Helen Joyce and Julie Bindel at Oxford Lit Festival 2025

[DungsWearingHarpy]

https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-events/2025/april-2/trans-gender-identity-and-the-new-battle-for-womens-rights

I missed out on booking this but would love to meet at a pub afterwards so if anyone else wants to, let me know. I've been to the TT and it's a lovely pub but anywhere will be good.

From Helen Joyce, 7th Jan:

https://www.thehelenjoyce.com/a-new-year-update/?ref=helen-joyce-newsletter

I like the last paragraph:

More than one person, including a journalist, got in touch with me to ask whether Sophie Molly was a parody account – I can assure you it’s not; some of my friends in Scotland have interacted with him far more than they would like, including in person. One friend even asked after the “litteracy festival” post if Sophie Molly was my alt. I wish I was that funny.

I read this from Smolly's article linked by Helen Joyce

Making out that trans and gay people’s movements are being infiltrated by child abusers is deeply disparaging. Yes, the Pedophile Information Exchange (PIE) wanted to tag itself onto the LGBTQIA+ community. They were however never accepted and actively opposed.

If you haven't already, please bear this comment in mind and go and read the current active thread on PIE.

"Litteracy festival" is outrageous comedy. These people are truly amazing.

But call it what you like, the event is going to be a throwing-down of the gauntlet, in the eyes of certain individuals and groups. They can be quite imaginative in their disruptive efforts (remember the insect release) so I'd expect them to be hatching some nasty plans.

The gauntlet was thrown down when OLF tried to get someone from the other side, and the other side said they were all washing their hair. And no they were busy the next day too because they were...drying it?

I think the cricket release was peak-batshit. They really have nowhere to go now: they must know they have to be part of the conversation or sit down. And that's all we have ever asked so...

I look forward to this event, very much.

Love this, made me laugh 😆

I have a spare ticket for this as my friend can no longer come and I'm not 'out' enough to know anyone else who'd be interested.

Oh crap. I forgot to book the day off and now can’t get it. So a ticket free if someone wants one. I hate to think of an empty seat.

Bother, I would have liked to have gone and would have offered to buy one of your tickets, Jetplanesmeetingintheairtoberefuelled and partystress
but I have another commitment that afternoon.

It might be possible to tell the box office so that they can try and resell your tickets and pass the refund on to you if they can do so? It's a sold out event on the website and I'm sure you will be able to get your money back that way.

Those of you who can go, please report back.
Also report back on any protests you meet from the TransActive lobby.

The gauntlet was thrown down when OLF tried to get someone from the other side, and the other side said they were all washing their hair. And no they were busy the next day too because they were...drying it?

In the interest of balance, on Sunday 6th April Constantine Sandis and Sophie Grace Chappell are talking to Diarmaid MacCulloch 'In Defence of Trans Realities'
https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-events/2025/april-6/real-gender-a-cis-defence-of-trans-realities

Tickets are still available.

I also have a spare ticket as I can no longer go due to work commitments, PM me if anyone wants it.

Sophie Grace Chappell believes a spike in femicides would be "acceptable" if men were able to self-identify as women.

Looked at the Oxford site. The Sheldonian is their largest venue, and this is one of only two events in it that is sold out.

Looking forward to it!

Heading off to start my journey in an hour! See you there!

Working today so will follow any reporting here with interest. Wish I could have gone.

Helen Joyce

I'm looking forward to today! Quite sweet to finally have been invited to speak at a book festival, nearly four years after my book came out. If the babies tantrum outside I don't care - they'll only be showing themselves up. The era of No Debate is over.

Another Landmark broken.

X won't let me read that, fromorbit

Edited to say...Duh! Sorry

I have a spare ticket now too due to childcare commitments 😢. PM me if interested.

Have a great time everyone and report back here later please!

I went to Sharron Davies' talk about women's sport last year (at the Sheldonian) and there was no threatening activity at all, just a young man wearing "look at me" clothes who stood up at the end during questions and went on about honouring identities. He was treated politely and they moved on.

Does anyone have an update? I had a ticket but couldn’t go due to too much work. I hope it was a great talk.

It was great.