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

Anyone know of any uninhabited islands then. That would be nice.

No Wi-Fi but worth it.

Ha! If it wasn't for the kids, partner, family, friends, jobs, visas and all those other small barriers I would genuinely be tempted.

Surely this madness has to end! Thank you @IamSarah for fighting back. Everyone I talk to is GC, my brother didn’t believe it’d go anywhere (the trans movement) till I pointed out that Scotland just introduced self ID. Keep up the good work everyone peaking people and getting the Make the equality act petition signed. All we can do is keep raising awareness, supporting each other and fighting back.

I don't know how I missed this post last week!!! What a lovely message and it means the world. Thank you so much xxx

@IamSarah I figured you'd see it eventually.

WeAreSarah.

AKA

Boiled xx

Just a quick update to say the wonderful Julie Bindel has donated the surplus from her crowdfunder to mine.

Julie successfully challenged Nottingham City Council when they banned her from holding an event in a public library.

After her successful legal action and receiving an apology from Nottingham City Council Julie had a surplus of £16k which she has handed over to my legal team

That’s amazing. A massive thank you to Julie!

Awesome Julie

And yes, to any Monitor. As one who donated my hard earned cash to Julie I wholeheartedly agree with this.

Great news!

That is wonderful news, thank you Julie!!

Thanks Julie!

I hope you are well Sarah x

Nice to see the year getting off to a good start for you.

Julie chose a worthy cause for the surplus money.

Onwards and upward Sarah!

Have to love women supporting women.

What wonderful news!!!

Good news Sarah. Still thinking of you and supporting you.

Good news! Take care

That's fantastic news.

Out of interest has anyone here tried sharing this case with their MP? Has it been written about by the kind of newspaper a Labour MP will allow themselves to read?

Sarah , what fantastic news! 💗

Great news, great choice Julie & good luck Sarah!

Great news - hope it is the first of many good outcomes for you this year!

@IamSarah what do you think about the governments response (at last) to the petition asking for clarity that sex referred to in the EA is biological sex? For any that haven't seen it...

The Government's response
Under the Equality Act 2010, providers are already able to restrict the use of spaces/services on the basis of sex and/or gender reassignment where justified. Further clarification is not necessary.
The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination, harassment and victimisation across a number of grounds, including sex. We are committed to upholding Britain’s long-standing record of protecting the rights of individuals against unlawful discrimination.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published guidance on the existing legislation which provides much needed clarity to those offering single-sex spaces. It does not change the legal position or the law.
As the guidance makes clear, it is entirely acceptable for providers of single-sex services to take account of the biological sex of their service users. Where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, the Equality Act 2010 is clear that service providers can exclude, modify or limit access for transgender people, even where they have a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). This includes where a service provider has concerns that the presence of individuals who are biologically male could prevent them from meeting their aims, such as in the example below, included in the guidance:
“A group counselling session is provided for female victims of sexual assault. The organisers do not allow trans women to attend as they judge that the clients who attend the group session are likely to be traumatised by the presence of a person who is biologically male.”
It is important that providers of single-sex services are clear that biological sex can be taken into consideration when providing services.
The Government is committed to maintaining the safeguards that allow organisations to provide single-sex spaces. It is important that the principle of being able to operate spaces reserved for women and girls is maintained. Government is committed to tackling harassment and abusive behaviours by all individuals, and ensuring single-sex spaces are safe for those using them.

I have been thinking of you especially in the last few days. All the fighting you (and others) have been doing, all the denial and gaslighting and abuse and now suddenly this issue is on the "mainstream"'radar (and a political football) and awareness is finally finally rising...it makes me furious that it's taken so long and at such a cost.

Robins thread had me constantly thinking of Sarah.

I can't believe women are having to go through all this shit because some men want something that they feel we shouldn't have.

It is important that providers of single-sex services are clear that biological sex can be taken into consideration when providing services.

The can is unfortunately the problem. We have had the Single Sex Exemptions for years. But only some have decided to use them.

Unfortunately not only have those who could use the SSE decided not to, eg Survivor's Network, but a lot of groups that had for more traditional reasons been female only, eg Girl Guides have now abandoned that basis of organising because of the influence of Stonewall, Mermaids etc..

IamSarah's case goes to the heart of the issue. As said above, that women are entitled to get women only services, and providers shouldn't be allowed to priorities their ideological beliefs over the need of their users. And funders should be forbidden from funding groups who behave in a discriminatory way towards women.

Thank you Sarah for taking this stand. I really do hope you win your case. You deserve it for what you were put through. And it would establish precedent for other women.

👏