Big Win - Lib Dems allow freedom of speech for those who are gender critical

[fromorbit]

Following legal advice the Lib Dems have revised their illiberal discriminatory policy on transphobia. Sex Matters article on the win and its implications:

sex-matters.org/posts/updates/lib-dems-revise-transphobia-definition/

Lib Dem Voice for Women statement:
twitter.com/LibVoice4Women/status/1592290749839998977

This may have implications for the court case with Natalie Bird and other members persecuted for openly knowing biology:

liberalvoiceforwomen.org/blog/call-for-review

This is another significant win and has implications for gender critical people in all other parties Greens, SNP, & Labour. The Lib Dem's were the most captured of all the parties. Congrats to all the Lib Dem members who fought this out. You can take your place proudly alongside those who fought for liberal ideas in the past against bigotry.

If we can win in the lib dems it can happen anywhere. It just requires people to fight it out. The law is our side. We cannot be silenced, but to win we have to speak up. We need to retake back all the parties. It will be a long slog, but it can be done.

Wow, this is very good news! Huge kudos to the women who fought for this.

Great news.

Natalie Bird deserves justice.

She was bullied out.

I did not see that comjng!

did they decide funding from manufacturers of puberty blockers is a bit too spicy?

Well done everyone who helped make this happen!

Now the. Labour? Green Party? Are you listening?

Our office had the same kind of "Oh Shiiiiiiiit!" epiphany.

No they begrudgingly realised after legal advice that they couldn't bar gender critical women.

This doesn't mean women are welcome in the LDs. Not that debate will be free as many of the hardliners still post on twitter that they won't discuss the issue and will block anyone who tries to.

But it's a start.

Even begrudgingly! This is great news.
It lets women speak.

Great to see, but what we need a gargantuan change in policy. Fingers crossed that this allows actual debate to happen.

There's a lot of behind the scenes work in the LDs that has led to that.

TRAs and allies still hold the leadership and a significant number of federal roles. Until that changes, not much has really changed in practice.

A 100 hundred years ago sexist men held all the positions of power. Women had just got the right to vote and with that the right to speak so that began to change over time. We have won this fight before - we can do it again - IF we have enough people ready to stand up.

This decision gives people who believe in women and gay rights the chance to retake the Lib Dems - IF enough of us want to. If we prefer sexists to stay in control we can just sit back watch netflix, complain on mumsnet we are unpopular and do nothing.

With respect, how in God's name do you know what I have and haven't done?

Also, the prospect of a 100 years to reverse the LDs? They'll be long gone by then!

So what is going to happen to Natalie Bird's case now? It is due to be heard next month.

She was barred from standing as a Lib Dem candidate for 10 years for wearing a "Woman: adult human female" t-shirt.

Surely the Lib Dems should now concede gracefully? I can't see how they can win this case when they now acknowledge that their internal definition of transphobia was illegal.

Story is here for those who haven't followed it:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lib-dem-trans-activists-hounded-abuse-victim-b6dx39tv3

I'm hoping she gets a full apology from the radical association, the radical association are forced by the LDs to have a proper internal review over bullying, the LDs apologise and she gets some sort of compensation for the distress caused.

I won't hold my breathe.

She's liable to get yet more personal abuse from the usual suspects within the party. And there won't be consequences for them for doing so.