JKR opens a new support and advocacy service for women in Edinburgh

[ArabellaScott]

Amazing.

Suzanne Moore reports on the opening of 'Beira's Place':

'Beira’s Place is not a shelter or a drop-in. Rather, women will come, their needs will be assessed and then the appropriate therapy and help will be found for them. For free.

Sex-based crime in Scotland has been rising since 1974. Jo Rowling talks of answering unmet needs “As a survivor of sexual assault myself, I know how important it is that survivors have the option of women-centred and women-delivered care at such a vulnerable time.”

There are clearly so many unmet needs – waiting lists are huge for rape crisis centres all over the UK. Lack of funding is a key issue.

What Rowling has done here is astonishing. She has not only bought the building but is funding the entire service. This is not a charity. It does not depend on the whims of whoever is in power. While Rowling is covering the core costs, if people want to support it, they possibly could do so in future by donating towards extras such as service users’ travel or childcare expenses.'

....

'These women are fighting against male violence, and they really know what they are dealing with. Kerr and Domminney have between them more than three decades’ experience of running Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis. And Rowling has handpicked her dream team of board directors to support them: Rhona Hotchkiss, a former nurse, prison governor and advisor to the Scottish Government; Johann Lamont, Labour and Cooperative MSP, and a lifelong campaigner for the rights for women; Dr Margaret McCartney, a GP, academic and broadcaster; and Susan Smith, co-director of For Women Scotland, the largest grassroots women’s organisation in the country.'

suzannemoore.substack.com/p/an-exclusive-interview-with-jk-rowling?publication_id=22356

JKR gives the women of Edinburgh a wonderful early Christmas present. Thank you, JK. 🌟

It's male misogynist behaviour, no more no less and a true example of patriarchy in action. Despite what IW and other TW of the same ilk shouting how they are real women the reaction to JKR's actions today shows more conclusively than ever that they are not and never will be. No woman, (unless they are also misogynists/submissive cheerleaders for men) nor non misogynistic men would deny or object to women having a place amongst their own sex to heal from rape, sexual assault, violence and trauma.

IW and those objecting to this refuge for women and by women should be ashamed of themselves, but they won't be so steeped are they in their repellent misogyny.

Almost cried reading this.

I'm so fortunate I've never survived rape or sexual abuse but to all my sisters who have they deserve a safe place.

Thank you JKR

Vest, funnily enough I've just been saying very similar elsewhere. It's the pinnacle of patriarchy that women's views come second to those of men in this discussion.

This is great news

Scottish Goddess of winter who hands over to Bride, Scottish goddess of summer in the spring

I wonder if she just kept thinking "winter is coming" when planning all of this

Love JKR. Amazing, inspiring woman!

@WarriorN and we've been treated to a stunning example on this thread by DadJoke, a more explicit way to tell women to fuck off because they don't count and are unworthy without actually saying fuck off would be hard to find. Patriarchal Misogynist Men gotta be Patriarchal Misogynist Men.

We've come to expect it on a thread of women celebrating a woman who's set up services for other women with her own money.

Patriarchy's gonna patriarchy.

Thanks Dadjoke for emphasising why JK needed to do this and why she is based.

I've tried to put into words what I think of this and JK Rowling, but I can’t. Other than to say she’s fabulous and this makes me cry. We need to take up the baton and create a Beira facility in every city and town.

the Twittersphere reaction is quite something and basically proves the point a pp made up thread. Toddler behaviour - what the TRAs cannot take over, they want to destroy. And it’s all about meeeeeee.

I remember this from the time. FOVAS and the thread set out why JKR's centre is needed and why allowing males in such spaces is wrong, wrong, wrong:

Letter from FOVAS DAMNING for Stonewall http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3627936-Letter-from-FOVAS-DAMNING-for-Stonewall

https://fovas.wordpress.com/response-to-stonewall-2/

i don't know enough about the legal situation if somebody were to challenge a service designed for women so I'm just quoting this tweet. Interesting if true. I expect Beira's Place has already worked out how they will respond to any challenges:

"Beira’s Place is strictly female-only, as defined by Section 212 of the Equality Act and is funded solely by JKRowling. As it’s not set up as a charity, it means trans activists won’t be able to petition the Charities Commission to close it down."

twitter.com/telibarb/status/1602237331276177408?s=61&t=pmfR1gOxM5aYf8KwVOhN3A

"Beira’s Place is strictly female-only, as defined by Section 212 of the Equality Act and is funded solely by JKRowling. As it’s not set up as a charity, it means trans activists won’t be able to petition the Charities Commission to close it down."

Interesting and clever. Very clever.

Of course trans activists will attempt to wreck this. As JOKE's contributions to the thread evidence, men DARVO and scold women repeatedly for failing to centre male demands.
The pleasure for trans activists is trying to remove rights from women.

It's not just trying to remove rights from women. It's actively destroying women's ability to heal from male violence. Transgressing women's boundaries, deliberately. It's abuse.

This Tweet is rather excellent

twitter.com/crit_gen/status/1602325165429374976?s=46&t=NrLg-2gN7vq1QXL2PLnY6g

The pleasure for trans activists is trying to remove rights from women.

Quite.

Ouch.

Transgressing women's boundaries, deliberately. It's abuse.

And this.

Zing.

Wasn't IW very vocal about how if women don't want to share spaces with transwomen , then they should build their own . Now its a reality , its suddenly , thats not allowed and u should be sued 🙄

Perfect!

🔥

That person is unreal today.

The hatred for woman and narcissism is off the scale.

What an amazing act of generosity, so in awe of JKR for doing this, what an inspirational woman!