Big update on Rape Crisis legal challenge

[IamSarah]

I know many of you have been waiting for an update so first of all thank you for your patience and the many messages of support.

I am suing Survivors Network, the Sussex Rape Crisis service, as it refused to offer a single sex women’s group in addition to the mixed sex women’s groups. By mixed sex I mean inclusive of any males who identify as women.

I’ve been granted anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case and it was submitted to Brighton County Court today.

I am being represented by law firm Didlaw and my Barrister is Naomi Cunningham (Chair of Sex Matters). So far they have acted pro bono which I am incredibly grateful for as it has taken a lot of time. The team are confident I have a good case but this is unchartered territory for women’s rights.

Many of you have very kindly offered to be involved and help with gardening. I don’t think I’m allowed to share details on here so please go to my Twitter page http://twitter.com/SarahSurviving/ which has all the info in a pinned post.

Of you’re not on Twitter feel free to send me a DM for more information on how you can help the case. Any publicity you can give the crowd funder would really help.

Thank you everyone.

Sarah x

Bump.

Thanks for the bump and for the donations

Sorry I've been a bit quiet recently. Had a few IRL run ins with TRAs, they are trying to get me sacked, doxx me and cause problems for my family.

Basically trying to ruin my life because I asked for one single sex rape crisis group.

Sorry to read that @IamSarah I hope your family & your employer are sympathetic to your situation.

I am so sorry Sarah.

No one with any kind of balance or grip on reality can watch this behaviour without feeling horror at the sheer spite, nastiness and ugliness of it. It has nothing to do with wanting 'trans rights' it has purely to do with wanting to hurt and suppress women. It is a political movement that cannot tolerate anyone else having anything, even if its own needs are wholly met. It's true dog in the manger stuff.

I look forward to all that evidence being presented in court as exactly how shallow and hypocritical the 'be kind' spiel is.

It’s so hateful Sarah. I am so sorry

Sending positive thoughts to you. You’re very courageous ❤️

So sorry to hear that Sarah.

How do they know who you are to do that? Is there not some kind of contempt of court or something?

Sarah I'm so sorry to hear this.

Oh thanks for the supportive messages. Sorry to moan. Someone has worked out who I am through jigsaw identification and is doing all they can do make my life hell.

Suspected this might happen but still unpleasant.

So sorry to read this.

I'm local to Brighton and my heart has been lifted to know this issue is being properly challenged.

Why on earth services cannot offer groups for both is beyond me. It's like forced exposure therapy.

Bastards. 💐 I'm so sorry Sarah. You are so brave. I hope they crawl back under their rocks soon.

So sorry to hear that Sarah.
Will try to do a little more planting.

@IamSarah. Apologies if you already know this, but anyone trying to doxx you is committing a criminal offence. Sexual abuse survivors have lifelong anonymity by law. You should report to the police.
This happened to someone I know, they were outed on social media after the rapist went to prison. The police issued an adult caution to the person who outed her and of course made them take the post down.
Keep screen shots/evidence of what they 're doing.

Sorry to hear this Sarah. What absolute scumbags they are. Right side of history my arse. I will be digging again on payday this Friday. And will keep on digging when I can.

Oh thanks for the supportive messages. Sorry to moan. Someone has worked out who I am through jigsaw identification and is doing all they can do make my life hell.
Suspected this might happen but still unpleasant

@IamSarah that is beyond unpleasant, it is truly disgusting, and while I do not know the law it sounds as least possible that "Someone" may be guilty of criminal behaviour, given the anonymity to which you are entitled.

I will be planting some more flowers (this will be my third time around), but I wish I knew a way to do more than that to support you.

I'm really sorry (though not surprised) that this is happening. Know that there are many of us sitting here admiring your bravery and grateful for everything you are doing.

This.
Keep every evidence of every message, threat, intimidation, spoken word. If you know who they are report them asap - and even if you don't, still report it.

Hypocritical little shits

There's survivors uk which only helps men.
Then the survivors network has groups for trans, non-binary etc.
So looks like the only one not allowed to have their own group is.... drum roll... no surprises.... women.

Anyway, my anger is good for your crowdjustice page. May the gardening continue... but hope they stop bothering you.

That is awful to hear. Their disgusting bullying behaviour belies the be kind message and shows that that phrase was only ever a way of shutting down criticism. I hope you can stay strong and as they say, don't let the bast*rds grind you down. The normal people in society know how amazing you are 💝

Thanks so much for the advice. I am speaking with my legal team today so will see what they suggest too.

I want to cause as little aggravation as possible.

Really lowlife behaviour, especially targeting my family.

Just going up to this point:
However I can't agree that a possible answer is to agree that women can have really crap, grudging services provided by those who don't want those women to have services at all, and are only interested in females in how they benefit and support the core service for male people.

I get that. I've also thought an organisation being forced to offer a service when it's not what they want to do might result in a crappy service. Though that wld be v unprofessional. But over time the outcome will be positive. Any organisation (eg council) that commissions or funds services in their area will have to write this need into their spec. They will have to consider what else is available in the area, where will women be sign posted to? If necessary an org like survivors network will have to outsource that bit of it. SN in Brighton might be po faced about it but if there's a ruling it will change how things are done everywhere over time.

Sarah I'm really sorry to hear about your trouble with nasty idiots. I hope you have got some legal & safety advice on that as well as everything else.

You are bloody well entitled to moan!

Can you imagine the drama, scenery chewing, hysterics and hyperbole if this was happening to a TQ+ person?

@IamSarah can I ask who the law firm is that is representing SN? This is public domain information as they'll be on the court record but I can't easily find it out myself.

As a lawyer I generally believe in the principle that people should have access to legal representation, but I am beyond disgusted that any law firm should think that defending SN in this matter is worthy of pro bono support. I will see if I can do a bit of agitating in legal circles to draw attention to the fact (unless you would rather I didn't for any reason, of course). I would be so ashamed if I were to work at that firm, I honestly don't know what they are thinking. Even if they've bought into all the gender woo nonsense (which presumably they have) the optics of throwing your corporate legal weight against a rape survivor on a pro bono basis are terrible!!! I wonder how the firm's clients would view this - there may be an angle there too....

Have done some gardening for you in the past and wish you all the very best with your incredibly courageous battle.

"Survivors’ Network is being represented pro bono by the law firm Reed Smith" says Pink News here

Please let me know where I can send money for your gardening.
Nothing but admiration for you. Don't let them wear you down.