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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Lib Dem Councillor Matt Downey forced to apologise to FPFW.

50 replies

yourhairiswinterfire · 09/12/2020 18:51

For calling them a transphobic hate group, and referring to other women as 'terfs'. Glad to see it.

They found he had breached the party’s constitution by failing to treat members of the public with respect

fairplayforwomen.com/liberal-democrat-councillor-matt-downey-apology/

Had to roll my eyes at this bit:

But when he was asked whether he could point to specific instances that justified his description of Fair Play for Women as transphobic. He said he could not but felt “Fair Play for Women’s public comments are self-explanatory”. He argued that the group does not campaign on a wide range of women’s rights but only in relation to issues which deny trans people their rights.

Later in the hearing when Dr Williams was explaining the work of Fair Play For Women to the panel she said “All transwomen are born male and sometimes that matters in policy making”. Cllr Downey highlighted this as evidence of ‘transphobia’.

He thinks a statement of fact is evidence of transphobia. How bloody silly.

OP posts:
Defaultname · 09/12/2020 22:00

"Youngest Councillor in Cambridgeshire." !

yourhairiswinterfire · 09/12/2020 22:02

I hope they sue too. I'd love to see their evidence of hate, in court, presented to a judge to see them get laughed out of the fucking room.

Charley '' 2 time PPC, first trans PPC in Wales, first non binary council candidate and first non binary GLA candidate, if you want to be strictly accurate '' Hasted is prepared to stand by their accusation that FPFW are a hate group in any English Court. (I'm cringing so hard for this one. So, so hard.)

OP posts:
PronounssheRa · 09/12/2020 22:09

God, the libdems are full to bursting with thoroughly unpleasant, hard of thinking individuals.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 09/12/2020 22:23

LibDems say FPFW are lying...

twitter.com/esbagshaw/status/1336792214542938113?s=19

Lib Dem Councillor Matt Downey forced to apologise to FPFW.
BaronessWrongCrowd · 09/12/2020 22:36

So the Lib Dems condone libellous statements and bullying behaviour made by members of their party.

They really don't have a clue do they. No wonder they tanked in the election. I wouldn't vote for them.

2020inhouse · 09/12/2020 22:43

Wow what an awful awful party. He is a great representative for them really.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 09/12/2020 23:02

I'm fairly certain he was one of my son's best friends at 6th form, although I don't recognise him with the beard.

If it's the same person, he featured on the cover of The Observer magazine when he was 16 as a potential future party leader (article about youth and politics). There won't be any party to lead at this rate and he really isn't doing himself any favours.

littlbrowndog · 09/12/2020 23:06

Lib Dem’s. no hopers.

PlantMam · 09/12/2020 23:28

@Winesalot

The lack of definition of transphobia, and the casting of the net to be so wide as to include statements of irrefutable fact is eventually going to backfire.
I saw someone complain that the Guardians use of the phrase ‘Biological Women’ (in yesterday’s article about the study on physical effects of cross sex hormones on members of the US Airforce!) is transphobic earlier today.

Good luck with getting the majority of the public to agree with that!

Defaultname · 10/12/2020 00:54

@EmmaGrundyForPM

I'm fairly certain he was one of my son's best friends at 6th form, although I don't recognise him with the beard.

If it's the same person, he featured on the cover of The Observer magazine when he was 16 as a potential future party leader (article about youth and politics). There won't be any party to lead at this rate and he really isn't doing himself any favours.

Was he an apiarist?

www.picfair.com/pics/06991969-bee-beard

TomatoesAreFruit · 10/12/2020 05:17

I live in a Conservative safe seat for about a gazillion years. The MP is hugely unpopular locally but keeps on getting voted in. A local Conservative Councillor is currently defending cuts to children with SENs services on social media.

The only other party that has a presence in the area is Lib Dems. I read the above and weep.

The residents of my local area don't have an affinity for the twitter style identity politics that the lib dems currently offer. They need to have a rethink on this stuff and figure out what it is important to people outside their own little bubble.

SophocIestheFox · 10/12/2020 07:35

They really are doubling down on this.

Using phrases or language to describe trans people which are designed to suggest that trans people are a separate category of person from the gender they identify as or that their gender identity is not valid. Current examples include referring to a trans woman or non-binary person as a “biological man” or a trans man or non-binary person as a “biological woman”, which eradicates the trans person’s gender identity in favour of their biology at birth

This bit is out-there bonkers. You can only BE trans if you are biologically of the sex that you are transitioning away from, otherwise being trans doesn’t exist. Are they erasing themselves? Confused

I do have to say that I am very much enjoying the beard’n’pronouns combo. Thanks Matt!

highame · 10/12/2020 08:45

FPFW was recently crowdfundung. I think very small unit doing very hard work for women. It makes me think this guy is just an absolute misogynistic arse. Do these guys know that it would be very difficult for her to fund court action. I hope though that some very good women lawyers would be willing to assist . I would definitely assist with crowdfunding but I think the Lib Dems would back down very quickly and should do a very public apology for the nasty party they have become

LizzieSiddal · 10/12/2020 09:41

Maybe FPFW should start another crowdfunded, a legal fund, which could mean the ability to send solicitor letters threatening legal action, to idiots (being polite) like this.

SunsetBeetch · 10/12/2020 10:27

[quote nauticant]Unfortunately he's straight back at it:

twitter.com/MattDowneyEly/status/1336763333572239363[/quote]
What a lying arsehole. The FPFW stats were proven to be correct

Archived his tweets here:

archive.vn/6JnCf

SunsetBeetch · 10/12/2020 10:36

[quote ItsAllGoingToBeFine]LibDems say FPFW are lying...

twitter.com/esbagshaw/status/1336792214542938113?s=19[/quote]
Lots of Lid Dems there calling FPFW a "transphobic hate group". And of course Katie Montgomerie rears their head.

What an absolute shower of losers and weirdos they are. Good job they will never have a sniff of power ever again. (And I'm speaking as someone who voted for Nick Clegg's party at the time.)

PigeonPants · 10/12/2020 13:22

Aww, that pic makes me nostalgic for my Babcia’s stories about gentle Siberian giants who let whole families of birds nest in their beards over the winter. When it warms up in spring and everyone shaves, the birds tumble out and take the beard clippings to make nests in the trees.

This person, though, appears to be a straight up, old school misogynist.

“He argued that the group does not campaign on a wide range of women’s rights but only in relation to issues which deny trans people their rights...”

TARGET a group of women (only) organised around shared immediate concerns and yell that they’re focused on the “wrong” issues. Completely ignore everything women (and anyone with common sense) is telling you about the negative impact of chaotic lawmaking, and simply disappear the pesky women and make up a ridiculous reason to explain thei perfectly logical behaviour. How dare they not focus on the issues YOU say they should?
Vy
“... she said “All transwomen are born male and sometimes that matters in policy making”. Cllr Downey highlighted this as evidence of ‘transphobia’.”

DEMAND that a specific woman (or women in general) parrot your made-up script while you yourself haven’t the wit to understand or engage with the actual arguments being made.

“Transphobia, whether through words or action, may be targeted at people who are, or who are perceived to be, trans or trans allies.

REDEFINE your motley crew of misogynists, incels, and bullies as a protected class and thus every irresponsible comment as protected speech as long as you appropriate the (imagined) experience of trans people in the process. (See also: DARVO).

Yep, this person ticks all the boxes. He’s a nonentity, but the Lib Dems are showing their arses defending him.

YouNoob · 10/12/2020 15:29

PigeonPants. Aww at your story about birds nesting in beards. Sounds lovely.

Also: agree with everything else you have said.

YouNoob · 10/12/2020 15:33

Plus: another email or 5 to send. Disgusting behaviour from LibDems. It's almost like they won't get voted in and so they know they have nothing to lose.

PurpleHoodie · 10/12/2020 15:47

The Liberal Democrats do realise that women have the vote?

And can read/listen. Yes?

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 10/12/2020 15:50

Define woman...

PurpleHoodie · 10/12/2020 16:21

When did women in any country get the vote. In say - the last 140 years? (Or hereditary Rights /Primogenture?)

How did/do those countries define "Women".

Case Law please

PurpleHoodie · 10/12/2020 16:22

Anecdotes?

PurpleHoodie · 10/12/2020 16:23

Common Law?

We need specific examples on how countries define "Woman".

donquixotedelamancha · 10/12/2020 21:27

I live in a Conservative safe seat for about a gazillion years. The MP is hugely unpopular locally but keeps on getting voted in. A local Conservative Councillor is currently defending cuts to children with SENs services on social media. The only other party that has a presence in the area is Lib Dems. I read the above and weep.

I live somewhere similar. Even the local Tories hate the MP- he's a special kind of awful. The Lib Dems were once within shouting distance of taking it; last time they were third behind Corbyn's Labour and so the Tories have more votes than both of them together.

Speaking for my people: the North absolutely fucking hates this PoMo bullshit.

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