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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Ben Hunte is back and gunning for Kemi Badenoch

100 replies

Imnobody4 · 17/09/2021 15:46

After his transfer out of his LGBT+++++ role in BBC he's now left them completely to work for Vice.
Unfortunately it's the same shoddy journalism
'Exclusive: The UK’s equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch, mocked LGBTQ rights, questioned same-sex marriage, and called trans women “men” in an audio recording obtained by VICE World News.'
t.co/1hAX0Bttu1

twitter.com/BenInLDN/status/1438801429796372480?s=19

OP posts:
nauticant · 18/09/2021 10:39

Woman with a trans history is the approved wording at the moment. No doubt that will change into something even more euphemistic.

Tibtom · 18/09/2021 10:41

@nauticant

Woman with a trans history is the approved wording at the moment. No doubt that will change into something even more euphemistic.
Women that matter?
Tibtom · 18/09/2021 10:42

As distinct from those who do not.

EmbarrassingAdmissions · 18/09/2021 10:42

It's unwise to think that anything is truly in confidence. As much as people are encourage to explore 'out of the box' thinking, out of context, it will always be vulnerable to misrepresentation. E.g., I remember a news story about a therapist years ago who had had a session covertly recorded and was represented as supporting terrorism. In context of the full recording, the therapist was mirroring the person's language to demonstrate listening and then used that to bridge to a discussion to challenge the thinking.

Unverified recordings and transcripts are just that unless several people who were in the room comment that this reflects their memory (and they may well have signed various Nolan principles declarations alongside other confidentiality agreements that would prevent them from doing this).

I often think that some committees would benefit from a member who is actively appointed to present a heterodox perspective which isn't even necessarily their own but would be rigorously researched and presented in a scrupulously fair manner. Fear of covert recording is one reason that this isn't done.

Obviously, this is working out well for Ben Hunte as he's unlikely to face opprobrium for running a story that suits the cognitive biases of so many and provides political ammunition for those who probably do know better but are willing to take advantage of this.

merrymouse · 18/09/2021 10:54

and provides political ammunition for those who probably do know better but are willing to take advantage of this.

Is it political ammunition though?

I don’t think it will change anyone’s mind about anything, which isn’t a problem for the Tories if they have a large majority.

CharlieParley · 18/09/2021 12:09

@nauticant

Woman with a trans history is the approved wording at the moment. No doubt that will change into something even more euphemistic.
I find that was one quietly amusing. As with all of these words and phrases misapplied in aid of an ideology, they don't quite work. Keira and all the other detransitioned women are also women with a trans history. So now the same phrase applies to men claiming womanhood and to women who once claimed manhood and then reclaimed womanhood.
LizzieSiddal · 18/09/2021 12:18

Thank god women highlighted to the BBC his inadequacy and lies in his “reports”. There’s absolutely no doubt he’s an embarrassment of a journalist. I expect he’ll be writing for Prick news next.

MiladyBerserko · 18/09/2021 12:18

Opposition to gay marriage was not unusual. Now that's it's in law, people seem to forget that there was huge debate about it. Bloody Obama opposed it, even if it is now claimed that this was political reasons. (That makes it just cowardly)

LizzieSiddal · 18/09/2021 12:21

“women with a trans have story”, oh I wonder why trans women wasn't good enough? It couldn’t possibly have be lengthen by four words so that it is totally cumbersome and everyone will ultimately decide to shortened it “women”. Hmm

They can fuck off.

EmbarrassingAdmissions · 18/09/2021 12:22

Is it political ammunition though?

If a fellow politician is questioning whether you should be in the job on the basis of such (decontextualised remarks) then I'd consider this to be an example where something is used as ammunition.

Jaysmith71 · 18/09/2021 12:34

At least there was a debate about gay marriage. Some LGBs opposed it in favour of civil partnerships because they saw marriage as part of a patriarchal power structure. There were also churches that supported it. It was nuanced and rather grown-up, by comparison to what we see today.

KimikosNightmare · 18/09/2021 13:13

@EmbarrassingAdmissions

Is it political ammunition though?

If a fellow politician is questioning whether you should be in the job on the basis of such (decontextualised remarks) then I'd consider this to be an example where something is used as ammunition.

Which fellow politician? Angela Raynor? If that's who you're referring to, getting criticised by her is about as good an endorsement Kemi Badenoch can get. Although the topper would be Dawn Butler of course.

Can't see Kemi Badenoch or Boris Johnson caring a fig about this.

merrymouse · 18/09/2021 13:58

Which fellow politician? Angela Raynor? If that's who you're referring to, getting criticised by her is about as good an endorsement Kemi Badenoch can get. Although the topper would be Dawn Butler of course.

Agree.

Also Lynne Truss has been pretty clear about her beliefs on this topic and was just made Foreign Secretary.

On this issue I think Starmer is worried about Labour losing Green/SNP/Libdem votes. Presumably somebody has told him that is a good strategy.

ChristinaXYZ · 18/09/2021 14:09

@Needmoresleep

I am glad Ben Hunte has left the BBC. There was no sense that he was prepared to offer the balance that is required of our national broadcaster. It was amazing he lasted so long…or perhaps not.
I cannot understand with all the scrutiny the BBC has been under in recent years especially after Martin Bashir that journalists as poor as BH ever got jobs in the first place. It is like the doubling down on making someone overtly political like Jess Brammar head of news. Whether you agree with Jess Brammar's views or not it does not bode well for women's rights and the even handed dealing with women's rights in news articles because JB is of the left, she will move in left wing circles and have left wing friends. And we all know what left-wing women have to pay if they try to accept women's reality. Is she really going to offend every person her world is made up of?
ChristinaXYZ · 18/09/2021 14:16

@MiladyBerserko

Opposition to gay marriage was not unusual. Now that's it's in law, people seem to forget that there was huge debate about it. Bloody Obama opposed it, even if it is now claimed that this was political reasons. (That makes it just cowardly)
Not allowing for opinions to evolve and for people change their mind is part of the purity bullying.

There was an excellent piece on the functioning of purity spirals and their use to concentrate power into the hands of a few on Savage Minds back in July. I like the author's view that the way the RC and other big churches avoid this is a broad concept of doctrine that allows for shades of views - a 'broad church' if you will. Until the dimwits in charge of the Labour Party get this they are destined to be a tiny evangelic church with a decreasing congregation of fewer and fewer members.

savageminds.substack.com/p/purity-spirals-and-true-believers

Jaysmith71 · 18/09/2021 14:18

.....Liz Truss

(although Lynne Truss as Foreign Secretary gets my vote.)

Jaysmith71 · 18/09/2021 14:25

...almost as good as "Home Secretary Amber Heard," (GMTV)

nauticant · 18/09/2021 15:38

I liked Lynne's Truss's book about Brexit: Eats, Shoots, and Leaves.

Melroses · 18/09/2021 17:25

twitter.com/robjessel/status/1439255250951618568

Apparently Mr Hunte sells his writing through a PR firm now.

Still no audio Hmm

IDanielRadcliffe · 18/09/2021 17:36

KB became an MP in 2017 and is now a minister. BH worked for the BBC and now works for Vice. They seem to be travelling in opposite directions...

Melroses · 18/09/2021 17:50

I don't think he works for Vice - he just sold a story to them via PR firm.

IDanielRadcliffe · 18/09/2021 18:03

Oh I misunderstood, thank you.

Artichokeleaves · 18/09/2021 20:16

This 2018 comment has been taken out of context, with the minister making a clear point about striking the balance for equality and fairness when there are multiple and often competing demands between different groups. It should not be used to misrepresent her views

What a refreshingly grown up response.

merrymouse · 18/09/2021 21:37

@Jaysmith71

.....Liz Truss

(although Lynne Truss as Foreign Secretary gets my vote.)

Sorry - wishful thinking!
Mollyollydolly · 18/09/2021 21:46

Raynor is an embarrassment. Everywhere I see Labour politicians saying 'don't get involved in the culture wars .. it's what Boris wants', yet the only MPs putting flames under this rubbish are Labour. All the Tories have to do is stay quiet.
And Hunte .. well I suspect The BBC heaved a huge sigh of relief when he left. It's a shame .. he could have done really important work there, but he never got past his activism, dreadful journalist.
All this will do his raise Kemi's profile and people's respect for her. A terrible hit job from Hunte.