Merched Cymru are a fantastic organisation. As they said, “ The Wales LGBTQ Action Plan is a commitment to ending women's sex based rights. We do not consent to a society organized around the belief system of gender rather than the objective reality of biological sex.”
We really must get Welsh Government to recognise that they are in a bubble with a small group of the Cardiff-centred so-called elite who do not represent the views of the majority of people in Wales. Welsh Labour will lose all the advantages they have gained through lockdown and Mark Drakeford should have the sense to listen to women who have supported him.
Sarah from LGBAlliance Cymru, Bronwen from Lesbian Labour, Kate from LGBAlliance, Sue from Labour Women’s Declaration, HelenR from Merched Cymru all spoke, giving their perspective on the Plan. (Had transport trouble so may have missed someone out at the beginning sorry and big apologies if I missed you!). Lianne from Get the L Out and Lisa-Maria from Filia were also there, while lovely Valley Girl HelenJ kept everyone in order and read out messages from supporters who couldn’t be there, including Helen Steel.
Sonya Douglas was incredible, moving and intensely focused. She talked of love, that we were acting through love to protect our young. The very young protesters stopped and listened.
twitter.com/sonyadouglas/status/1438057601598689282?s=21
There was passion there too, it was wonderful to hear lesbians speaking out, I found it very moving. We care about girls and young women as they face the pressures of their changing bodies in a porn fuelled, misogynistic, homophobic society.
There was singing, there was humour, there was righteous anger.
There was Glinner and Mr Menno, who told us of his experience in the gay community, and of the expectations that gay men will have sex with those people with vaginas! And led us in Sea shanties and songs, as did Côr Cochion .
I don’t care if we are accused of ‘Oooh, it’s a man!”. We make a bit of a fuss of them because they get it, they don’t ignore this troublesome issue, they listen to women, they support women, unlike the vast majority of men.
Another chap who spoke was Christian Wilton-King, who was taken to the EWC for his gender critical views. He is concerned about the high numbers of autistic children and young people who wish to transition. (I found this terrifying). He was passionate and I hope WG listen.
I am so proud to know these women, to be part of this movement. I know many of us felt that we were there representing all the women who dare not speak out., whose voices are silenced. They can’t speak out because they will be attacked by activists or their organisations have signed up to be Stonewall Champions or because, as in academia, it is career suicide. Like many of us they are one pay check away from financial disaster and feel unable to publicly share their opinions. A sad state of affairs.
I am terrified for our children if the proposed Plan gets through to legislation, so please follow the organisations who are challenging Welsh Government and lend them your support.
#CanThePlan!
(Here’s an excellent article in the Critic.
Jo Bartosch )
A bit of a ramble through the rally, it’s tiring in these post-Covid days, while also energising. I hope we get to meet up on other rallies and protests and gatherings. There must be someone who can design a MN FWR badge, for sure.