A woman driven out of her therapy group by a trans woman's presence

[PostingForTheFirstTime]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10249633/Rape-victim-forced-quit-therapy-sessions-feels-threatened-6ft-trans-woman.html

Ugh so either sex could apply for that role. Except actually I couldn’t as I am a women, I don’t self identify as one.

It’s so insane and stupid. I was on a training course today where the trainer said male and then looked worried and said anyone who identifies as a male, thus completely ruining the point he was making.

It's the same with the helpline operators, the advert says 'must identify as a woman'.

First of all, that rules me and most of the female population out because people who happen to be born female generally don't identify as anything.

Secondly, and more seriously, women who have been raped or abused and want to speak to a woman may call the helpline and have a male voice answer.

I raised it all with the CEO and head of operations. They completely ignored me.

And they can repeat anyone who 'self identifies as a women can apply' as much as they like, it is not what Schedule 9. says.www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/16/26/1?view=plain There is a specific example of a rape crisis service - it's right there in the document they are citing!

Urgh. Hopefully the link will work this time! www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/16/26/1?view=plain

I've put a shout out on Twitter for the CEO to get in touch with me. Let's see if she does. I doubt it somehow.

I haven't got anything very helpful to contribute IamSarah but I'm looking out for your posts every day. I think you're doing an amazing thing and I hope you're getting lots of support

Iamsarah have you had any luck finding a lawyer or lawyers for your case? There are a number of discrimination lawyers who have worked on Gender Critical cases. But actually, someone in the right area of law who isn't involved in this fight might be able to cast a fresh eye over the legal situation too. I'm sure there would be lots of different ways of looking at it and different potential legal avenues.

And you know that there will be loads of willingness to support with crowdfunding!

I hope you are OK. Don't feel you have to keep explaining yourself to unsympathetic people on twitter. If they can't see it and their immediate thought is that your motives are hateful, then they are not going to see it. Lots of sensible people do see it because it's so obvious!

Also, I know you have had lots of messages from women in a similar position, but please do keep questioning whether it's the right to do for you. I'm aware that by encouraging and supporting with offers of money (like I've just done!) that we're also putting pressure on. Think of yourself first.

Good luck!

Thanks Manderleyagain

Yes lawyers are engaged and I will share details as soon as I can.

To make it clear the case won't be for compensation. I definitely do not want to make money from this.

It's mentally and emotionally exhausting but will hopefully benefit thousands of women so it's all going to be worth it.

Let us know when we need to dig, IamSarah

@IamSarah

Thanks Manderleyagain

Yes lawyers are engaged and I will share details as soon as I can.

To make it clear the case won't be for compensation. I definitely do not want to make money from this.

It's mentally and emotionally exhausting but will hopefully benefit thousands of women so it's all going to be worth it.

When you look at the precedent, and the potential issues for female people who may struggle to access medical care, hospital wards, refuges, support groups, facilities of all kinds in this brave new world where females must be excluded because the mere existence of a group for them alongside the much better, wider male offer offends males?

It could easily be hundreds of thousands, Sarah. My hat is off to you. These women could so easily just vanish off the radar and go without, while it's demonstrated all over again that the reason females need their own services is that in mixed sex services for women those services are wholly dominated by and focused on the much more valued needs of males, to the detriment of the females, and to the much less successful meeting of their needs. If they can access at all.

The needing to raise bloody money makes me so angry.

The people demanding all in sundry dont stick their hands in their pockets (it’s all threats and businesses coughing up - plus gullible folx donating to ‘charities’- all this for setting up their own spaces and specialist facilities? No not really, so I’m not sure where all this dosh is going...)

In the meantime, women are donating and raising money that could be spent on a million other things.

@KittenKong

The needing to raise bloody money makes me so angry.

The people demanding all in sundry dont stick their hands in their pockets (it’s all threats and businesses coughing up - plus gullible folx donating to ‘charities’- all this for setting up their own spaces and specialist facilities? No not really, so I’m not sure where all this dosh is going...)

In the meantime, women are donating and raising money that could be spent on a million other things.

I'm being pragmatic. I resent it but without it the losses continue to stack up and we will pay the costs in women and children's lives and wellbeing.

I could fair do with a second job to be able to fund all of the causes I wish to support.

I look at it as - what we have to lose is far more valuable - but come on, I’d rather give the money (had earned money) to a charity. Those protesting idiots don’t spend a dime.

Someone just sent me this, a very powerful read and thought I would share on here too. An account of a sexual abuse survivor and her trauma response to males:

leelaventura05.wixsite.com/website/post/when-you-put-preferred-pronouns-in-your-email-signature

IamSarah although I understand you not wanting compensation because the ideology that has impacted on you gaining help is the overriding factor, I would say, don't write this off. These organisations wont get the message unless they suffer and although bad publicity is a bit fat message, financial pain might also help. You could start a fund to set up an independent refuge or donate to a really good women's rights organisations such as Sex Matters or FairPlayForWomen - other charities are available

Hope you're ok. Take care of yourself

Thanks highame my friends are encouraging me to set up an independent women's refuge and I am seriously considering it. One step at a time.

IamSarah
Yes lawyers are engaged and I will share details as soon as I can.
That is great to hear. I'm glad you have managed to get some legal bods on board. I will keepy my ears peeled for updates.

I agree with this from highame
IamSarah although I understand you not wanting compensation because the ideology that has impacted on you gaining help is the overriding factor, I would say, don't write this off.

Whatever your goal is, choose the legal avenue that it most likely to get to that. You don't have to keep any money. The law does seem to be set up so that if you want an acknowledgement that you've been discriminated against, that's done through financial compensation.

Anyway I'm sure you will get good legal advice from people who know their stuff. Best of luck, and look after yourself.

@IamSarah

Thanks highame my friends are encouraging me to set up an independent women's refuge and I am seriously considering it. One step at a time.

I'm sure there are plenty of women itching to donate xx

This is very brave and much needed. I hope that you know we are all with you as we know how important single sex support services are. It is incredible that we have not been able to stop the loss of such services. I hope that by fighting back, you will continue to draw strength for dealing with what was done to you. Let us know when you need help funding , and hope you already have more personal support from other women around you.

There is a webinar happening advertised by West Sussex County Council - an opportunity to raise these questions directly
This Thursday (9 December) at 10am, our West Sussex Community Safety Team are hosting a free webinar alongside East Sussex County Council & Brighton and Hove CC to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

The webinar has some fantastic guest speakers, including Hersana CIC, Lifecentre UK, Survivors' Network & Ryan Hart - activist and author of 'Remembered Forever' (Luke and Ryan Hart).

To book your ticket to this event, visit ow.ly/ibTr50H2ySg.

[quote rainbowfam]There is a webinar happening advertised by West Sussex County Council - an opportunity to raise these questions directly
This Thursday (9 December) at 10am, our West Sussex Community Safety Team are hosting a free webinar alongside East Sussex County Council & Brighton and Hove CC to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

The webinar has some fantastic guest speakers, including Hersana CIC, Lifecentre UK, Survivors' Network & Ryan Hart - activist and author of 'Remembered Forever' (Luke and Ryan Hart).

To book your ticket to this event, visit ow.ly/ibTr50H2ySg.[/quote]

Thanks for sharing this. I just tried to book a ticket but it has sold out.

I don't suppose you would be able to ask a question to Survivors Network on my behalf?

'Why do you feel unable to provide female service users with a single sex group? And why are these women being blocked from accessing support?'

You can mention me, Sarah, who they have expelled for being the wrong sort of survivor.

Thank you for the further messages of support. I had an incredible amount of people get in touch to say they are behind me on this.

Also have great family, friends and lawyers.

Sadly still no support group but working on it.

I would be most interested, with lots of noises having been made about 'this is not the right space for you' and increasingly heard online 'go and make your own space (now you can't use your space any more because it's been forcibly turned mixed sex and made inaccessible to you)', whether openly setting up a female only space will be supported. Or permitted.

Having seen many times the intentional targeting and harassment and attempts to prevent any female people successfully doing this from the very same political group now suggesting it.

There is no sense arguing that females wanting weird and unreasonable things like equality of access to women's provision as taxpayers, equal inclusion and diversity to that provided for male born people, space away from male people, must go and fund and set up and work for those things themselves. (All over again. Having had the first set they made taken off them and re purposed for male need.) If in reality, they will be prevented from setting up or harassed to be male centric in policy in a way that would exclude the same females already excluded from the existing services.

Will tolerance and value for accessibility/inclusion and diversity for females be supported at all? Or even permitted? By those refusing to provide for this population on grounds of political intolerance?

I have just checked and tickets are now open! Still spaces

This Thursday (9 December) at 10am, our West Sussex Community Safety Team are hosting a free webinar alongside East Sussex County Council & Brighton and Hove CC to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

The webinar has some fantastic guest speakers, including Hersana CIC, Lifecentre UK, Survivors' Network & Ryan Hart - activist and author of 'Remembered Forever' (Luke and Ryan Hart).

To book your ticket to this event, visit ow.ly/ibTr50H2ySg.

Just checked tix are open