Denise Fahmy taking Arts Council England to an Employment Tribunal because she has been harassed for being gender critical.

[ChristinaXYZ]

Denise Fahmy queried why an award to the LGB Alliance was withdrawn and then faced harrassment at work.

From her summary:
" some of my colleagues saw fit to circulate a petition to all staff against me and any other 'gender criticals' working at ACE. The petition was hosted for 26 hours on the ACE staff intranet, gaining the attention of 700 staff and signatures from over 100 of them. People signed it, and made comments, citing gender critical people like me and LGB Alliance as parasites, neo nazis, needing to be stamped out ..."

Denise is gardening in the usual place - see "Fighting bias at the top of the Arts Council"

If you're able to help her out by planting or sharing please do. Thank you.

Excellent news.

Terrific news! Well done, Denise and team.

To me, it was a slam dunk case, but i'm hardly impartial.

Now, if only the Judge in the LGBA/Mermaids case could pull her finger out.

Great news, I hope Denise can relax a bit now.

Will Arts Council England have to issue a statement now?

It’s amazing they didn’t attempt to settle outside of court. It’s as if nobody can quite believe discriminating against GC feminists is as bad as discriminating against any of the other PCs. But you’d think the lawyers might have twigged by now. I’m wondering when it’ll sink in.

Excellent news.

It'll never sink in for those who think women are less deserving of human rights than men. They don't think we should be protected in law and this was quite clear in what happened to Denise.

Well, quite.

The petition alone was enough.

WOAH! Brilliant news. Many congratulations, Denise, and those representing her. And thank you.

'The case highlights the hostility faced by women in the workplace when they seek to express gender critical views that are considered to be transphobic. We are aware that many women remain fearful to speak out and express their beliefs. This judgment is dedicated to those that do not feel able to speak freely for fear of reprisals in this space.
didlaw is a specialist discrimination practice. Elizabeth has a keen focus on women’s rights in the workplace and is a vocal and fearless advocate for the rights of women. This outcome is welcomed and moves us one step further ahead in shining a spotlight on this unnecessarily controversial and political issue where there is a need for rational and respectful debate.
Argument in this space has been toxic to the point of abuse and hate speech. The right to freedom of speech has also been endangered. Perhaps this judgment will serve as a reminder of the need for reasoned debate around an unnecessarily toxic issue. As the judgment itself states “it has been made nearly impossible to have any kind of reasonable discussion to discover what those shared beliefs might be”. '

Oh, I do hope so.

Fingers crossed. I have had a peep at ACE website (what a clunky affair it is, too) nothing obvious. I searched under Denise Fahmy and Court case, too.

Well done and thanks to all involved especially Denise for taking the pain for us all 💐

OTOH they might just say nothing and hope that hardly anybody notices and that those who do just forget about it.

Fingers in ears style.

Fab quote from Denise Fahmy in there :

'Personal opinion, otherwise known as bias, shuts down access to public funding has no place in a democratic society, and certainly cannot foster free speech or a respectful working environment. Ace staff, artists and arts people will always have different, conflicting opinions and life experiences. That indeed is the mark of a diverse organisation, is it not? It is the job of our organisation and its leaders not to resolve disputeby dictating a new intellectual status quo but to enable a tolerant and respectful thinking environment, in which all artists can make work and tell their stories.'

OMFG, I hadn't read the petition text/comments.

One comment:

'The mistake imho has come from
the lack of clear condemnation of a transphobic organisation and no action
being taken against the so-called “gender critical” anonymous who are
openly expressing their distaste at the funding been withdrawn. Much like
how our recent antiracism training has illustrated there is an ongoing
problem with racism in our ranks that needs to be challenged, this cancer
needs to be removed from our organisation. Hatred of others for their
differences should not be tolerated.”'

That's fucking obscene.

'CF commented(345):
“The LGB Alliance is a cultural parasite and a glorified hate group
that has funds and supporters that also happen to be neo-nazis,
homophobes and Islamaphobes.…'

This sounds like something that the LGB Alliance may have wanted to take to court themselves? It's outrageous.

Great news. Also seen on twitter today that Levins Solicitors are taking on a GC case against a Union which is very much needed.

Oh, that really is good news. The unions are a mess.

From the judgement in the link by didlaw, I have learnt a new word. Rhadamanthine. Every day a school day!

Ooh, I just got to that bit! It is indeed a good word.

The word rang a bell, I must have seen it before, but I had to look up the meaning - showing stern and inflexible judgement.

To continue my learning, I found that it derives from Rhadamanthus or Rhadamanthys, one of the judges of the dead in Ancient Greek mythology.

Rha Rha Rhadamanthys, judger of the Eastern dead

To the tune of Boney M. Who make the best mnemonics.

I’m a woman trying to keep working in the Arts. Thank you Denise.

Brilliant result. Heads should roll at the AC.

I wonder if the LGBA would have a case regarding the withdrawal of the grant?

Is it known who started the petition? That person should have had some rhadamanthine (😁 I hope I'm using it correctly) repercussions*. All the people who signed it should have their cards marked and should undergo some proper equality training.

*obviously in a sane world.

The judgment states that two of those making those awful comments on the petition have since resigned and another was given a written warning.