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

It made me feel physically sick when I saw that banner at Pride. I am sure there are certain males who find women's distress 'hot'.

There are many men who pretend they're "feminists" or "allies" just to get sex, so such a poster is not surprising.

I'm so sorry how difficult it is for you @IamSarah to get what should be the simplest thing: woman-centred care & support.

It's what Rape Crisis Centres were set up for, FFS - by feminists. We are in dark days.

Re Survivors Network backing down, absolutely no sign of that. They plan to 'vigorously defend' the allegations.

This was one of the banners they chose to March with at Brighton Pride. They proudly displayed it on Instagram too.

Males in women's rape crisis meetings is 'hot'.

What the actual fuck?

Do any of these twits grasp the point of working with rape survivors is not to score points, or display one's political credentials, or to be 'cool', or to make pronouncements - JFC - on what is sexually exciting?

They are failing in their remit. Disastrously. This is damaging not only to women in need of their help, but to the general climate. It's feeding into rape culture, porn culture, and a febrile political landscape where signalling is all and integrity, honesty and kindness are long-forgotten and abandoned. Shame on them.

@IamSarah Keep strong. You will look back at this one day and be in awe of your own fortitude and strength.

Remember you aren't alone. We are right there by your side.

Good to have other's perspectives on the Pride banner. Wasn't sure if my reaction was reasonable.

Lots of female survivors will have seen it.

Feels like trolling territory?

From what I recall the EHRC was 'captured' and it was only when Baroness Falkner was appointed by the Conservatives that they started to enforce the legislation as it had been intended.

Liz Truss appointed Baroness Falkner....

www.gov.uk/government/news/minister-for-women-and-equalities-selects-new-ehrc-chair

Happy to send a few carrots to gardeners in need 🥕 Best of luck to you xxx

Thank you everyone

That banner is repulsive, given the context.

I can't imagine an organisation that exists to support the survivors of sexual assault making any comment at all on what is 'hot' or otherwise. It's just so wildly tone deaf.

Would 'Rape Crisis' do a topless calendar? Or would Women's Aid publish a list of 'hot celebs'?

They would not.

I'm convinced it's deliberate. They know exactly what they are doing.

Solidarity, Sarah.

Hot is subjective, but male inclusive feminism is not any kind of feminism.

I am beyond angry that this God awful organisation is all that female rape survivors have in your local area.

@babyjellyfish I don't know the numbers - does anyone have any? - but AFAIK SN isn't exceptional. That makes Sarah's case vital to stop women's services being quietly replaced by mixed sex. After recent wins in other areas I'm hopeful for a win but even getting it into court is worthwhile. I guess the reporting will be harder because it's so sensitive. But at least there's getting it out in the open and clarifying the law for the next stage, whatever that might be, and hopefully the change will start to roll back to protect women's services.

I’ve planted some more 🌻 🌻 🌻 for you Sarah.

A delay to serving a defence is entirely standard in all major litigation, it just gives you more time to get all your vile misogynistic ducks in a row.

I’m sure SN will throw everything they can at it (how they can sleep at night is beyond me), but I’m hoping that counsel will privately be advising they are in some difficulties.

But we are here to dig and dig we will!! 🪴 🌹 🥕 🥔🧅🌽

This graph from the government site www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/natureofsexualassaultbyrapeorpenetrationenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2020 shows that it would be impossible to provide all rape services including men because of the miniscule number of male victims. It doesn't have stats for trans, but I should imagine it would be in the region of the thin grey line at the base of the graph.
Presumably these services are funded on the stats for all cases of rape, thus for the vastly greater number of women. But if they refuse to offer services as single sex, they are going to be limited by the smaller number of men, so they are accepting tax payers' money with no intention of using it for the majority of people it was allocated for.
Who ordered Bella's failed provider to refuse single sex services when they must be funded for them?

Bit odd. I was sure I had made a point somewhere about the relationshship between Sarah's case and Bella's PCSO situation. Some where while following Bella's case yesterday, I read that Bella posted her sticker because she was refused single sex support after rape. The organiser apologised but said they were not allowed t offer single sex support.
If Bella is in Sussex, not everyone is on board with the rules applied by SN.
If she is not, someone central is imposing these rules. Who would that be, and what powers do they have to do so?

Great points, @Treaclemine

Thank you so much

@IamSarah
Stay strong and brave. I admire you so much. I know it is painful but you are doing this for all women, not just those who have been victims of sexual assaults or abuse. Don't internalise any of the vicious, cruel stuff that the bullies are saying. None of it is true. You are standing up for yourself and all of us women. We appreciate it and we salute you.

This blog from Dr Shonagh Dillon breaks down the disagreements within the VAWG sector re trans inclusion. It's very enlightening

shonaghdillon.co.uk/survivors-network-letter-to-the-ehrc/

not just those who have been victims of sexual assaults or abuse.

Yes, also because any of us could be. We are all vulnerable.

Getting older, arranging care for elderly relatives, knowing many other people my age who are doing the same, knowing that this is my future too, I am starting to think about care homes, and care at home, and how safe that is, and for who.

Protecting women-only provision is for all of us. For us now, for our daughters, for our mothers, and for our own futures.

Goodness what a sign! I mean, I suppose they’re right; men almost always think that women pandering to their whims is hot.

I know what isn’t hot though; the aftermath of sexual assault. That needs more than just a trite slogan to address.

FFS - that banner really did make me throw up in my mouth. Gardening is tough at the moment, the ground is so dry, but I’m trying to keep things growing where I can.