Bristol Green councillors wield pro-trans placards as war of words with women's rights activists reignites

[IwantToRetire]

Green group leader Cllr Emma Edwards, calling a point of order, said: “Calling trans women men is highly transphobic and it should be called out. This is absolutely unacceptable language to use around trans people.”

Phoebe Beedell asked council leader Cllr Tony Dyer (Green, Southville) whether the councillors who walked out of the previous full council meeting would listen with “respect, attention and tolerance to the lawfully expressed views of people they disagree with, including questions and statements from women who have concerns about the erosion and disregard of their hard-won, sex-based rights?”.

In a written reply before the meeting, Cllr Dyer said: “The council listens for all views and concerns raised by citizens.

“However, whilst gender critical beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010 as a philosophical belief, this does not mean that other people must remain in a space where they feel offended or distressed by those views.

“Whether to remain in such a space is a matter of personal, individual choice for councillors or anyone else to make for themselves.”

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-green-councillors-wield-pro-10628503

Sounds like women in Bristol and standing up to this trans tyranny.

If it wasn't so serious you would want to laugh that a councillor would say the Supreme Court ruling was about protecting a "phiosophical belief".

Well that picture shows a room of interesting characters...

I admire the determination of the women in Bristol to keep rising the issue in the face of such implacable hostility and deep, deep stupidity.

“Councillors have the right to decide whether those statements are offensive to them and how they want to respond.”

No they don't, they have a responsibility to act in a way that befits an elected official in a democracy, not at like temperamental, brain addled, dipshits. 🤬

@AstonsGerbil absolutely agree. I am coming to the conclusion that so many institutions have similar ‘interesting characters’ who have been able to assert their demands under the ‘be kind’ banner and have destroyed decent people and decent expectations in the workplace. The whole ‘bring your whole self to work’ nonsense has utterly failed. Bring your self ready for work and productivity is what we should be encouraging not bring yourself and all your foibles.

I can't believe one of them has a "protect the dolls" placard. How embarrassing.

A hard drive that needs checking there!

Yes!

Someone who looks like an adult too, not like a teenager that still has some growing up to do.

Why is it acceptable to walk out when a subject is uncomfortable? It’s not dissecting a frog in 2nd yr biology.
Also, is it me or are there less opportunities for below the line commenting in local papers of late?

I wonder if there is a legal complaint to be had.

The council is there to serve the entire community. it councillors are walking out then we are back to #nodebate.

and they are not doing their job.

You can tell that one person has written all the placards, same handwriting.

Makes you wonder how many other ‘uncomfortable’ hard truths they’re not prepared to listen to?

Some look very uneasy, the dark-haired bearded guy on the right looks like he wishes he was a million miles away!

Seems a rather unpleasant person to have as a Green councillor. Imagine thinking that only the feminine men who may pass as women need protecting and no one else. Just goes to show how discretionary these people are.

discriminatory not discretionary

implacable hostility and deep, deep stupidity

Sums it up beautifully. I would bet any amount of money that none have given the issues any further thought than ‘I’m a good person. Good people support the marginalised. I’ve heard that trans people are the most marginalised ever. So I support trans people. End of.’

Cue hostility when told to reflect further.

Well they have two options. Do the job they're paid for or resign in protest.

It's not like they're getting anything done anyway with all this flouncing and fainting in coils.

I wonder what language/ terminology they would find acceptable to discuss the issue at hand.

I doubt they deny that transwomen are male - failing to do so would deny that transwomen are transwomen.

Perhaps they’d find the term ‘male’ more acceptable than ‘a man’.

If I lived in Bristol I would ask these councillors what language they prefer to be used to communicate the issues arising. If they failed to engage or responded that there is no acceptable language that enabled the Supreme Court ruling to be discussed in an accessible way, I would raise a formal complaint with the council and with their political party/ parties. If that failed, I would take it to the LGSCO.

It is ridiculous that women have to go to these lengths, but this is where we are.

‘Councillor Alsayed Al-Maghrabi, who is Palestinian, has joined the Green Group on Bristol City Council. The Green Group now has 35 members, exactly half of the 70 seats on the council. Labour now have 19, Lib Dems 8, Conservatives 7, and 1 Independent.
Greens will now also have half the seats on the eight governing Policy Committees and are one councillor away from a majority.’

Seems a pleasant enough guy but surely he must have an opinion on the signs held up. Being gay or trans in Palestine doesn’t seem to be something that would be tolerated. Am I wrong?

If they think they have the right to walk out when women ask questions they don't like, what precedent does it set?

Can they just walk out when they are questioned about their expenses?

But this isn't about logic, or taking the role of being answerable to your residents.

This is about "feelings" which take priority. The roads could crumble, rubbish not collected if dealing with it meant "feelings" were hurt.

And added to the "feelings" being hurt is the outrageous suggestion that women should be listened to. An even more horrid attack on a person's sense of the world.

I live in Bristol they are definitely an embarrassment. One of them is my councillor. They certainly have not heard of the Nolan principles of public life

I think his brain needs checking. How ludicrous that an elected representative is so puerile.

Interesting photo alright. Three people of colour. None waving a flag or holding a placard. Two staring fixedly at laptop. As pp noted , another chap looking mortified. If only Zack could mesmerise them into forgetting this nonsense. Except he believes it .....or says he does

Well for what it's worth, based on that one snapshot, there are some green councillors also staring intently at their laptops looking awkward as hell.

I wonder if it makes for some awkward green party meetings.