Here's to the Mumsnet Terven - Roll of Honour

[TheHereticalOne]

I've only just made it to Mumsnet after the decision this morning and wanted to congratulate to the marvellous Mumsnet Terven.

This has been years in the making and every one of you has resisted, in her own small or large way, the relentless gaslighting, bullying and Kafkaesque bureaucracy that tried to bully you out of saying or believing what you knew to be true and just.

I've seen Magdelen Berns rightly name-checked on X but I wanted as well to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the wonderful, clear-sighted, stiff-spined women on here who have tirelessly and patiently contributed to these boards over many years. Some are on the tip of my tongue (below) but I wonder if people would share the usernames that have stuck with them over the years. It seems like a good moment to reflect.

I'll begin with two stand-outs for me: Datun, RandomMess, LangCleg:

You have been a light for me (and I'm sure many others) in dark times when I would otherwise have felt shipwrecked alone on an island of sanity. Your logic and clarity have been a bulwark against a sea of insanity that I sometimes thought would lead me into madness.

And thanks to Mumsnet who steered a tricky course, especially in the early days of this when we had to behave like the bloody French resistance to avoid being sued to oblivion. Moderation was frustrating and we didn't always agree about the parameters but you doggedly kept the lines of communication open between us all here and I am so grateful.

Thank you.

Giant gins all round.

I feel very similar. I lurk and name change but am grateful to everyone here who has helped me feel more certain about my position and to hone my arguments against the stuff I hear from overwhelming majority of my colleagues and wider sector.

However I remain ashamed that I have not spoken out at work even though there have been moments I could have- I have felt afraid of the reactions from people I manage, people I need to work with, all sorts of things.

I'm reflecting tonight on how/whether I can be a bit bolder now, because I can already see discussions about how this is regressive, oppressive etc. We can take comfort in legal certainty but in my sector and I'm sure others, there's a long road to go culturally/socially.

I’ve been here 18 years and am a lurker on this board and occasional poster.

All those who have articulated the arguments for women’s rights over the years which many of us have taken into RL.
I’m shit at names and even worse at usernames.

thank you one and all

My love please don't feel ashamed - being afraid, is understandable. Have a hug.

don't tell anyone, I have a rep to keep up, rahhr

Lets raise a glass to all the terfy dinosaurs 🍷 HEAR US ROAR.

i’d also
like to shout out all who commented, contributed to fundraisers and spoke out at work and with friendship group no matter how hard that was .

ChattyLion
R0wantrees

As well as everyone else mentioned already!

I have been here since just after Spartacus I think. Feels a very long time!

Agree with all the names here so far. One thing we (SSA) were reflecting on today was the sheer number of women who have been working behind the scenes for years for no pay or glory. You will never know their names or what they have done but each of them have contributed to holding the safeguarding line and pushing back. So well done to all the unnamed too!

Another lurker here. Thank you all for making your argument so well - so many posters helped me to understand, articulate my thoughts and explain to those around me why I felt the world was going mad. 🥂

Spartacus lang clegg rest her soul, hellofofabore, red toothbrush, Arabella Scott, Datun, iwanttoretire, boiled Beetle, dances with rhinos, posie Parker, and a few more besides,

to quote the pogoes i danced up and down the streets.

I remember one of the early ones TrueScum (or something like that). It was one of the first posts to peak me because before that I was very mired in 'be kind' and just assumed most trans people were like the old fashioned kind.

It was a shock to hear that needing a diagnosis of dysphoria was actually considered hateful and redundant. And that this poster had been chased out of support groups and assaulted for 'gate keeping'.

Thank you to all of you, I only wish I knew you all in real life ❤️

I think you may be thinking of Truscum.

I also wanted to agree with posters giving a nod to all the unsung women who have been quietly holding the line through all of these years.

It needed everyone.

There are so many admirable posters here. Knowledge and courage in abundance. Thank you all..

I've been on here a long time, name change a lot, and this decision was glorious, although judging by my social media, not for all. But yes lots of people have fought this battle above the line for a long time. It is a good firm result.

I am a lurker who came to Mumsnet looking for parenting advice. I opened a thread on Lia Thomas and couldn’t believe what I was reading. Thank you to all the wise women who helped open my eyes.

What a day! Thank you to everyone who has posted here and for all those acts of resistance no matter how small.

I’ve been here twenty years and want to thank every woman who contributed in that time to restoring sanity to this debate.
in particular I want to thank Dittany who opened my eyes to true feminism.

I’ve been in the gender wars since 2014, I’ve seen many false dawns, but today the sun rose high into the sky. Thank you to the posters and the gardeners and to everyone who made today possible.

Another thank you from an FWR lurker of many many years. You've help me grow into the Gender Realist that I am, from the woosy BeKinder that I was.

I'm in awe of the posters and their work.

And thank you MN for standing firm and giving us this safe space to connect, engage and learn.

Datun
Langleg
R0wantrees
Datun
Attackkittens that's wrong but something like that
Barraker
Datun
Tehbewilderness
Arabellascott
And before I forget, Datun.

(And LOADS more).

Great shout for Rowantrees. Incredible knowledge and ability to pick out links and resources at a time when many people were new to this and hungry for information to counter the bullshit they were getting in schools, unis, corporates, media etc etc.

I'd like to add to the illustrious names above the ManFriday women who I think were on here back in the day when they took their mankinis for a dip in Hampstead Ponds. They peaked me.

Ooh, in no particular order:

ArabellaScott
Boiledbeetle
Datun
Ereshkigalangcleg
Helleofabore
Keeptoiletssafe
Nauticant
Signalbox

Don't feel left out if I've missed you. They just stick in my mind!

😃

Well done ladies. And to Juck R.

I've mostly lurked, but I've been fighting in many ways. Donations to crowd funds, buying every book on the subject, supporting feminist authors, front lines on protests, standing on soap boxes, standing up to friends and strangers alike. Writing letters of complaint, letters of support, petitions, letters to my MP.
Every day, I did SOMETHING.
11 long, brutal years.
Lost my sanity at times. Nightmares, PTSD. Relationships destroyed with people I cared about.

I'm not the only one. Most of us have suffered loss and trauma.

Hats off to you all. You're all heroes ❤️

I'm another lurker but am so indebted to all those famous names above for keeping me sane and informed while I navigate a tricky family situation. I was here for Spartacus and hope some of the Sapartici that had to leave this space have carried on spreading the word wherever they could.