Who‘s coming to FiLIA?

[lanadelgrey]

I‘m starting to get excited.
Are there plans for a MN meetup?

That's fair. I would caveat that the 'FiLiA volunteer' wasn't acting in her capacity of being a 'FiLiA volunteer' when she told Milli this, (Milli amended her blog to this effect), so it's not accurate to say that this was 'FiLiA's' actions.

Notwithstanding, there are very racist overtones Milli''s alleged fear of Aja and the blog that she posted, which she removed the pay wall from as though it was something to be proud of.

FiLiA's statement says that they're going to commission an independent investigation into the events during the disco. The email sent to attendees during the conference said that the police were involved - not sure exactly what to do with. It's probably a good thing that they're taking their time to work through everything that happened, including their own safeguarding failures, even if it is frustrating for Aja and DJLippy that they haven't received a response yet.

This begs the question if a volunteer isn't 'acting in their capacity as a volunteer' did they get free tickets in which case they ARE acting in their capacity as a volunteer.

So that needs looking at as well. Well it would be if I was part of the investigation team. Which they probably haven't brought in yet.

We don’t know either way at the moment.

Not really. The volunteers did 'shifts' so were at times volunteering for FiLiA and at times a regular attendee. Even Milli backed down from associating this message with the organisation.

It looked as though Milli included the information about the 'FiLiA volunteer' in her initial blog in an attempt to give legitimacy to her alleged fear of Aja. In reality, it was likely someone who knew Milli/is a friend of Millie's who Milli happened to know was/has volunteered for FiLiA.

Aja herself says she was banned. She's asked for an explanation and not got one (or a refund) as far as I know.

Saying it's definitely racist (or homophobic, or classist/snobbery or anything else) is no more untethered to reality than saying it definitely wasn't. We can't possibly know.

All we know is she did nothing wrong and was barred. She was also monstered in Milli Hill's blog very unfairly and as @notsurewherenotsurewhy says there's a bit of a history of unfairly painting black women as aggressive so given the total lack of any evidence justifying a banning, it's not surprising people are speculating.

I mean she started a conga line FFS, it's hardly aggressive or threatening is it?

It's not ok to ban her, keep her money, slur her name, and not explain. If it was a mistake it's way past time for an apology.

FiLiA haven't slurred Aja, or anyone else TBF.

Banning her is slurring her. It implies she did something wrong. They haven't said what.

IMO because she didn't actually do anything wrong. I think they banned her because they don't like her opinions and thought she'd be a useful scapegoat for the trouble that didn't involve her. Just a guess though.

Yes, only a guess.

And a slur on FiLIA organisers and volunteers.

Yes but I'm not an organisation running a conference and I haven't banned anyone and not refunded their money paid for the days where they were banned for no reason (which is essentially stealing).

I see the next FILIA conference is being put off until 2027.

Wow! Do you have a source?

It's in their latest newsletter.

Also been posted here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5429292-filia-statement?reply=148685383

If you’ve ever organised a huge conference using pretty much totally volunteer labour, you’d know just what a big thing it is. I’m not surprised they’re moving to a conference every second year.

I didn’t go to Brighton for various reasons, one of which was I just couldn’t face going to Brighton. In the light of everything that happened I’m glad I didn’t go.
Blackpool? A more insalubrious location I couldn’t imagine. I genuinely think anyone going needs to have an emergency evacuation plan in case of sudden illness or injury because I would die in my hotel bed rather than be admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
I won’t be going.

If women are looking for something else to do instead of FiLiA there will be a women only therapeutic retreat happening in Greece from 26-30th September. The last one sold out at FiLiA in a matter of hours.

It’s an absolutely gorgeous venue!

https://sistersheal.co.uk/syros-retreat/

Thanks @IamSarah ! Yes please do join us we'd love to have some Mumsnetters on retreat.

accidental post

That's the most Mumsnet feminist post I've ever seen 😂

Astonishingly, the location isn't chosen by the number of naice hotels but by the extent to which local women can benefit.

It also raises the question of who else is organising. Sometimes it seems GC activism is very keyboard based. And as someone who has never had any interest in FiLia I think it is a shame, but they probably do need a break.

But wonder why (or maybe I dont know and there are) apart from LWS and some local meet ups there isn't an ongoing sense of women's sex based rights event.s

I was looking at this list of forthcoming Reclaim the Night Marches as part of the 16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women, and as far as I could make out they are all trans inclusive. ie at events organised to speak out against VAW, it is no longer about women as a sex class.

https://www.womensgrid.org.uk/?tag=rtn

The Battle of Ideas in London is also well worth attending. Loads of Terfs!

The conference is the high profile ((and high on resources needed and expense) part of FiLiA's work.

They do so much grassroots work, which will continue to built networks and support women and girls regardless.

I did chuckle at you describing yourself as 'someone who has never had any interest in FiLiA' IwantToRetire as you're one of the most prolific posters on any FiLiA-related thread.

I rather think @FannyCann was referring to the appalling case of Valerie Kneale at BVH rather than the naice-ness of the hospital.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9neq9e7qqo