Matthew Parris has seen the Light

[gardenbird48]

Parting of the ways
Another email arrives from the Stonewall organisation. “Get involved in Rainbow Laces, Trans Day of Remembrance and our first ever Festive Reception . . .” I learn that “you can now buy laces in the ace, bi, lesbian, non-binary, pan and trans flag colours”.

I do dimly remember the reason I sat alongside a dozen or more good souls, gathered in a tacky office, to found Stonewall 31 years ago — and it wasn’t for this. Our motives had something to do with bringing people into the fold, with winning doubters over, with quiet reason, with what unites and not what divides human beings.
That’s it now, I’m afraid, with me and Stonewall. No broadcasting, no splenetic columns, no failure of respect — none — for trans, pan, non-binary, lesbian, bi, or ace (now I’ve looked it up) people. Just a quiet and rather sad walking away . . .

sorry, trying to sort out a share token....

The bit that would be really helpful is if he could speak out a bit. For evil to flourish, all it takes is for good men to say nothing (or something like that)

It seems to me that he has realised that for everyone to be special they have to keep sub-dividing and claiming significant differences. Then they have to have different tribal flags/laces etc. He's seen it's divisive and navel-gazing.

I expect no support for females from him. I feel his quiet walk away is just leaving them to it nothing more.

Indeed, @EwwSprouts. Would a woman who made a casual statement like this ‘walk away’ and expect a line to be drawn under it? Hmm. Still, pleased to see it.

I expect no support for females from him. I feel his quiet walk away is just leaving them to it nothing more

I think you may be right, but I hope that time for reflection on his part may prove you wrong. There is much to be gained from positive alliances.

Interesting that of course he has had so much (well-paid) time and space to maybe recognise some injustices. I heard him on an old Great Lives programme on Radio4Xtra discussing Barbara Castle and her championing of the Equal Pay Act saying at that time he had thought there was no reason why women should have or need equal pay to men. It was said in a tone of wandering regret but still - nice use of time, space and a , presumably, lifelong adequate income. I would say don't be any more charmed by the smooth of tongue than you are by the rough tones of D Trump or the nonsense speech of B Jonson. I am quite bitter as my sister, an NHS nurse, was openly told by a male colleague that women should not have equal pay. There seems to be no kind of disciplinary action taken by her (male ) managers. By the way I am old enough to remember the colossal and nonsensical fuss caused by The Equal Pay Act.

I don't expect he'll become any great ally to women, but even still, someone like him "quietly stepping away" from Stonewall (not actually quietly, he chose to write it in his column) is still useful to us, to show how far Stonewall has moved from what they were.

Only replying to men in the comments I see. And not on this topic. Jo March needs a column of her own

He keeps saying (in comments about Covid) that "exponential" is a fad term which makes me as a microbiologist go

@Igneococcus

He keeps saying (in comments about Covid) that "exponential" is a fad term which makes me as a microbiologist go

Lol. Yeah the kids are just crazy about those trendy logarithms dontcha know.

I commented on it and someone told me that what I call exponential is just "really fast growth". That will be a lot of textbooks that need to be corrected.

🤦🏻‍♀️

Exponential denial is a thing now?

I view Parris as a canary in a coal mine. A useful indicator but don't expect the canary to be much use in a fight.

There's no particular reason to expect Parris to be an ally to women in general. I would, however, expect him to still be concerned with gay rights. Hence the hope that he won't just step away from Stonewall but step towards the LGB Alliance.

I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

He's probably just pricking up his ears at the growing voices of gay men over at LGBA who are saying "Whoooah. This gender ideology nonsense is also affecting us now. Homosexuality will once again be outlawed, if it carries on this way".

X post with Errol.

Only replying to men in the comments I see. And not on this topic. Jo March needs a column of her own

She does. There's a smug mansplainy type in the comments replying to her and he's quite overbearing, demanding proof that TRAs make death threats (is the Times going to allow a link to that, I doubt it) and asking her what experiences she's had to be frightened of MTF people. I no longer have a Times account or I would take him on, but if anyone else does, he's arguing with about three different people, and he really doesn't grasp why it's an issue.

If anyone is able to, try asking him about Stonewall under a male name. That would be interesting.

I wouldn't be too concerned about that man replying to Jo March, he is being dealt with very well by Jo and others.

Think of any neutrals reading those comments - there are women like Jo explaining her points clearly and rationally, and wokey-blokey squeaking "stop denying trans people exist" when nobody has suggested anything like that.

That's the kind of daylight I like to see.

A joy to read the comments there, particularly Jo March's.

There seems to be only one fella, Neil, defending stonewall and he comes across as utterly out his depth.

@ErrolTheDragon

I don't think he's seen the light yet, he's just got as far as starting to see the darkness.

Epic!