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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Sara Morrison vs Belfast Film Festival

1000 replies

NorthernIrishFeminist · 23/01/2024 14:58

Employers seem to be slow learners when it comes to women's rights! There’s another employment tribunal case being brought by a woman who attended and took the microphone at a Let Women Speak event in Belfast last year and has been treated very badly by her employer Belfast Film Festival as a result.

Looks like we’re going to have to keep gardening until they get the message.

disclaimer. I don’t know Sara and have no connection to BFF I’m just a woman who likes donating to causes that make a difference

OP posts:
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64
MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 16:09

From NW

[sorry earliest] about the BFF's commitment to Pride is this request to reach out to the LBGTQ community
MD it's the only piece of paper we have in front of us
NC and SM did not want to send the email
MD no she told me she didn't want to because [orgs] were annoyed at her
NC she was anxious
MD no
NC You say she agreed to it - is more fair to say she acquiesced
SD object - C specifically said in evidence she agreed
NC I agree she did but I want to put to the witness that it was in context more of an acquiescence but I'm happy to move on
J do you [MD] have anything you want to say
MD [shakes head]

NC she was concerned about pushback not long after being at the centre of a lot of abuse
MD is was in April
NC this is June
SD july
NC july - so it wasn't long ago and SM told you she was worried about the inclusion of her name in that email. And her name is v prominent in this email, next to Pedro Donald
[some argument] - so what are you doing here - he's not going to be v happy about is he?

MD he was fine about it. SM told me there was nothing transphobic in her speech, it had all died down and blown over
NC what convos did you have with PD about this?
MD two convos. First time he was okay he was more concerned after
NC are you saying after the first email he was fine about it
MD he hoped it would be okay. Some groups came back with positive responses and supportive responses

NC did you discuss the email with him before it went out
MD I think I might have had a phone chat with him. Yes
NC on an email of this nature you'd normally use bcc so people wouldn't see other peoples' email addresses. You look baffled.
MD some times we do and sometimes we ...

... don't so people can see who else is invited - we often know each other.
NC but if you open copy people every recipient can reply all
MD yes

MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 16:09

Definitely wasn't stroking wool while reading the wine catalogue. Oh no.

MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 16:14

From NW

[NC let's look at the drafting sent to various members of the board on 5 July after som negative responses had come back. Let's read it "Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Firstly apologies to everyone included in our email circular - I
had thought I BCC’d everyone - when in fact it was CC.
This was a genuine mistake. I have specs but will be going to
specsavers tomorrow for a revamp of my prescription !"

MD yes and if SM had sent the email it might well have been bcc'd
NC so when you look baffled earlier you were being completely disingenuous
MD no
NC doing this put SM at risk here didn't it?
MD no you could argue the opposite. it was potentially a way showing how we could all work together with SM being a part of that
NC so it was a gesture of support

MD yes
NC are you sure - bearing in mind you're on oath
SD the C's own evidence is that is was a gesture of support - you can't build a separate case from the C's

J I'll allow the q
MD could you re-ask it
J was it a gesture of support
MD yes

[we come to the end of proceedings for the day]

MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 16:15

From NW

[Discussing how to get the docs from BFF which MD has said she will bring - J allows MD to speak to her legal team even though her evidence has not ended]
[judge rises]

MarieDeGournay · 12/11/2025 16:15

Thank you Myrtle, off you go to indulge in the wool and the wine😄

MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 16:16

From NW

I'm going to shoot off and try to write this up a little more quickly than yesterday. If you want to read it and haven't yet already and you can afford to do so please consider a one-off donation to my tip jar:

https://genderblog.net/donate/

which will see you get...

Donate

The panel on the right (or below if you’re reading this on a mobile phone) is a secure payment portal set up to accept donations for my work. If you donate you will be subscribed to the Gende…

https://genderblog.net/donate/

MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 16:17

From NW

... newsletters, including the ones related to this tribunal going forward. Thanks to everyone who has made a donation to date or engaged with these threads.

MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 16:17

From NW

It sounds like there's at least another half day of evidence from MD tomorrow before MC is the afternoon witness.

MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 16:19

From NW

Oh and if you want to read the live tweets from the first two days, they have been put on the live tweets section of the GenderBlog website.

https://genderblog.net/live-tweets/

See you all tomorrow.

ends.

Live Tweets

The Twitter threads below were live-tweeted as events unfolded. Click on one to read the full thread. Archives

https://genderblog.net/live-tweets/

NoBinturongsHereMate · 12/11/2025 16:46

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 12/11/2025 15:33

Did it work?

It helped. I'll try to remember to bring some proper grease tomorrow.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 12/11/2025 16:54

One of the witnesses (MC, I think) isn't available on Friday, so will only be started tomorrow if there's enough time to finish before end of day.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 12/11/2025 17:37

NW's summaries are very good. He's getting a lot almost word-for-word and has clearly spent quality time with the bundles so he has all the relevant quotes to cut and paste. So there's not much on the actual court business I can add, I think.

Can give a bit of surrounding info, though. There are several WRN people among the observers, and at least 1 journalist in addition to NW. I counted 6 men and 17 women among the observers, 4 taking notes on laptops and 3 going old school with pen and paper. The observers are a friendly lot, and all the ones I've spoken to seem to be supporting Sara. Most are local, but not all.

The respondent's barrister seems grumpy. The woman next to him (solicitor or junior - not sure) is giving me a case of 'young policeman' syndrome. She's much less grumpy. Sara's solicitor was in a very smart pinstripe suit, mid blue, slim cut.

The judge reminds me of an actress who I can almost name. She's more interventionist than some we've had - but on procedural matters to keep things moving and within bounds, rather than with supplementary questions like the Darlington one.

Today's witness was defensive - often with arms tightly crossed. And, to me, did not seem especially credible. Inside info says she's equally combative at work. One of the upcoming witnesses is spoken about only in whispers, for local reasons. I am definitely not considering applying for a job or volunteer position with BFF.

The room is not large, and the building is very late-90s-office-block in a business park on the site of the old gas works. Doesn't quite have the gravitas of the Old Bailey, but standard protocols are observed. Which has led to a bit of a running joke of everyone leaping to their feet when the judge's door opens, only for it to be the clerk each time.

Prestissimo · 12/11/2025 17:49

Interesting background, thanks @NoBinturongsHereMate

I'm wondering whether/what Stephen Nolan is reporting on all of this - does he still have his show on BBC Ulster or whatever it's called? Might have to have a look on Sounds but would be interested if any local NI mumsnetters have heard him discussing it?

nutmeg7 · 12/11/2025 17:51

MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 15:47

Some wool has arrived in the post.

Be right back.

❤️ oooh, fellow knitter, hope it meets your expectations! 🧶

NoBinturongsHereMate · 12/11/2025 17:52

He's not in the room, I know that. Hard to miss. Not sure about local news because I've been away. Will let you know if I see anything.

I'm on tenterhooks for tomorrow's reveal (or not) of the big pile of documents proving there was an Actual Plan for the Schrodinger's event.

MyAmpleSheep · 12/11/2025 17:57

NoBinturongsHereMate · 12/11/2025 17:52

He's not in the room, I know that. Hard to miss. Not sure about local news because I've been away. Will let you know if I see anything.

I'm on tenterhooks for tomorrow's reveal (or not) of the big pile of documents proving there was an Actual Plan for the Schrodinger's event.

Could someone summarize why the event is an important matter?

PachacutisBadAuntie · 12/11/2025 18:05
bbc GIF

Just wanted to say thanks everyone, it's been an interesting day. I have bunged some carrots Sara's way but she could do with a courgette or two.
'The event' for Mitchell and Webb fans...

MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 18:47

nutmeg7 · 12/11/2025 17:51

❤️ oooh, fellow knitter, hope it meets your expectations! 🧶

Oh yes!

I'm knitting Christmas stockings like this one in Super Chunky. I miscalculated the white and bought some more. To up the order so I didn't have to pay £6-£7 for just one ball of wool and postage, I decided to knit three more for some family. However one of the colours was unavailable in the yarn I'd already ordered so I changed the yarn to King Cole Toastie which has a lovely velvety texture.

It's lucious.

https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/king-cole-toastie-emerald-5996-200g

Sara Morrison vs Belfast Film Festival
TheseCowsAreSmall · 12/11/2025 19:25

Thanks for the live updates @MyrtleLionand @BettyBooper- a fascinating day!!

DrPrunesqualer · 12/11/2025 19:35

MyrtleLion · 12/11/2025 18:47

Oh yes!

I'm knitting Christmas stockings like this one in Super Chunky. I miscalculated the white and bought some more. To up the order so I didn't have to pay £6-£7 for just one ball of wool and postage, I decided to knit three more for some family. However one of the colours was unavailable in the yarn I'd already ordered so I changed the yarn to King Cole Toastie which has a lovely velvety texture.

It's lucious.

https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/king-cole-toastie-emerald-5996-200g

I love that
I’ve just got back into knitting after my son asked me to teach him. How many balls of that lovely velvety wool do you need for one stocking ?
Im going to give them a try. Our stockings are nearly 30 years old and bits are falling off 🥴

NoBinturongsHereMate · 12/11/2025 19:42

MyAmpleSheep · 12/11/2025 17:57

Could someone summarize why the event is an important matter?

I'm not entirely certain.

I think partly there's an argument being made by the respondent that Sara refused to do work that was Pride/trans related. And therefore they were justified in investigating/pushing her out. Possibly also one being made by NC that a non-existent event was conjured up as an excuse to ... get her contact list? Encourage external stakeholders in a pile on? Make her uncomfortable enough to leave? I'm hoping it will become clearer as we get more jigsaw pieces.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 12/11/2025 19:42

Also it definitely goes to credibility of the witness if she's just making stuff up.

BettyBooper · 12/11/2025 19:45

ItsCoolForCats · 12/11/2025 18:44

To those who have followed on TT, is this an accurate write up?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdx47xe977wo

Yes, what it says is accurate.

But, it misses a whole load of stuff about an aquired 100k big screen TV, an event that might have been planned since Feb and an event the previous year that BFF might have done (but might not). And a bloke called Pedro.

Given I haven't the foggiest about the above, I wouldn't have reported on it either... 😬

Apparently the witness has LOADS of documents that she is DEFINITELY going to bring tomorrow about the Schrödinger events in question. (Naomi is not thinking this is likely and if it does happen will probably slaughter the defence for not providing it sooner).

IANAL. Clearly.

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