I love JK Rowling poster removed by Network Rail for being 'political' after 'transphobic' complaint

[stumbledin]

A poster outside Edinburgh Waverley Station which reads "I love JK Rowling" has been removed by Network Rail for being too "political."

The poster was erected outside the train station by Kellie-Jay Keen, who describes herself as a campaigner against gender recognition laws.

Kellie said that the billboard was a celebration of JK Rowling standing up for women - who Kellie believes are 'victims' of a "culture war".

In a tweet, one local complained to Network Rail saying "You're literally making Edinburgh look an unwelcoming and transphobic city.

"Congratulations. The city has a high population of students and a majority of them are trans allies. Seems unlike our public transport."

Blah Blah

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/love-jk-rowling-poster-removed-18686005

Maybe women should contact Network Rail and say their actions make it look like women are not safe or welcome in Edinburgh. Why are they giving in to sexist bullying?

Good point about political advertising, ChattyLion.

I'm not really one for paranoid theories but... I went looking for children's socks this morning and came across this website. Is it weird that all the Harry Potter ones are 'temporarily unavailable'?
www.dedoles.co.uk/kids

It could be that they're all so popular they're sold out... or they're manufactured separately from the others, although they look like fairly uniform designs.
?

OK I take the above post back! The adult HP products are still available.

Someone has asked Network Rail about their decision to remove the poster.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/jk_rowling_poster_at_edinburgh_w

They've also responded to a request about their relationship with Stonewall.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/top_100_status_in_the_stonewall#incoming-1610333

They give Stonewall £2,500 per year to be a 'Stonewall Champion'.

Our use of the rainbow colours in our logo during Pride is to show that we’re proud to be a diverse and inclusive workplace

Are they really saying that Pride does not represent a campaign for "gender recognition reform"

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

Our use of the rainbow colours in our logo during Pride is to show that we’re proud to be a diverse and inclusive workplace

Are they really saying that Pride does not represent a campaign for "gender recognition reform"

Sorry, I somehow managed to not RTFT before I posted

So all these organisations pay Stonewall - an organisation that actively campaigns to remove the rights of women - at least £2,500 per organisation to call themselves "Stonewall champions"?

It's not just a gravy train - it's a tsunami of money pouring their way to act against the interests of over 50% of the population.

@DickKerrLadies

This poster was paid for by a gender recognition reform group, which clearly violates our policy

Oh dear, so all that Stonewall stuff you paid for 'clearly violates' your policy, being that they are a gender recognition reform group, by their own admission.

Bit awks, eh?

So they removed a poster by "a gender recognition reform group" while giving another "gender recognition reform group" (the one on the women-hating side, natch) two and a half thousand pounds per year?

I assume we may look forward to an equivalent donation to Standing For Women, Fair Play For Women, or Women's Place UK? After all, Network Rail are so very keen to be neutral on political matters. I'm sure they don't want anyone to conclude that they are hypocrites and misogynists.

It must be an oversight. I'm sure they'll get right on to it.

It just all feels quite sinister to me. Are all these Stonewall champions really ignorant of what Stonewall have now become? I find it hard to believe.

Not RTFT but I heard Posie/Kelly has been approached by a billboard company that actively wants to participate, which is obviously a brilliant development.

From little acorns and all that.

Gosh, I really really hope she sues. They would have an impossible task proving transphobia, whether it's the poster itself or JKR. And what she REALLY said would come to light.
I would like to see JKR's outrage erupting in one big glorious exposure of EVERYTHING that is wrong with that movement. It would be magnificent.

I wish I knew what RTFT meant!

Read the full thread if you’re polite

Read the fucking thread if you’re not

Not sure if this has been posted before (published 31 July) but there’s a good article in the Spectator by the same guy who wrote about the cowardly decision of Network Rail to take down the poster. This time about the Scottish government changing the law on gender by stealth:
www.spectator.co.uk/article/is-scotland-changing-the-law-on-gender-by-stealth-

“ there is a fervent commitment to gender ideology both within the Scottish Government and the upper echelons of the SNP, so it’s not surprising that For Women are on alert for legislative jiggery-pokery. For gender critical women within the SNP, the Sturgeon administration’s approach to these matters puts them in an impossible position, forcing them to choose between what they believe and who they are... For all their progressive rhetoric, these self-styled champions of equality have succeeded only in subjecting trans people to an acrimonious debate about deeply personal matters and are causing women to be cast as bigots for asserting their rights under a law barely a decade old. ”

Soubriquet

£2500 every year to be a stonewall champion! Jeez. I wonder if the schools have to pay this fee too?

@BowlerHatPowerHat

£2500 every year to be a stonewall champion! Jeez. I wonder if the schools have to pay this fee too?

They have to pay something, but it's not clear how much. Screenshot from their accounts for last year.

apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends55/0001101255_AC_20190930_E_C.PDF

Also in this document they say that they have over 870 organisations in their Diversity Champions programmes and 1291 School Champions.

List of Diversity Champions here:
www.stonewall.org.uk/diversity-champions-members

Well I complained and have just had back the same rubbish a previous poster received. Due to the political nature and the assertion that WE are the ones campaigning for reform.

Are they really so stupid!!!! I'm responding now to correct them on their misunderstanding so I doubt I'll get a reply.

Let us not forget who owns Network Rail...

Contact information for the Department of Transport and ministers: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport

Which makes them civil servants.

So they should be subject to the public sector equality duty

Protesters in Thailand are using a Harry Potter theme to protest against political oppression.

twitter.com/SaksithCNA/status/1290243566078275587?s=19

JK Rowling has always instinctively stood up to tyranny and people recognise that message in her books.

I read the Ickabog recently it was great for that. The more I find out about JKR, the more highly I rate how she’s used her own position. She’s brilliant.