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

Thanks for the bump/reminder I've been waiting for my PIP to drop today. Just sent some flowers for the garden x

Thank you gardeners! Getting there slowly but surely

More media coverage due next week.

I admire your steely strength in pursing this legal case when you already have more than enough to deal with, so I have joined your growing group of gardeners, and have also started trying to get a few other people to do the same.

I've only just seen the update from SN and am so angry that I have just donated again. How dare they? This just convinces me even more that this is a misogynistic MRA movement. Putting males first as always. I'm so sorry Sarah but so angry on your behalf.

Anyway, bumping the thread.

Was hoping SN would correct their statement but it's not looking likely

I hope this behaviour can be used in court. Though I suppose if it could their lawyers would have told them to delete?

Thank you for being so brave, Sarah. I don’t know you but I sometimes think about your case and send you good wishes. Hope you are well supported and safe where you are!

Just did a bit more gardening. Stay strong Sarah, you have more supporters than detractors. I think you are amazing. 🌻

I have begonias that need putting in and watering with this warmed up weather, thanks for the reminder Sarah.

Just dug a bit more, good gardening weather, today

Fuschias.

You wonderful lot.

The gardening is paying off and the spring flowers are blossoming beautifully.

I have read through all the supportive comments on the crowd funding page and they have spurred me on.

After reading the lies published about me and the case on Twitter last week this has helped a lot

I just wanted to say I think you’re amazing. Thank you for what you & your legal team are doing to protect our rights .

Whatever the outcome Sarah, this sheer act of courage does so much for women and their own courage to protect their rights as well as raise awareness. You have already done an amazing thing to help, and I'm so sorry that trying to get equality of support for females too is the source of such awful treatment.

Thank you so much.

There are very few people I can talk to about the court case IRL so being able to share info on here means a lot and is keeping me sane.

@Artichokeleaves you have had my back since I first raised the issue of males identifying into women's rape crisis meetings and articulated the concerns far better than I could.

It feels so important that I win this. It will be terrible day for women's rights if I lose, but you're right if I do lose it will highlight how our rights are going backwards.

@IamSarah
Hi Sarah, if you don't mind me asking, have you shared your story with GC groups in Ireland? There are a number of groups that run stories from other jurisdictions; they might be useful in getting your case to a wider audience. Ireland is experiencing similar problems caused by GRCs being brought in in 2015, with no public consultation. I'm sure you would get support from the wider network of women no longer prepared to sit in silence.

@Mandodari no I haven't, if you have details of any please feel free to send them over.

The case will be getting quite a bit of publicity next week so I'm hoping more feminists groups will hear about it.

These are the main ones

thecountess.ie

radicailin.com/
womensspaceireland.ie

They are not huge organisations but hopefully they can help you gain a wider audience.

Keep well away from the NWCI, they follow the anyone who identifies as a woman line.

You amazing woman. Thank you for your courage.

🌺🌸🌼

Sarah, how can I donate from the US?

”Seems like orgs are afraid that if they offer a women only option, lots of women will want to use it and there won't be enough demand to sustain the mixed sex women's groups.”

I don’t necessarily know that this is the reason this particular rape crisis centre are doing it - they sound like they are thoroughly in the grip of the ideology. But given Sarah’s situation - using the service until someone she described as not even attempting to adopt any appearance of transitioning - I’m guessing any woman experiencing that would almost certainly move to a women only group. Likely they’d end up with “women’s” mixed-sex groups where no women would attend. So men who claim they are women would be forced back into the “trans” groups, where they gain no validation.

Good luck with it Sarah. I can sort of see the point of giving them their money back, if you win. It demonstrates that you are not doing it for mercenary reasons. But it goes against the grain for me to give anything back to a group that are having to be forced to provide even a minimal service to women. Sounds like they are likely to squander it on things that still won’t benefit women. Pity there are no other woman-centred local services you could give it to instead, but I guess if there were, you wouldn’t be here.

Sarah. I can sort of see the point of giving them their money back, if you win. It demonstrates that you are not doing it for mercenary reasons. But it goes against the grain for me to give anything back to a group that are having to be forced to provide even a minimal service to women.

Yes this is true and my lawyers have advised me of similar.

I very much doubt SN will agree to run a single sex group as it goes against their principles so will cross that bridge.

have you had an answer to your question ... just bumping incase.
Good luck Sarah

Thanks for the bump, I did answer the question but it was deleted by MNHQ so it must not be allowed.

Anyone on Twitter can follow my updates here:

Twitter.com/SarahSurviving

Sarah, you are brave to bring this case. No one is saying that trans people (and non trans men) shouldn’t have rape crisis services - of course they should.

But if women can’t have a female-only space in a rape crisis centre, then where can they? I fear the answer some people want is “nowhere”.