Shadow justice secretary agrees with JK Rowling over gender critical views

[IwantToRetire]

The Labour shadow justice secretary has said she agrees with JK Rowling that “biological sex is real and is immutable”.

Shabana Mahmood, the shadow justice secretary, expressed support for women who express gender critical views, saying that they should not be “stigmatised” for saying them.

Ms Mahmood, who took up the role last September, used her first major speech to warn of the dangers of “the rule of the mob” when “the rule of law fails”.

“Hashtag movements are sometimes used to shut down debate and often many women have had to go to court, usually in employment tribunals, in order to clarify their rights to free speech.

“To clarify their right to believe that for example because you referenced JK Rowling, clarify their right to say that biological sex is real and is immutable – a position that I also agree with.

“But they shouldn’t be in the position of losing their jobs for having views that are perfectly legal, and that they are perfectly entitled to express.”

These are extracts from an article on MSN based on an article in the Telegraph. Not had time to compare copy.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/shadow-justice-secretary-agrees-with-jk-rowling-over-gender-critical-views/ar-AA1ntt5J

Sausagenbacon · Today 08:31

Just because a (very) few gc voices are being heard in the LP without being gunned down doesn't mean a change in direction.

Oh, I agree, but I just hope that it will gather momentum.

Like I said, I don't think winning is all about glorious victories and acts of heroism. It's also about when people you neither trust nor respect see what's going on and decide they want to be on the winning team. I'm not saying Mahmood is one of those people - I don't know much about her - but, if we start to see more of the same from other high ranking figures in the party then I might start believing that we really are getting the upper hand.

Yes. We need more big beasts to smell the coffee/break cover.
And an apology to Rosie Duffield (especially) and Tonia Antonazzi.
And some sort of acknowledgement of LWD, which might be easier to do now that Mahmoud has come out, as it were.
Something symbolic to show that they have actually had a change of heart and the grownups are in charge.

I think that both parties have a minority of true believers and a majority that either don’t care or say what is politically expedient, which is sometimes just the opposite of the other party.

I think the Cass report exposed the lack of evidence based research and the consequences of affirmation only, and also the behaviour of organisations like Stonewall (Thanks Dawn!). Now that crack has been opened, there is no going back.

Same

Look at Butler’s ‘anti trans’ comment re Cass the other day

Dangerous views, incorrect and bad for women and children

This is complicated internal battle which will be fought out over years at different levels. Right now the gender crits are gaining ground. Reality bites. The TRAs are fanatics though. However there are lots of currents working against them.

Jackie Ballie Deputy leader in Scottish Labour yesterday in Holyrood continued to attack the SNP strongly over the Cass Report as she has done for a while.

The Cass report is evidence based, informed by expert clinicians and by those with lived experience. It must be treated seriously.

The Scottish Government need to outline how the recommendations of the review will be implemented in Scotland as a matter of urgency.
Scottish Government response to Cass Review is 'sop' to Greens, Labour claims
https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,scottish-government-response-to-cass-review-is-sop-to-greens-labour-claims

It looks like Scottish Labour will be going into the election on this pro Cass position which will open a gulf between them and SNP and Scottish Greens. It is too easy a target not to use it. If they don't use Cass as a weapon then that leaves the Tories with a huge advantage.

The TRAs inside Labour are in panic mode. Because they can't repudiate Cass Dawn has already shown this.

So TRAs within Labour have a difficult choice backing Labour will mean crushing TRA talking points in Scotland and also mean that Cass gets full implementation which undermines everything they stand for. So longterm gender crits can only gain ground. Because remember in open debate we always are going to win.

That doesn't mean anyone has to vote Labour anytime this year. CHECK your local candidates. It means recognising that the huge efforts that women have made fighting for reality are paying off slowly.

Everyone doing their bit, no matter how big or small, is welcome in my opinion. Some are late, some still too afraid, some still with too much to lose. But behind the scenes many people have done whatever they could to support those big players who have sacrificed so much for so many.

It's been exhausting but if we can start to hand over the baton to newcomers and take a well deserved rest, why not. Does anyone remember the old day - Puuuullll!

It's happening, we're gaining momentum and we're pissing off the right people and that's got to be a good thing.

Good old Willyby and them's mad hyperbole.

Regarding your screenshot of IW's tweet...how can somebody write that down and press send?

The most persecuted person in history of course 🙄

For anyone interested on X who can stomach it, this is IW's unhinged video in studio car response to Shabana Mahmood's very sensible statements on women's rights

https://twitter.com/IndiaWilloughby/status/1782787073742643461

For anyone not on X or blocked, here is the relevant part of the transcript giving IW's reasons for being against those sensible statements on women's rights:

"Let me just tell you about the gender criticals. As far as trans people are concerned gender critical is the same as being a Nazi.

They essentially want the same thing they want the trans population wiped out as much as possible.

Not to have any legal recognition, to be banned from certain public spaces.

Figures of ridicule and contempt, to be erased as much as possible. The only difference is obviously they won't have death camps.

But if trans people were to commit suicide through not being able to exist in society, being denied the option of transitioning, generally being asked to exist in such a hostile environment, it made life impossible and they killed themselves, that would be water off a ducks back to gender criticals

So Labour I can't vote for you"

I doubt Labour will lament the lost vote but OMG! I've seen it all now. What else have TRAs got left to accuse us of. This is the lowest of the low.

Well. I hope lots of politicians read India's statement and watch the video. And consider whether they wish to do India's bidding as a result.

"Let me just tell you about the gender criticals. As far as trans people are concerned gender critical is the same as being a Nazi.’

What nonsense. Our uniforms are completely different for a start.

IW is really unwell. it's sad. This is the doubling down we knew we would see post-Cass, only his is a particularly unhinged version. Go on, #letthemspeak

@IDoNotConsentToAstonResearch

I would hope that Keir Starmer’s understanding of human rights law, and their application throughout the world, is rather more advanced than IW’s.

I know we all know this on this board, but honestly JKR has done such a heroic thing for women in the UK. It is purely through her brave stance that a gateway was created for everything that followed - the Cass Review, and other women from all walks of life to stand up and say No Thank You.

Does anyone else remember what a chilling effect there was on debate around this issue before JKR's first essay?

She had the broadest shoulders and she literally took the flak.

Every single woman and girl in Britain owes JKR a debt of gratitude. #always

This is good news, but as for Nandy and Lammy, surely they have gone too far to ferret now?

Much as I respect jkr, I think the real heroes were people like Mia Forstarter, Rachel Rooney, Katherine Stock and Graham Lineham. And many others, who lost, and challenged, so much, losing their careers in the progress.

I do think there is a lot of truth in this. If you want to have influence, you have to get into a position of influence.

And I think the good thing about the Cass report, and the clear integrity of Cass from start to finish, is that it has given people the solid base to be able to be speak out more and question more.

IW: "Not to have any legal recognition, to be banned from certain public spaces."

To have legal recognition as individuals of their birth sex.

To not be allowed into single sex spaces where sex is important.

There you go, IW, fixed.

I agree but I'm also saying that JKR is the one who opened the gateway for dissent for the public at large because of her huge platform.

Like it or not, the likes of Glinner, Stock and their actions would not have permeated the public's consciousness in the same way.

So JKR did that service, using her vast platform for good. She could've just mouthed stupid TRA slogans like countless female celebs but she did something brave and difficult.

Gosh, well, there's a chappie made much happier by transition.

Or not.

To have all the rights that everyone else has, plus protection from discrimination.

To have the right to use single sex spaces in accordance with their sex.

I think I'll continue to be wary of Labour's position for as long as Angela Rayner remains Deputy Leader. She's in an elected post and appears to have a big power base.