Baroness Nicholson on Regent Street flags

[ChristinaXYZ]

Her letter here:

twitter.com/Baroness_Nichol/status/1542733465157877760/photo/1

Just re-reading it - with the crown estate address there anyone else offended by the flags could also easily write in support.

She’s right of course. I find it incredibly sad that just when we’ve got to a point of equality and acceptance by most people and society in general there comes along this argument, it feels so unfair. Being openly gay is still difficult, especially for older people who grew up without acceptance and with threats of violence. I still pick kids up on homophobic language. Stonewall have really fucked up.

Wow. She doesn't mince her words.

It’s awful that what was a good cause now makes people shudder because of the dishonest aggressive tactics of a minority within the broader movement. But it does mean I don’t support this flag being raised in public spaces. Have a protest by all means. Don’t expect me to participate in it.

Strongly worded and correct however I'm
It comfortable with the use of Twitter poles, I would never use this as 'proof' of anything.

I agree with every word.

As a teen I spent so much time searching for any glimmer of anyone else who was homosexual - the books that were about half a shelf hidden at the back of Waterstones, the very late night occasional film such as Torch Song Trilogy, Pride and being with other openly gay people was such a relief , it was wonderful.

This year I'm physically cringing and fastforwarding, and clicking away from the aggressive stomping all over everything because it's actively hostile. It's political intimidation, it's openly anti-woman and homophobic, and its being done using me and in my name by the political lobby who loathe me and my homosexuality more than any random member of the public does, largely because my existing as a female and as a homosexual is a barrier to their agenda.

This isn't a neutral act to me and many other LGBT people and to many women. It is active hostility and intimidation.

One month ago with the Union flag flying for the Jubilee, many took to Twitter to make claims of a Nazi/far-right takeover. Those same people have been rather quiet about the Pride flag flying though.

what an unpleasant piece of bigotry by someone who is a committed campaigner against Abortion and LGBTQ+ more generally. Nicholson voted against same sex marriage and sponsored a bill to reduce abortion to 12 weeks

bills.parliament.uk/bills/2028

It's horrifying to see how people who have so many provocative links to far right websites at their fingerstips are now backing reactionaries want to take rights away from women

@antifascist Fun fact: Stonewall were against same-sex marriage. I assume they should be considered far-right now?

If people who keep linking to far right websites were trying to convince me that a Conservative Baroness who voted against the repeal of Section 28 and wants to vastly limit abortion rights is pro Lesbian and Gay or pro women's rights I would think i was being taken for a fool.

More prosecco?

Oh look, here comes Antifascist to tell us silly women that our allies in the fight for single-sex rights and against female erasure are very very bad people.

Antifa, I know this is a big, complex thought, but could you give it a try? It’s that people can agree on some things while disagreeing on others. Therefore we can welcome their actions that support our cause, even if we oppose their actions that we disapprove of.

people can agree on some things while disagreeing on others- and it therefore depends what you think is most important.

if you find yourself cheering on someone who dispproves of lesbians as parents,approved of section 28 and wants to severely restrict abortion rights then maybe there's something wrong with your priorities.

people can agree on some things while disagreeing on others- and it therefore depends what you think is most important.

It really doesn't. I cheer on Zelensky against the Russians while knowing he's deeply flawed. Are there any political figures who aren't? MLK? Che Guevara? Malcolm X? Aung San Suu Kyi? Mother Teresa FFS. None pass the purity test. The only people who do are people who only exist online, not actual people who affect change.

Now balance that with everything else that this woman has done in a lifetime of serving children's rights and safety.

I'm sure her reasons for voting as such, in the light of this lifetime of experience and service, would be interesting to listen to. I might not agree with them, but whatever.

And she is one of the few sane people mentioning that these flags being shoved everywhere represent a very dodgy and troubling agenda and are in fact now a false flag of a political movement busy suppressing and leading the harassment and intimidation of some of those they claim to represent. Oh and removing women and children's rights. Without democratic mandate or votes. Or that kind of thing.

So sorry, I won't be joining you in your purity spiral.

So you find trans people and their supporters more noxious than those who campaign to limit abortion rights - supported section 28 and don't believe lesbians should be allowed to co-parent.

Of course it's your right to believe all of that- just don't try and convince yourself or anyone else that Nicholson is a long running supporter of Lesbian and gay rights.

Neither are Stonewall.

I don't think I've seen anyone claim that, frankly I don't care if someone has. I've seen a fair few tra flamed by their fellows for being insufficiently pure. Whaddaya know neither side has a hive mind.

I’m equally opposed to flag shagging in all its forms.

She's an awesome woman.

I'm sure most users of this forum can see why a small group who frequently post links from right wing websites would want to represent Nicholson as some kind of heroine of the lesbian and gay movement when in fact she has shown nothing but contempt for lesbians and gays and for women's fertility rights throughout her political career.

I think they can probably see too why instead of addressing the actual content of the letter there is frantic attempts to smear a woman with a sterling career in actual human rights, particularly children's, in an attempt to shut up a conversation they're finding unhelpful to a political agenda.

Sunlight. Jolly good thing all round.

It another case of debate the person, not the argument.

It's rather ironic that someone is going on about supporting trans rights et al, and criticises censorship and eradication of lesbians. Oh and the TRAs are trying to hijack the abortion debate too.