Helen Mary Jones statement. Plaid cymru politician apologises for transphobia and will seek re-education

[Manderleyagain]

The Plaid politician has put this linked statement on twitter, in which she apologises for previous transphobic comments causing harm and for retweeting transphobes. She says she accepts Plaid Cymry's belief in the 'inalienable right' to self determine your own gender, and to access single sex facilities of your gender. She and others will get training from an external organisation approved by the trans community.

mobile.twitter.com/HelenMaryCymru/status/1369693703921664005

Her account will be deactivated soon could someone do a screen shot? Can't do it on my phone.

This is what has inspired me. Loads of women sending her a little bouquet each.

grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/operation-flowers-for-rosie-duffield

@Manderleyagain

The Plaid politician has put this linked statement on twitter, in which she apologises for previous transphobic comments causing harm and for retweeting transphobes. She says she accepts Plaid Cymry's belief in the 'inalienable right' to self determine your own gender, and to access single sex facilities of your gender. She and others will get training from an external organisation approved by the trans community.

mobile.twitter.com/HelenMaryCymru/status/1369693703921664005

Her account will be deactivated soon could someone do a screen shot? Can't do it on my phone.

It just reminds me of Jeremiah Denton's tv appearance.

Flowers are a lovely idea. Cards to her Senedd address to show support might be nice as well. They're easily done through Moonpig etc, or using up the notelets at the back of your stationery drawer. I think people of all political stripes are stunned and sickened by what's happened. Even the "can't you just be kind" mob.

The trans extremists are still going for her too, checking who her campaign team follows on Twitter, denigrating people who object to the bullying as 'transphobes', and still demanding she's sacked. I've lost faith in the whole lot of them. Wasn't Adam Price meant to be politically astute? He just seems out of touch with real life and with women's lives especially.

There was a lot of talk of Adam's prodigious intellect during the leadership competition, but he shat the bed early on with his patronising spiel about Leanne needing a male co-leader. It's the back-stabbing that I find so intolerable- it was fine to have Helen (post Cardiff Woman's Place event) back in the assembly when they were trying to gloss over Simon Thomas being a paedo, but hanging her out to dry and forcing a public recantation when politically expedient. Have come to feel that he is a bit of a shit.

Flowers are a lovely idea,. I suggest any message with them needs to say it's in sympathy for her being silenced, rather than it looking like it's congratulations for apparently recanting her gender critical beliefs.

Also, I'm not sure she's at the Senedd. Most things are being done remotely.

She's unlikely to be at the constituency office either. I think that's in Llanelli. There will be staff at the Senedd and I think it's safe to assume that most of the MSs with a Cardiff base will call in to the office from time to time. It will be noticeable to other Plaid MSs, researchers and staff if they are sent to the Senedd.

In a democracy, no one should stay a member/representative of a party that demands he/she accepts 're-education'. Smacks of 'thought-control'/totalitarian regime.

I’ve just been looking at her letter and its response. I’m finding it a bit worrying tbh. Her letter has been obviously amended without much effort or care by the amender. ‘Whilst I understand it will be up to the trans community...etc.’ I really want to know what did it say originally under those new words? Funnily enough the response letter seems to be in that same sans serif font that is used for the amend. I think the accuser has amended it and she is unable to complain that they are not her words.

@dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby

In a democracy, no one should stay a member/representative of a party that demands he/she accepts 're-education'. Smacks of 'thought-control'/totalitarian regime.

This ^^

@Toseland

I’ve just been looking at her letter and its response. I’m finding it a bit worrying tbh. Her letter has been obviously amended without much effort or care by the amender. ‘Whilst I understand it will be up to the trans community...etc.’ I really want to know what did it say originally under those new words? Funnily enough the response letter seems to be in that same sans serif font that is used for the amend. I think the accuser has amended it and she is unable to complain that they are not her words.

Where have you seen the response to her letter?

@oldcrone It's this, I think:
bit.ly/3bFRVwx

I would worry that sending flowers might look like it was for the apology. Can you request a meeting if you are a consituent?

These are all good points. I think the key may be suffragette colours in the flowers plus a personal note making it very clear we're on her side.

Thanks @bluebluediary that’s the one. Strange signature too. I find this all rather sinister.

I find it very odd that a 22 year old man with very little hinterland in Welsh politics (having come as a student to Bangor just a few years ago) holds such influence in a well established party - to the extent that they are dictating public statements on the part of senior party figures. I know we're seeing this across the board, but why are the grown ups allowing themselves to be held hostage to inexperienced, self absorbed individuals. HMJ has been a leading figure in Plaid for years - it's not just misogynistic to treat an experienced female politician in this way, it makes them look like a Mickey Mouse operation, a 6th form club, a bunch of bully boys.

it's not just misogynistic to treat an experienced female politician in this way, it makes them look like a Mickey Mouse operation, a 6th form club, a bunch of bully boys

This. 100% this.

I've decided on the back of this that in the Welsh elections I'll be voting for the 'Abolish the Senedd' candidate in my area. I'm increasingly failing to see the point in having a devolved form of government in Wales; all the petty posturing from our FM against Westminster over the pandemic this past year has been pathetic and embarrassing to observe.

I also fully expect Wales to copy Scotland with attempting to legally impose a free speech infringement against women in the near future. The treatment of Helen solidifies this belief.

rather than it looking like it's congratulations for apparently recanting her gender critical beliefs.

TRAs and their allies don't thank women for submitting/obeying, so I think it's pretty safe that she will know why they were sent.

Hurcum appears to have left Plaid Cymru and is now listed as an independent on the Bangor City Council website.

bangorcitycouncil.gov.wales/The-City-Council

So after all the bullying, Helen Mary Jones's apology still wasn't enough.

Screenshot is Hurcum's resignation as a Plaid Cymru candidate in the Senedd elections, setting out all Hurcum's demands about how the party should be run.

twitter.com/OwenJHurcum/status/1367156095815454726

In an exchange I had with her, Helen Mary told me that her Senedd email is sometimes opened by members of her staff, which was a hurdle to having free discussions about standing up for wonen's rights. This was about this time last year, so I imagine she may be even more 'policed' these days.
Worth bearing in mind when emailing perhaps.
Although, thinking about it, emails of support to her senedd address would show whoever else is reading her emails how much support she has...

I think what's happened in Scotland has left an awful lot of people wondering whether they really want to be citizens of a small devolved country with extremists who'll do anything to avoid being like England in charge.

I wouldn't send flowers. They'll probably just kick around in an office somewhere for days before they reach HMJ. I'd send her a postcard with a positive message written very clearly, so that staff can see that women are behind her.

Hurcum appears to have left Plaid Cymru and is now listed as an independent on the Bangor City Council website.

What a tragedy for the party, and for Wales.

I wouldn't send flowers. They'll probably just kick around in an office somewhere for days before they reach HMJ. I'd send her a postcard with a positive message written very clearly, so that staff can see that women are behind her.

Yes I agree.

I like the postcard idea.

Plaid's poor leadership and the illiberal hate crime legislation in Scotland have also caused me to reflect on the wisdom of further devolution in Wales.