Stonewall facing ‘exodus’ from scheme as ministers lose faith

[PandorasMailbox]

From today's Times

"The Ministry of Justice is preparing to leave Stonewall’s diversity scheme leading to an “exodus” of government departments severing ties with the charity, sources suggest"

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bf1455cc-c6f1-11eb-b6f5-fed739e7c1ca?shareToken=9086531317b8e273ea11d2a00ce10dc1

[WhatMattersMost]

Plus, it's really interesting, as with the Sarah Vine article, that the issue that seems to infuriate people more than any other is not rapists being put in women's prisons or men taking part in women's sport but the erasure of the words "mother" and "women". Words and their meanings seem to affect people in a particularly profound way.

Unlike any other example, "mother" in particular is universal: many of us are mothers, and all of us without exception have one - and mothers have a profound impact on our lives, for better and worse. The archetype of "mother" pervades every level of society and religion.

[PandorasMailbox]

@FOJN

I wonder how many other Stonewall adjacent people will suddenly decide to take a break from social media or go on a sabbatical from their jobs for the good of their health? I.E, they've been rumbled and realise the jig is up....

Wasn't it the SW Comms Director who did this? I think I've seen that job advertised in the last few days.

That's right. Jeffrey Ingold's "taking a break" apparently.

[ErrolTheDragon]

I think Purves is a 'common sense and kindness' sort of person, and has taken a while to realise how women's kindness has been exploited and common sense thrown to the winds. And she's written one of the few parenting books I ever came across which made me laugh - 'how not to be a perfect parent'. And she knows the pain of losing a child... this was surely not a matter she can be neutral on.


Nor are many of us in the physical-gestation business likely to be thrilled to be called “a pregnant person”, as is now advised by the BMA. Come on! Medical staff could simply have been enjoined to show ordinary tact and kindness towards the very, very tiny number of trans families. But no, we had to have this showboating nonsense which makes many women - now there's a good word - feel downright insulted, or resent trans people for causing it. Not, of course, that many did: some cringe like the rest of us.

[ArabellaScott]

@BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted

There are far too many pressure-groups with a hand in this. Press for Change, Trans Media Watch, Scottish Trans Alliance and on and on.

I’d like to see a formal gov’t enquiry into the lot of them

Yes, only as the ScotGov fund a goodly proportion of these fringe lobby groups, we'd also need an independent enquiry into the Scotgov. Which would also be good.

[ArabellaScott]

Wow, it's almost like all the hot air and fury on social media does not actually equate to action in real life.

To read some of the self righteous nonsense written on this one would think that Stonewall were still considered a respected, well-thought of organisation, rather than a toxic, misguided lobby group appealing to a very small, very fringe, if very vocal, strand of queer theorists.

Funny, that.

Watching with interest.

[Ereshkigalangcleg]

Wasn't it the SW Comms Director who did this?

Yes it was their head of media, or similar.

[SpindleWhorl]

Owen Jones (aged 36, nearly 37) is entering middle age and has the air of a man who refuses to acknowledge that he no longer has either the veneer or the shield of youth.

Similarly, Laurence Fox (aged 43) is desperate for relevance.

[Note: All ages given use the wiki system of measurement, and may bear no relation to reality]

[FOJN]

I wonder how many other Stonewall adjacent people will suddenly decide to take a break from social media or go on a sabbatical from their jobs for the good of their health? I.E, they've been rumbled and realise the jig is up....

Wasn't it the SW Comms Director who did this? I think I've seen that job advertised in the last few days.

[mollythemeerkat]

@vbhafjlb

I still can’t quite believe what is happening. All while Owen Jones rants on Twitter about how history will judge us harshly, as if he’s some all-knowing oracle.

I dont think OJ does listening.

[Tibtom]

Rat and sinking ships spring to mind.

That is fine. We need people to be able to change their minds - even if it just about distancing themselves from their previous ally-ship. The more people who do that, the easier it is for others to point out the rotten state of the ship and the harder it becomes for others to defend.

[TedImgoingmad]

Owen Jones = flip side of Laurence Fox
YES! They make a perfect whole. Great observation.

I am going to need brain bleach for the mental images this is conjuring.

[PandorasMailbox]

Me too @BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted

So many groups are exclusively trans, yet the same people want to force women-only groups to allow them access.

Their funding needs to be put under scrutiny, as do those employed by these groups. Especially those targeting children.

Looking at you Mermaids.

[BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted]

There are far too many pressure-groups with a hand in this. Press for Change, Trans Media Watch, Scottish Trans Alliance and on and on.

I’d like to see a formal gov’t enquiry into the lot of them

[highame]

well said mapgirl

[MapGirlExtraordinaire]

Apols for many typos above, writing while angry and walking

[MapGirlExtraordinaire]

Agree with OldCrone, Sarah vine etc have the monied privilege of being far removed from having to worry about prison, sports etc.

They don't even really have to worry about the lack of a legal definition of the word 'woman' because they're unlikely to fall foul of the law, don't use public loos and won't need a women's refuge.

So all the many many reasons why hordes of women like us on FWR have been sitting about this for ages pass them by. It's only when their label of mother is under threat that they act.

It does make me angry that so many loud voices which really sound have been added to this year's ago are only choosing now to speak out. It reeks of money and middle / upper class privilege.

But ultimately I'm a pragmatist, and whatever gets the job done! So a grudging thanks to Sarah vine and other voices finally making the case for common sense and fairness now, at this late hour

[WinterTrees]

I have a feeling that Libby Purves has very tentatively raised the top of her head a centimetre above the parapet before - she's in my mental file of 'cautiously onside' but I can't for the life of me remember why, which isn't much use. I have a feeling it was to do with families/children/mental health (she lost her son to suicide) so could have been around the time of the increased Mermaids scrutiny?

It's truly a cause for celebration that the atmosphere has changed enough that moderate voices feel able to speak up now, thanks to the ovaries-of-steel courage of women like Janice Turner, Allison Bailey, Susanne Moore, Kathleen Stock, Jane Clare Jones, Maya Forstater, Sarah Phillimore, Sonia Sodha, and - of course - JKR, who risked everything and went through hell by speaking first.

[OldCrone]

Plus, it's really interesting, as with the Sarah Vine article, that the issue that seems to infuriate people more than any other is not rapists being put in women's prisons or men taking part in women's sport but the erasure of the words "mother" and "women".

Perhaps because it's now aimed at them, so that makes it personal. Libby Purves and Sarah Vine are women and mothers themselves. They don't like their own identity and how they describe themselves to be dictated by the likes of Stonewall.

[Helleofabore]

This could be a very interesting week.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there will be a change in management at Stonewall in the offing.

[PandorasMailbox]

Rat and sinking ships spring to mind.

I wonder how many other Stonewall adjacent people will suddenly decide to take a break from social media or go on a sabbatical from their jobs for the good of their health? I.E, they've been rumbled and realise the jig is up....

[JoanOgden]

[quote Igneococcus]There is also this opinion piece by Libby Purves:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/6032a216-c705-11eb-b6f5-fed739e7c1ca?shareToken=a132a2e1cacee6fabca6be415421b629[/quote]
This is interesting as Libby Purves has historically been very much in favour of trans rights (in their old-style form); I well remember her very enthusiastic article when the GRA was passed, which influenced my own views, and one of her novels from a similar period has a very positive (and in retrospect slightly unconvincing) portrayal of a young trans character.

So, the fact that she now thinks that Enough is Enough is very telling.

[Lifeinthelastlane]

I like this line from the Libby Purves piece:
Yet now Stonewall, pivoting into power like the pigs in Animal Farm,
Thanks for the share, @Igneococcus

[UppityPuppity]

Glad Libby Purvis is speaking out about the erasure of women's language. Is this her first venture in GC commentary? What's been stopping her using her considerable platform until now? Wasn't the JKR witch hunt enough for her, Maya's case, all the other sacrificial lambs?

I do agree - and also over the scandalous treatment of Dame Jenni Murray.

HOWEVER - we need more people to speak out and therefore need give them the welcome when they do (however annoyingly belated).

In the annals of Great Feminism, JKR, MF and JM etc. have their places secured.

[LazyHorizon]

Owen Jones = flip side of Laurence Fox
YES! They make a perfect whole. Great observation.

[heathspeedwell]

Looking really hopeful for a complete exodus from Whitehall this week. I've got everything crossed, it will be huge if it happens.