Carrie and stonewall

[impossibletoday]

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/220d2f28-2615-11ec-8024-639cd6774533?shareToken=7827608cf64703bf5602ca031254a536

@ArabellaScott

Elena Bunbury is a name I've heard before.

No relative to Germaine, I presume.

As chair of the LGBT Conservatives or whatever it is, I think she organised this.

twitter.com/sarahstuartxx/status/1305047726896414720?s=21

I thought Carrie’s speech was very bland and in fact noted that she didn’t mention trans rights specifically at all.

I agree. The conservatives are the only party who are not in favour of self ID. So CJ is being used to tell the world, they are LGBT friendly. None of that means they’ve changed their minds and will bring in Self ID.

twitter.com/hannahalothman/status/1445445336890101765?s=21

Liz truss was at the meeting, I wonder if anyone from stonewall was there? (I’d love to be a fly in the walk for that!)

The short speech is here:

Very bland, it's all "LGBT+" as a monolithic entity (but no Q), there is at least one passing mention of gender identity, and she talks about conversion therapy although won't understand that it has very different meanings for LGB and for T.

“As health secretary I think biology matters. Someone biologically, if they are born a man or woman, will have to some extent have different health needs."

Well said Sajid Javid. I know he's a Tory and I'm wary of them all, but having a health secretary with an awareness of not only science and common sense, but also women's health, and who's prepared to talk about that, is a massive, refreshing relief. It's so bizarre that it's remarkable to hear that though.

That was a sweet speech really, a nice reminder of the gains made in the U.K. re same sex marriage and that globally being same-sex attracted is still a crime and/or punishable by death in 11 countries. Something important to focus on, perhaps a nice reminder to Stonewall too.

CJ referred to "who you love" when saying 'LGBT+' so it came across as very focused on sexual orientation to me. She didn't say trans once I don't think. She said lesbian once. Short and sweet, maybe the rainbows and glitter were to be saved for the dance floor.

It sounds like Sajid Javid knows what a cervix is. Perhaps he can show David Lammy?

Really interesting. Very interesting.

I note-

1. Not elected so her speech can't be taken as from a Tory representative etc. Just an individual

1. Also no expectation/ obligation etc to discuss, answer questions or challenges. Not going to be interviewed on Andrew Marr etc. And no expectation to do so. As not a politician.

1. When it's this topic it's often a woman put forward. For a number of reasons.

It's women who don't like it she's one and in favour. So those saying bad for women, other women are in favour.

Women are the sex seen as nice, kind. Also this sort of thing is usually seen as 'women's issues' anyway. Here she will be taken by men in general to be addressing women. Being nice and caring is their thing. Nothing to do with us. Auto switch off.

Trying to leverage female be kind socialisation.
...

It's a carefully thought out approach, her doing this speech.

Yep very interesting.

@ArabellaScott

Elena Bunbury is a name I've heard before.

No relative to Germaine, I presume.

I was amused to see she’s a real person. I thought the first mention of her on the thread was an oblique heads-up about a disruptor. She could be Germaine’s granddaughter.

I think NiceGerbil has a point.

Stonewall may have got the attention, but they did not get a front line politician, the LGBA meeting went ahead, and they did not get endorsement for their T policies.

At the same time both the Foreign Secretary and Health Secretary are openly questioning some of their policies/approaches.

The attention Carrie got, the warm bland words she spoke and the fact that BJ was in the audience will make it harder for Stonewall to accuse the Tories of being the ‘nasty party’ but they must be disappointed. For them things are some way from Theresa May’s ringing endorsement.

Very interesting?
Very sneaky imv. Boris isn't going to come out being 'kind' to Trans people - he might lose a few thousand womens' votes - how to get round this and avoid being accused of being a transphobe -Aaaaaah get kind concerned wife to speak instead.

On cervical screening - this pic was in the Sumday Times magazine this Sunday - about ovarian cancer but listing the symptoms as bloated tummy, feeling full, needing to wee - surely that could be prostate problems or ibs? no mention of women - I think it's really dangerous, though i suppose they presume Times readers will know what ovarian cancer is - but if this is used country wide I wouldn't think people would. Im shocked that anyone thinks this is the type of ad to use if there is a serious problem with women not attending their GPs for tests.

Maybe a daft question, but why is a politician's wife giving a speech at a party conference?

Perhaps because no politician wanted to do it?

I agree it’s odd, but Stonewall traditionally hold events at party conferences and someone needs to speak. Its apparently the first time a PMs partner has spoken at a Tory conference.

Carrie Antionette is not elected which is what makes her influence so problematic, along with all the rest of Bodger's oligarch mates.

Bring Back Norma Major.

I thought it odd too Necessary, we don't have the US position of First Lady, has the Prime Minister's wife made a speech at part conference before?

From other footage on Twitter you can see Bunbury also giving Nancy Kelly a warm hug and Michael Cashman standing beside Kelly. Interesting that he wasn't giving the speech, as Gerbil and Need say, seems a deliberate, strategic move to have CJ do it.

we don't have the US position of First Lady

But we do have Larry The Cat

twitter.com/Number10cat/status/1444678510686216192

That is a strange advertisement @Spiindoctor
No mention of women, but a picture of someone one can assume is a woman but she must be a doctor with her stethoscope - is she meant to signify "women's troubles", that you might want a female practitioner if you were allowed to ask for one for? It's very non specific and oblique. Of course the symptoms of ovarian cancer tend to be rather non specific but the same applies to several other cancers as well as non malignant problems like IBS.
It doesn't seem very helpful overall.

I agree it needs to say it affects females.

Vivarium am in some agreement. This is a fine strategy. Most GC women are 'phobes' but the Tory party is always branded as anti-gay rights (though evidence suggests other), so they need to be supportive. However, they are aware that the public at large, when given and understanding the facts, are not supportive of some aspects of trans rights (self id, medicating children etc). The cynic in me says this is a ploy to be both sides of the divide. Sajid Javid and Liz Truss being clearly GC shore up the other side.

They're waiting for the dam to burst before they strengthen any laws but women at the moment are finding the arguments all on their side, Violence against women and girls have pushed us right up the agenda.

pushed us right up the agenda sounds like a euphemism 🤣🤣🤣

Carrie Antionette is not elected which is what makes her influence so problematic, along with all the rest of Bodger's oligarch mates.

Bring Back Norma Major.

But spouses have probably had a huge influence on most PMs over the years. Just more behind the scenes.

I also thought it was carefully done by Carrie - generally supportive, didn't mention TWAW, most oppressed or contradict anything Truss or Javid said.

But spouses have probably had a huge influence on most PMs over the years.

Maybe not most, but plenty, notably Denis Thatcher.

She could easily have talked about trans rights if that's the direction they want. There must be a reason why not, and presumably it's the massive backlash they can see just over the garden fence.