Councillor removed from lead role for 'engaging with transphobic posts on social media'

[ArabeIIaScott]

https://www.gscene.com/news/transgender-news/labour-councillor-alison-thomson-of-brighton-hove-city-council-apologises-for-engaging-with-transphobic-posts-on-social-media/
'The Labour councillor was slammed by community groups for reposting or liking a series of tweets supporting the anti-trans TERF movement, which is spearheaded by controversial figures such as JK Rowling and Julie Bindel. The councillor said in her apology:
“I apologise unreservedly for endorsing these social media posts which contain anti-trans sentiments.
“I recognise that they are offensive to the transgender community and I am deeply sorry for the hurt caused by this.
“I am committed to undergoing training to better understand the lived experiences of transgender people and with the aim of becoming a good trans ally.”'

Solidarity to her…but would strongly advise her not to go on the re education course. Shame she felt she had to apologise. Any comments from the higher ups, and could this be discussed at the Conference?

Yes, a much more honest piece than some of the reporting upthread, by actually including all the quotes. And the comments. Deafening silence, BTW, from the Labour Women's Forum I forwarded this story to, asking for comment. Not that I'm surprised. Sense I get, at a local level, is, the Labour Party doesn't want to talk about this stuff.

Brighton and Hove News have similar article and have comments, all but a couple supportive of Alison ( but not her apology).

Thanks @Enterthewolves.

Archived here (with comments) in case it vanishes.
https://archive.ph/nM57h

I dont think this is the Council's web site. It is more people complaining that she hasn't been sacked. Or is it a local forum?

Like others I couldn't see any comments on the Argus article, even before it was paywalled (bit of an own goal) but did comment on the Brighton and Hove news article, and thought it had got lost to "moderation". But it looks like it has been allowed through.

Which was the other local paper that someone mentioned? Could you share the link?

Thanks

@IwantToRetire this is the archived version of the link @Enterthewolves posted:
https://archive.ph/nM57h

How many fingers, Winston?

Here Endeth My Life as a Labour Voter.

If you have still got it open on your computer you might be able to catch the comments by doing a "Print Screen" to PDF.

And/or take screen shots of the comments as images.

What a scary-looking . . . person!

Just on that Women's Forum thing I mentioned upthread, I just went back and re-read my emails, and I noticed that there was a different email address at the bottom of their email from the one they sent from. So maybe, it was sent from a 'no-reply' account, IYSWIM. Anyway, I've forwarded what I said to the other address, so covering all bases now.

Her only mistake IMO is to try and argue with what has become tcity on the south coast. I used to live in Brighton, but so glad I left when I did. Remember this is the place where Kathleen Stock was hounded out of her job for being GC and there were clashes by the local tmob when Posy Parker tried to let women speak. (I visited recently, against my better judgement, and as someone above said the place has gone to the dogs.. Not a nice place to be or visit anymore..) I forgot to add this is where a traumatised woman, (from sexual assault) was told she HAD to accept a male into the women's support group as they were inclusive, despite the whole point of the need for the single sex group to the nature of the trauma.) Go figure!

I read the other day about people risking prison in Syria for liking social media posts.

The treatment of Alison Thomson feels like a definite step towards this kind of totalitarianism.

IamSarah has despite her appalling treatment by a so called Rape Crisis service, is trying to form a self help group for women.

So how on earth has she made a "mistake"? You think women raped in Brighton should just STFP and not ask or organise for their rights?

Awesome sensititivy.

A response (of sorts) to my email to the Women's Forum, Perhaps sending it to the second address paid dividends. I reproduce it below in all its glory:

Hi duc,

The Women’s Forum is made up of many different people who all have individual personalities and it is not for me to comment on what they think about trans rights.

It is Labour’s policy to be fully inclusive and this means supporting LGBTQ+ people in gaining equal rights.

If this is an important issue close to your heart then I suggest you take a look at the Labour LGBT website and explore how the group is helping people, and driving positive change. https://www.lgbtlabour.org.uk

If you would like to reserve tickets please let me know how many as we are going to sell out soon,

Thanks, [redacted: woman's name]

No mention of women's rights. I don't think spending the 15 quid is going to be to any good purpose. I will reply to her email, but haven't done it yet.

@IwantToRetire I think @SarahJane03 was being sarky (though some tras come up with such nonsense it can be hard to tell). It didn't seem, to me, from the rest of the post that the situation in Brighton was something they approved of.

@duc748 that almost reads like an automated response. ...but enough about women (the old fashioned cunty kind), you also seem to need re-education so pay to come to this thing.

Indeed, @IcakethereforeIam My email to her was about women's rights. Her response all about LGBTQ+. It's depressing to hear this coming from women, though. I'll skip the re-education, I think.

My email to her was about women's rights. Her response all about LGBTQ+.

You have summarised this Entire Ongoing Shitshow in a neat little nutshell.

Pretty much yep

That's obviously not what SarahJane was saying. I suggest you check your own post for sensitivity.

It is Labour’s policy to be fully inclusive and this means supporting LGBTQ+ people in gaining equal rights.

Perhaps the Labour party could enlighten me as to what equal rights LGBTQ+ people are yet to gain?

Always always the same lines/lies.

Well, quite. I don't see how pissing on 52% of the pop is being 'inclusive'. I too wondered what additional rights should be given to trans people, in addition to the rights they already have under the Equality Act and the GRA.

Absolutely. those text-book quotes are very 'under his eye.' So disturbing. What would have happened if instead of 'training' the councillor had been allowed to enter into a mutually respectful dialogue about why she had liked the tweets, what the tweets contained and what they actually pertained to.

Well, quite. I don't see how pissing on 52% of the pop is being 'inclusive'

This illusion can only be maintained by gaslighting women that there are no rights in conflict, that they either don't in fact have the rights they have, or they aren't allowed to see males as male.

Gaslighting, yes. It's everywhere these days.