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

I see they are being represented pro bono by a city law firm and that their QC comes from the same chambers as yours.

Strength to you Sarah X

Stay strong Sarah.
This is such an important case but also really clearcut for the "average" outside listener who is not embedded into gender identity ideology. I hope it will cut through the way the transwomen in sport issue has cut through.

Quite!

Strength to you, Sarah. I've only just caught up with this whole thing. All power to you. 💐

Got the defence info through today and to nobody's surprise the defending barrister they have instructed is Robin Moira White so that is who will be cross examining me.

Well, that's good news. I have not been impressed with the legal acumen of RMW.

Possibly more good news - someone else doing the bundles?

nobody's surprise the defending barrister they have instructed is Robin Moira White so that is who will be cross examining me.

As a junior barrister, RMW did no cross examining for Stonewall in the Allison Bailey tribunal, the senior QC Antony White may be leading on this.

Ben Cooper, RMW, and Ijeoma Omambala are all in Old Square Chambers (Allison Bailey's tribunal, iirc). It's very common.

I am so sorry for everything you are having to go through.
I wish you strength from the courage of your convictions. X

On a more serious note if you ever need a virtual handhold please just post and ask, we are all behind you.

Sending you support Sarah. How are you feeling? (Bit of a stupid question - but their statement is so equally depressing and infuriating to read, I felt for you so much when I read it).

The ironic thing is that their own statement in their own defence shows the total fucking absurdity of their position. As we said on Allison's support threads, as soon as they publish statements like that they surely lose in the court of public opinion.

Putting women last, right from the first paragraph.

Sarah, good luck. Keep going if you can.

Yes, they may well rarely cross paths I suppose. Working pro bono, like the QC here, must mean a strong commitment to the side you represent and I find it hard to imagine the mindset of someone who thinks they are on the right side in defending this case.

Just reading their statement.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

How can an organisation with their remit choose to so wilfully miss the fucking point.

Ah well, looks like I won't be retiring this username any time soon then.

Antony White QC

well, that’s odd, he seems to have nothing to do with the relevant areas of law!

www.matrixlaw.co.uk/member/antony-white/

I’m deeply suspicious of the motives of any lawyer who took on this case pro bono. It would be almost impossible for me to think worse of these men.

Or maybe it is something to do with his legal area and they’re going to push an argument that women only spaces are impossible to enforce because of privacy and data protection? I’ve heard TRAs make similar arguments.

Yes, I think that is plausible.

If you look at all the barristers listed under Civil Liberties and Human Rights on the Matrix website he is there, second row from the bottom.

Thanks, yes reading through their defence is pretty upsetting.

There is zero empathy me or any women traumatised by males.

A lot of it is simply incorrect which I guess is a good thing as it's easy to disprove. Enraging though.

Glad to hear they’ve already made mistakes with incorrect information, Sarah, as hopefully this means they are not on the firm ground they seem to think. Also, equality and human rights is your QC’s main area of expertise whereas for theirs it seems to be very much secondary.

My jaw physically dropped when I saw that banner up thread. It beggars belief. So utterly tone deaf.

Good news that the opposition has RMW on side, that’s exactly the level of masterful legal input I would hope to see being brought to bear here 😬

I am hoping you have good support irl, Sarah. And are able to access any counselling, therapy or similar if you feel you need it.

I shall be sure to keep an eye on bundling, too.