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

I am so sorry Sarah.
That the person chose to not use the group set up for trans bit instead chose to place themselves into the women's group is horribly unsurprising.

Thank you for the messages of support. Once the charity told me their groups weren't for me they completely stopped responding my emails and made it clear I wasn't welcome back.

All I asked was for one separate group which wasn't accessible to people born male which is completely legal and even supported by the CEO of Stonewall.

Really upset with how they've treated me, and completely dismissed my concerns, hence why I've shared the story.

*but

@EishetChayil

Why isn't stonewall using its influence and money to create specific support groups for trans people who are victims of abuse? That's what I'd like to know.

Exactly. I’m sure many trans people have been victims of abuse and would welcome a group which they could feel truly part of.

All I asked was for one separate group which wasn't accessible to people born male which is completely legal and even supported by the CEO of Stonewall.

This is an important point. Nancy Kelly did specifically say this in her WH interview the other week. It would be good if she could speak out to these groups and say there's nothing wrong (and everything right) with having female- only groups.
It doesn't matter if the TW is the loveliest kindest person in the world - it's not about them but about the presence of a non-female born person in the room. It's great there are trans specific groups.

The injustice of this is absolutely mind-blowing. How dare they take a service set up for female victims of male violence, and then invite males in to push females out?

There is a trans group. A men's group. The only group of people who are not allowed their own space are the group of people who actually need it most: women.

I just came on here to post this article. I can't believe there's not a single female only group in Brighton, if anyone is thinking of setting one up I'd definitely donate £££s xx

Sarah do you know if others have left the group?

This is sickening.

This article was shared by the service I used and quotes the CEO which shows how completely different their mindset is. It doesn't acknowledge the thoughts, feelings and experiences of women who have been abused / raped at all:

gal-dem.com/trans-inclusive-sexual-violence-services/

Sarah, I applaud your courage in speaking out like this and highlighting what is happening to women's much-needed facilities and resources.

I am so sorry that you didn't receive the support that you needed from other group members or the organisation.

I am angry that organisations are so ensorcelled by gender identity ideology that they set aside their moral compass and concentrate only on the intersectional needs of one person rather than that of ethics and empathy for the care of the women in the group.

Wow, that article is probably worth its own thread.

For Mridul, the question of trans inclusivity ultimately goes back to the very roots of exclusion — and the failure to build an intersectional VAWG sector lies with those who helped create it and maintain institutional power today.

“These services were set up by white women, and they mainly cater to white cis women,” she says. “So, our journey to inclusion has not just begun with inclusion of trans people. It’s about the inclusion of any other minority who has been historically, and even currently, been excluded from how our services are organised.”

It doesn't acknowledge the thoughts, feelings and experiences of women who have been abused / raped at all:

I'm familiar with that article. It's awful and they were so pleased with themselves.

@Flapjak

Sorry this has happened to you Sarah. Its probably they are getting funding on being trans inclusive' which is why they operating this agenda. I think women are going to need to start again and set up their own support groups which are strictly based on biological sex. I strughle to understand how feminist women think that having a male in a group of women who have experienced rape and abuse is not going to make women feel unsafe and uncomfortable. How do they know that males wont infiltrate the group purely to feed of womens trauma, after all no one can see whats in someones mind, a bit like gender identity.

Yes, here and in so many other areas - looking at Girl Guides - there's a kind of wilful naivety, and a refusal to comprehend that there is a clash of rights, and no regard for safeguarding.

Oh Sarah

our journey to inclusion has not just begun with inclusion of trans people. It’s about the inclusion of any other minority who has been historically, and even currently, been excluded

Support of rape victims is not about inclusion, ffs. It's about supporting rape victims.

@EishetChayil

Why isn't stonewall using its influence and money to create specific support groups for trans people who are victims of abuse? That's what I'd like to know.

Many people have asked the same good question, Eishet. Stonewall never replies, but the answer seems obvious. It’s not about supporting survivors. It’s about pushing into women’s space, breaking women’s boundaries.

Is Mridul the male born person who claims that women are likely to have an orgasm when they are raped?

Sarah - so sorry you went through this.

I am a middle aged woman with a 10 year old daughter so follow these issues intently, and share articles to like minded female and male friends. I would guess 90% of the population agree with the ridiculousness of the situation.

I too would happily donate to a woman only (adult human female only) charity.

'“I feel like you need to have the buy-in on all levels,” Jay Breslaw says. “And we specifically ask questions around trans inclusivity, if we have new board members, because actually […] we know that there’s a sort of transphobia that sometimes isn’t immediately obvious.” '

From the article you posted, IAmSarah. I find that statement reminds me of something ...

Support of rape victims is not about inclusion, ffs. It's about supporting rape victims.

Not for those ***. The rape victims are there to support "any other minority who has been historically excluded".

Kitty believes it was very important for the trans survivors to meet the group facilitators beforehand, so they knew what to expect and felt they were entering a space where they would be safe. She and Ruairi consulted the group members on how they felt about her involvement as a cis woman in running a service for trans survivors, and the group approved.

That's lovely. But why is this missing:

"Mridul believes it was very important for the female survivors to meet the group facilitators beforehand, so they knew what to expect and felt they were entering a space where they would be safe. Mridul consulted the group members on how they felt about Mridul's involvement as a male in running a service for female survivors, and the group approved."?

'“I think it’s really important for rape crisis centres to recognise that being trauma-informed, and being truly feminist at principle, is the same as being trans inclusive,” Kitty says.'

It is if words don't mean anything anymore. Why can't people use the words that they mean to use, why do people constantly have to smoosh meanings together?

Thank you for sharing your story Sarah.

@IamSarah

Furious for you and for all women subjected to this unthink.

I know it’s not the same but you have a virtual circle of women here, hearing you and honouring your boundaries.

@IamSarah I am so sorry to read about everything you have gone through and would like to thank you for speaking up.