions between men and women; replacing sex with notions of gender identity; making sexual difference a matter of self identification; and demands that any and every man that wishes to identify as a woman must be allowed to do so.
I learnt that the new trans activism is focusing, inexplicably, on young children and declaring them ‘trans’; treating puberty as a disease to be blocked with powerful drugs; delivering our young people into the arms of a multi-million pound industry of big pharmaceutical companies and plastic surgeons.
I saw that the same males who would have society regard them as women, were quick to brandish knives, axes, baseball bats and nooses, as they threatened with rape women who questioned the wisdom of replacing sex with gender —TERFs.
I realised that the new trans activism operated a crude but effective system of punishment and reward: agree with every demand of the trans lobby and be safe; object and face vilification, abuse, boycott, character assassination and cancellation.
I was horrified (and terrified).
I wanted to look away, to pretend that I had not seen it; that it did not reveal the worst woman-hating, lesbian hating, misogyny that I have ever come across in my lifetime.
I did not look away and I urge others not to either. Thanks to brave women who have come before me, such as the late, great, Magdalen Berns, whose courage and no nonsense approach to calling out the new trans activism as the men’s rights movement it so clearly is, gave me courage.
I realised that I did not have to accept that any man can claim to be legally a woman, without having to undergo any hormone or surgical intervention, psychological evaluation or risk assessment.
I realised that it was okay and necessary to say that it is reckless and naive to think that men will only identify as women if they are stunning and brave and harmless: that the wicked, abusive, predatory, unwell and downright cantankerous will, by some miracle, refuse to take advantage of free and easy access to women, to their politics, safe spaces, sports, legal protections and identities.
I was shocked to discover that significant numbers of male sex offenders are permitted to identify as women and nothing is being done to stop them. In England and Wales, some 40 per cent or more of trans identified males in the prison population are men with convictions for sex offences, including rape and possession of the most serious indecent images of children. I read a steady stream of news reports from around the world of males who identify as women committing serious sex offences.
It is repugnant to me and wholly unacceptable, and frankly unbelievable, that the new trans activism demands that sex crimes committed by males who identify as women are recorded as having been committed by women; and that these males can demand to be referred to by female pronouns.
I discovered that women incarcerated in prison are left vulnerable to serious sexual assault and mental anguish, as males, including sex offenders, are locked up with them. The new trans activism demands that a man’s desire to identify as a woman is more important than the right of imprisoned women to safety and dignity. These women have no way to escape, no choice, they are locked up. I do not see how this is anything other than state facilitated abuse and mental torture.
Where there should have been discussion, investigation and inquiry, there has been the silencing of concerned and critical voices; not voices from the far right, but from women like me, who are of and from the progressive left.
Mantras have been chanted because the new trans activism is a movement that cannot bear scrutiny: TRANS WOMEN ARE WOMEN; TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS; TRANS PEOPLE ARE WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE; PROTECT OUR TRANS SIBLINGS, and so on, do nothing to engage with and address the serious concerns that exist about replacing sex with gender.
The new trans activists are joined by politicians, journalists, lawyers, writers, entire organisations, and assorted celebrities, in the chanting of these mantras to shut down debate, while others who are appalled at what they see happening are too afraid to speak out. It is cult like behaviour, it is Orwellian, and it has disgraced and shamed a generation.
Labelling all critical voices ‘transphobic’ is a cynical political ploy of the new trans activism. It must be resisted.

Surviving child sexual abuse: understanding that women and girls are oppressed because of their sex and not their gender identity
The man who sexually abused me as a 9 year old little girl; the man who targeted my single-parent mother; the man who told me that I could trust him whilst he slipped drugs into my orange squash to render me helpless as he sexually assaulted me, was tried and convicted of multiple sexual assaults against me in 2015, and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. He was released from prison last month (May 2020) to serve out the rest of his sentence on licence.

I make this disclosure now because I feel compelled to stand in solidarity with other women with similar experiences of male physical and sexual violence. It is not weaponising trauma to say so, any more than recounting racist abuse is.

We must not allow men or women to bury, minimise and ignore the visceral reality of male violence. We must not allow the new trans activism to force survivors back into the closet; this would be an abuser’s charter.

It should be a cause of great alarm that the new trans activism takes such a regressive and shaming attitude to disclosures of abuse. This culture of denial and belittling has been the bedrock and the hallmark of every abuse scandal. It is a red flag that signals a safeguarding catastrophe in the making.
It is women like me whose lives have been torn apart and seriously blighted by wanton acts of male violence that know that men are often not who they say they are or claim to be.
I know that conflating sex with notions of gender identity will leave women with no legally enforceable boundaries against any man.

I know that if the new trans activism is not brought to heel, women will disappear as a political class.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
19
endofthelinefinally · 01/07/2020 21:39

Without mumsnet I would have no idea about any of this.

FantaOra · 01/07/2020 21:43

The only people "inflamed" and "offended" are those wanting this to be hushed up.

They really are pathetic.

Imnobody4 · 01/07/2020 21:47

CrowdJustice apparently are not supporters of Human Rights at all.
Nothing Allison wrote was inflammatory or offensive she merely spoke her truth eloquently, and what is more it echoes the truth of millions of women and girls. It was all relevant to her case. Yet CJ take upon themselves the decision to silence. Cowardly, unethical and hypocritical.
Allison has my total support, whatever it takes.

TheWayOfTheWorld · 01/07/2020 21:54

I am heartened by all the replies to their latest tweet.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 01/07/2020 21:59

I didn't see this article (linked to in the Daily Mail article) on the thread:

www.legalcheek.com/2020/06/barrister-embroiled-in-trans-rights-row-raises-60000-to-sue-stonewall-despite-crowdjustice-briefly-taking-her-page-down/

OliveKitteridgeAgain · 01/07/2020 22:08

This is the first para of CJ's Terms of Use:

"We do not provide legal advice or legal services. We don’t endorse any of the Cases and we don’t exercise editorial control over what Case Owners choose to publish on their Case Page. We do our best to make sure that no one acts fraudulently or improperly on the site, but you have to make your own judgment about whether to help fund a Case."

This bit of the terms, whilst it is aimed at the donors, forms part of the overall terms of use contract, I believe, so also forms part of the contract with the Case Holder (Allison, Raquel, Katie). Breach of this term could affect the fundraiser's target.

I would say that, in promoting "Nic's" case, they are endorsing it at the expense of Raquel Rosari Sanchez's case and possibly all other GC cases. Why did they do this - have they ever done it with any other case? Was Allison's case so successful that, whoever put the screws on them, asked them to "even up the score" and promote a case on the other side? They may have gambled that it couldn't be said to harm Allison's case, because Nic is nothing to do with it. But if I was Raquel, I would be having a word with my lawyer right now.

As to the "we don't exercise editorial control" bit. Well, clearly they do, and therefore they are again, potentially, in breach of contract and may be said to have made a monetary gain from donors(their 3% of whatever money was raised after the edited statement went up) fraudulently.

The above statement directly conflicts with the statement aimed at the Case Holder (i.e. Allison), which does allow them absolute discretion to edit a case page:

We do not actively edit, verify content or exercise editorial control over Case Pages published on the site or email updates by Backers sent via the site, but we reserve the right to remove or edit any content posted on the site or in any services associated with the site (such as email updates via the site), or to suspend or terminate an active Case Page at any time, at our sole discretion and without notice. We will not be liable to you for any losses that you suffer or incur as a result of us doing so.

It's a really poorly thought out set of terms with these contradictions. I doubt Allison would have a contractual claim, because CJ will be able to say she has suffered no harm as a result (she reached the target, so her pledges were not affected; they are not obliged to provide the platform to her any further).

However, if I was Allison, I'd be speaking to a libel lawyer. That holding statement is implying that Allison has said something immoral in her case statement. They have edited it because it doesn't comply with their moral standards. Their terms say that the Case Holder/Allison will not include on her case page:

offensive, obscene, racist, defamatory, misleading or deceptive content, including photographs, videos, or text

They are implying in the holding statement that she has done this. As a barrister who is subject to strict codes of conduct, having it implied that you are an immoral liar, and using those lies to raise money from the public, is pretty terrible for your professional reputation.

Xanthangum · 01/07/2020 22:14

Thanks for that, really helpful @OliveKitteridgeAgain.

Is anyone else thinking about how fast Allison's head must be spinning?

CaveMum · 01/07/2020 22:18

Just a reminder, if anyone is looking to donate to a worthy GC cause, that Transgender Trend are currently fundraising. You can find links on their Twitter feed.

OhHolyJesus · 01/07/2020 22:26

That twitter thread is amazing, they know what they have done. Rock and a hard place.

They can't back down or they fear the wrath of whoever it is backing them into a corner and if they don't reinstate with the second stretch target, they lose all the people who would donate and would use them in the future.

They are going to have to pick a side and I think they will chose the wrong one.

OP posts:
meallthetime · 01/07/2020 22:36

@Xanthangum

Thanks for that, really helpful *@OliveKitteridgeAgain*.

Is anyone else thinking about how fast Allison's head must be spinning?

Yes.

I am thinking an awful lot about Allison at this time.

She has incredible strength and I just hope she has RL support as a human being who deserves love and comfort.

She has already survived the hideousness of a CSA case and now she is doing this. In public.

I want her to win (of course I do) but most of all I want her to be safe. To feel loved and cared for.

endofthelinefinally · 01/07/2020 22:40

I know.
I really hope she has got good friends around her.

wellbehavedwomen · 01/07/2020 22:41

@Xenia

There are important points of principle here - women should be allowed to express views and not be closed down and shut up. People should be allowed express a range of views on many topics even if others do not like those views - indeed even if most people think those views are wrong. Instead we have moved to a McCarthyist era where if you get one word wrong you can lose your job.

It seems to be men as ever (i.e. trans women) who want to shut women up. No change there.....

In a nutshell. Really horrified by this. What they crowdfund for is such an essential principle - equal access to justice, before the law. And now they've shown it's a moneymaking exercise, despite their pious claims, and they're pandering to the mob.
agentnully · 01/07/2020 22:41

Incredibly strong and brave woman.

I hope she has a good support system, too. I know she has everyone's here but it's not like having a real hand to hold.

NotAGirl · 01/07/2020 22:51

Whilst I'm beyond annoyed at CrowdJustice I'm showing that by not including a tip rather than not donating to the existing cases. I think it's important we continue to fund Raquel Rosario, Kate Alcock and Maya's cases as well as Allison's (when she knows the best way to ensure we can provide continued financial support).

Well funded legal cases are one of the best ways to fight this right now.

TheRattleBag · 01/07/2020 22:52

I'd like to donate to help Katie Alcock's case against the Guides. But I really don't fancy giving any personal information to CrowdJustice, given their recent behaviour. Is there another way?

NotAGirl · 01/07/2020 22:55

Echoing those hoping Allison has good real life support alongside her right now the last few days must have been a roller coaster of emotions Flowers

eggsandwaffles · 01/07/2020 23:11

@OliveKitteridgeAgain

I think the promotion by CJ of the Nic case is old (May 2018, I think?) rather than something that’s happened while all this has being going on. Please correct me if I’m wrong though!

I’ve messaged CJ too. I still haven’t managed to donate to Allison and I desperately want to. This whole affair couldn’t be more transparently biased and ridiculous if it tried.

I’ve been shaking my head in disbelief all evening at this and the old tweets of Damian Barr’s that have surfaced. It would almost be funny if it wasn’t all so fucked up.

OliveKitteridgeAgain · 01/07/2020 23:58

Hi eggsandwaffles , yes you are right, the Nic tweet was 2018, I didn't clock the date. Thanks for correcting!

ItsLateHumpty · 02/07/2020 00:08

CJ do realise that The Rules of Misogyny are not guidelines they should be following?

I hope this shit show brings Allison Bailey and Stonewall all the sunshine needed ☀️ 🔥

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 02/07/2020 01:36

I am told by my ex friends that "intersectionality" is vital for feminism.

Intersectionality does not, apparently, apply to black, lesbian victims of male violence?

Thank you, Allison. You are so very brave.

CaveMum · 02/07/2020 07:45

My donation has been taken overnight, I donated when the fund was at about £40k so I hope that they will be honouring the full £60k for Allison.

Chrestomanci3 · 02/07/2020 07:51

It's briefly mentioned in The Times today.

severnboring · 02/07/2020 08:41

FYI - CJ have taken down the worst 'fuck terfs' comments from Nic's crowdfunder.

The screenshots are still in the last page of Allison's latest update.

Another sneaky move from CJ - people are sharing the link to Nic's case as a 'compare and contrast'. Meanwhile they have quietly removed the most abusive comments from the page which were evidence of their hypocrisy.

So if you're sharing, share Allison's screenshots as well as the live link.

(I'm sure CJ will be putting out a statement about removing that content any second now...)

StandUpStraight · 02/07/2020 12:26

@Chrestomanci3 where did you see it in The Times? I was looking for a mention but haven’t been able to find one.