Scottish Trans Alliance to challenge For Women Scotland judicial review

[WhatsthetruthRuth]

I see that the previous post with this title has been deleted because it was deemed to be ‘fundraising’ and broke MN Guidelines against this. Can this be a thread where we can discuss the total fucking injustice of having a Scottish Government funded body with Scottish Government funded lawyers opposing a grass roots Women’s organisation who wish to oppose the Scottish Government’s attempts to redefine the word ‘woman’. Please?

I think it needs discussing. It’s too important. And let’s not have any mention or attempt to talk about raising any funds for any organisation otherwise this will disappear too

Digging still needed. 🌱

Scheduled for 7th and 8th Jan. Though I vaguely remember reading it could be extended to 11th and 12th as well, but I'm likely to be remembering it incorrectly. Definitely starts on the 7th.

You know I'm seriously wondering if we need to start organising a known, branded national thing like cake sales, or bring and buy, or something else very classically women/suffragette and make it clear and as widely publicised as possible that being a female in the UK in 2021 means actively funding raising constantly for legal rights. Because otherwise we can't afford to have them. Buy a bun and help your daughter have a future.

What a good idea. Even I could do something like that.

On one hand I love this idea.

On the other it feels very risky for people who would do this fundraising. But it would raise awareness and have people asking questions.

Judicial Review to be held at 10am on Thursday, 7th and Friday 8th January.

It will be a virtual hearing on both days. Anyone can listen in by dialing a number and entering the appropriate access code. There is a max number of connections, but I don't know what it is.

Information about how to listen in on the case is described on this page -
www.scotcourts.gov.uk/coming-to-court/access-to-virtual-hearings

There are strict guidelines for a virtual hearing (no recording, take great care when posting on social media etc), so please read all the information on the page carefully before you dial in.

Thanks everyone for the dates. I shall check here and twitter tomorrow!

It was on Scottish bbc news this morning

This is just being discussed on Women's Hour this morning,
Lots of technical issues when the GC woman was trying to talk. Starting to suspect sabotage from production staff.

YesCharley me too. Needs to be rerun without the barrister from STA, who managed to obscure the actual issue by misinforming the audience about the Equality Act. 5000 words from them about trans women’s lives apparently, without being blue to explain why they should have access to women.

Able

FWS co-director will feature on a report about the case tonight on Reporting Scotland at 6.30 and The Nine on the BBC Scotland channel at 9pm.

As usual it was presented as being about trans rights, and how they need to be in positions of power and influence regardless of the rights of women. I really hope FWS are able to make the case better in court...the big guns are out I fear..

Placemarking.

Angryresister just catching up and haven't been able to listen to the case. You sound negative? is the quality of FWS legal team not up to scratch? It is always likely that the team opposing women's rights is going to be massively well funded, though one hopes justice for women prevails

Have dug

The FWS legal team are good but yes, they are up against it. It's a David and Goliath fight as always and the Scottish Government are totally captured.

The arguments they are making are extraordinary - as is their central premise that there is no difference between a woman and a transwoman and, therefore, either can represent women as a class.

Apparently the Government lawyer has said that the Equality Act is not reserved i.e. it can be modified by the devolved government. If they win on that basis women's sex-based rights in Scotland will cease to exist.

Riveting and seriously worrying.

Sex based rights will exist in Scotland but will have been altered to mean in fact privileged rights for people born male, over those of people born female, and that male people may own and dominate all the resources.

That has been the aim all along Michelle. Too much riding on this really, but I'm hoping for success or a massive amount of kickback and sunlight to make the SNP more cautious

No, not saying the FWS team is not up to it, just that it is a hugely important case and there’s a lot riding on the outcome.

Just to continue the pessimistic line for a moment, at least the Scottish Govt lawyers have, by saying the Equality Act is not reserved to Westminster, given FWS a solid point of law on which to base an appeal.

On the other hand, FWS's QC is very good, and should get a chance to rebut this afternoon. And I can't imagine for a moment that the judge is buying half of what the Scot Govt QC is trying to sell!

From Twitter

twitter.com/ForwomenScot/status/1347489472183734272?s=20

SG lawyer is arguing that Equality Act is not a reserved matter.
#FWSJR #JudicialReviewFWS

twitter.com/ForwomenScot/status/1347490692336128001?s=20

The FM and SAS have always claimed they had no power to change it. This is incredible.

@Angryresister

As usual it was presented as being about trans rights, and how they need to be in positions of power and influence regardless of the rights of women. I really hope FWS are able to make the case better in court...the big guns are out I fear..

TBH I don't see how one tiny wee grassroots organisation like FWS has a hope against the Scotgov representing themselves while also calling on themselves to offer evidence.

I hate to say it but I think this may well not go our way. Scotland's looking like a shit place to be a woman. I hope those in England & elsewhere can continue this fight, though. And I hope the SNP reap their just desserts come May for stamping on women's rights.

Independence means nothing if women aren't able to stand up for their rights. What's the phrase - 'wheesht for Indy'? Fuck off.

• will there be a transcript or a recording of this case, btw? i can't listen to it and I feel there is lot sof important stuff going on!

twitter.com/campervanwoman/status/1347492182098386950?s=20

In this speech to Parliament on 20 June 2019, Shirley Anne Somerville was very clear it was a reserved matter. They are utterly, utterly shameless!

t.co/k6FANtISUB?amp=1

twitter.com/Obsolesence/status/1347508248849612801?s=20

Oh my. "Born" women and transwomen are similar enough to be treated the same. Transwomen are "broadly similar , relevently similar" to women such as to be considered the same. How the hell are we similar?

twitter.com/Obsolesence/status/1347510287772114944?s=20

Does make me question why they even have legislation to balance genders on a board if we're all the same.