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

That 'can' often means that the services that choose to exercise that right lose funding and receive negative press because by saying no to men they are being phobic. The right to provide a single sex space needs to be more robustly protected.

I reallly think we need some sort of campaign (parallel to getting the EA changed - still time to add signatories to take it to 100,000 when there has to be a debate) highlighting why single sex services are important. And make sure that more organisations use it, like prison services.

Because although funders can create obstacles we have to recognise that far too many people now think sex and gender are the same, and why are we being so nasty to transwomen.)

I want go on, as this is a derail to Sarah's thread.

Sorry.

Okay the government response. Yes it validates my position. My solicitors think it doesn't do any harm but it's just an acknowledgement of the existing law.

Sex Matters have written a good blog about why the response hasn't answered the questions we need of the government.

sex-matters.org/posts/updates/sex-in-the-equality-act/

Did a quick search to see if there was any more news about Sarah's court case and I found Sarah's been viciously threatened on Twitter

twitter.com/SarahSurviving/status/1631241435352559622?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

I am so sorry Sarah Wishing you strength.

Oh Christ that's appalling.
I'm so sorry you are having to go through all this shit Sarah.

🌻🌹🌼

People should be arrested for that shit. Sarah I'm so sorry

I see the little shit has deleted his account.

He’s still on Twitter twitter.com/jothwip ?

I'm so sorry Sarah, I hope you're safe irl. How is it ok for them to threaten women with violence but a mere 'misgendering' gets women visited by police?

Thank you for taking a stand, I can't see how we can protect women's single sex spaces without law-fare. What you're doing is so important, I hope you have good real life support. Xx

Oh thank you everyone for the support. I did report the post to Twitter but apparently there isn't anything hateful or threatening about it 🤷‍♀️

No update yet on when the case will be. The last I heard the timetable was due mid February so the court are running behind.

@IamSarah have you got the url of the tweet? Those of us who are on twitter could report it for you as well. Also, the email they send you when they reject your report says "We know we don't always get it right. So if you think we made a mistake, you can report them again." I would absolutely do so, and in the bit where you can add context explain to the hard of thinking that threatening to send you a pipe bomb clearly breaches the rule against "Threatening violence against someone or a group of people".

I think it has been deleted but thank you.

Glad to hear it. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this shit on top of everything else.

So sorry about this Sarah. And even if it has been deleted (which is good) you have the screenshot to show what a shitbag they are.

Hope you dont have to wait too much longer to get your day in court. Its ridiculous that it takes this long.

Hope you are keeping well.

That's disgusting. And how the fuck could Twitter say it didn't breach anything?!!?

I did report the post to Twitter but apparently there isn't anything hateful or threatening about it

That’s shocking @IamSarah the threat is bad, but to be told it’s not threatening or hateful is just gaslighting bullshit. I’m impressed with your fortitude. Stay strong 💐

Sarah 💐💐💐
Just shows how important what you’re doing is, and reminds me to pop over to your garden later.

Gender activists: check your post for a pipe bomb
Women: Why didn't you say before? Now we really want to share our private spaces with you

Lol yes, that sums it up.

Thank you all for the virtual flowers and for all the generous gardening.

I should hopefully have a court update very soon. I know my legal team have been busy as I get itemised invoices and I can see lots is happening behind the scenes.

Ooh, I'll pop back into your garden later today. Nice spring day for some daffodils! xx

I can see that you have already exceeded the target shown on the crowdfunder. But is the target out of date? If yes, please just let us know here or update the target, or both.

IamSarah · Yesterday 17:34

Oh thank you everyone for the support. I did report the post to Twitter but apparently there isn't anything hateful or threatening about it

If that doesn't meet their criteria for hateful, or threatening communication, what on Earth act actually does? Have you reported it to the Police - is there any point?

I know I haven't updated in a while as there still isn't much to report.

I do finally have a date later this summer for the court to meet and decide on budgets and timings.

Typically there will be another few months until the case actually happens so it will probably be early next year.

It's taking forever isn't it.

I hope you are keeping strong through it all.

Don't know if you've seen this yet. 👇