Hello gardeners.
It's been such a hard couple of days and reading your comments and watching the crowdjustice fund go up has been thrilling, supportive, terrifying and overwhelming. So many women are giving less than £25 and apologising for the small amount. It's made me realise what a tremendous honour and duty I have to make sure we win. This is not for me - let's face it I am at the end of my career and there are no more glittering prizes to be had because I have had them all. But equally, the university can take nothing from me. The last two years of my life - ever since I spoke out against Stonewall and for single sex exemptions (which are perfectly lawful!) to be applied in prisons I have been hounded by academic colleagues. Not students. Colleagues. The University of Essex unlawfully blacklisted me. My colleagues at the OU got on the bandwagon. Once I and colleagues launched the Open University Gender Critical Network (THANK YOU MAYA), it was open season.
I have survived much in my life. The harassment brought me to my knees earlier this summer. But, I am standing up, proud and ready to fight - and HELD by all of you. Your show of support has given me such strength.
So, this will be the hill I die on. Nothing will stop me now - I believe in professional responsibilities and ethics. I believe in academic freedom. And, I am gender critical and hope to be among the first academics developing this as a legitimate academic perspective.
Thank you for all the support so far. Imagine the show of force if we smash the goal by the end of the week. The Open University will realise they are not just dealing with 1 professor but with an army.
We need a few more shovel fulls, please and spread the word. And if any of you want to contact me - please do. I'm easily found.