A Week in the War on Women Monday 1st November - Sunday 7th November GOOD NEWS SUPPLEMENT

So much good news around, I could barely fit it all in! Here are a few of this week’s heartening stories from the gender beat.

Ladies & Gentlemen

Single-sex toilets are to be retained and there’ll be a move away from ‘gender neutral’ facilities under new Government plans for public bathrooms.

A Whitehall source told the Daily Mail, “For dignity, security, and safety – the proper provision of separate men's and women's toilets is important. That's why we are looking at options to ensure separate toilets remain the standard”.

Auntie stands up for its journalists

The BBC has rejected complaints over its article last week about lesbians being pressured into sex with trans-identified males. A BBC source said that the organisation had received 4,819 complaints about the article but that a further 5,520 people wrote in support of the piece.

Media Guardian @mediaguardian

BBC rejects complaints that it published transphobic article

dlvr.itBBC rejects complaints that it published transphobic articleCorporation says article about experience of some lesbians met its editorial guidelines

Furthermore, this week’s episode of Feedback featured BBC journalist, Stephen Nolan, and his assistant editor, David Thompson, the team responsible for the podcast exposé of Stonewall.

David Thompson @dt_ni

Myself and @StephenNolan speaking to @BBCR4Feedback about our podcast on Stonewall. They recieved only praise for the podcast from their listeners(!). Feedback asked the BBC why it didn't answer our questions, and got exactly the same statement we did.

bbc.co.ukFeedback - 05/11/2021 - BBC SoundsRadio 4′s forum for comments, queries, criticisms and congratulations.

Nolan says, “Both David and I are gobsmacked by the amount of praise we’ve got… We’ve never seen this amount of praise.”

And as if that wasn’t enough, BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour hosted a lengthy interview with Professor Kathleen Stock.

BBC Woman's Hour @BBCWomansHour

Listen now: In an exclusive interview, Professor Kathleen Stock @Docstockk speaks to @Emmabarnett about resigning from her post at the University of Sussex, her experiences while still at the university and the concept of academic freedom bbc.in/3nUPj2Q

MPs Voice Stock Support

Several MPs have spoken out in support of Professor Stock this week.

Kemi Badenoch, Equalities minister and Sussex University alumnus, told Sky News that she was 'appalled' at the harassment and bullying Stock has suffered. She went on to say that she believes Stocks views are ‘in step with the majority of the population’.

Sir Peter Bottomley, the veteran MP who represents a Sussex constituency, talked about Stock when he appeared on BBC Radio 4’s World at One.

Simon Edge @simonjedge

Dramatic stuff on @BBCWorldatOne where veteran Tory @PBottomleyMP interrupts his own interview on another matter to issue impassioned support for @Docstockk, who has made the main headlines after her interview with @Emmabarnett...

He interrupted himself speaking on a different topic to say “I hope the University of Sussex will strip the honorary doctorate from the person who has called Dr Kathleen Stock 'a dangerous extremist’”. (Sir Peter was talking about Liam Hackett who threw a tantrum on social media when he was prevented from entering a female-only breast screening clinic. Great to see him getting his arse kicked on national radio.)

In the House of Commons, Angela Richardson MP referenced Kathleen Stock when she questioned Michelle Donelan, Minister of State for Higher & Further Education, about the upholding of free speech in universities.

Angela Richardson MP @AJRichardsonMP

Today I asked @michelledonelan about the Freedom of Speech Bill and how it will uphold Freedom of Speech in our Universities following the sad news of Professor @Docstockk resigning from @SussexUni last week due to a sustained campaign of harassment and bullying.

The Times They Are A-Changin’

In the wake of her resignation from Sussex University, The Times has reviewed Kathleen Stock’s book, Material Girls.

Robbie Millen @RobbieTimes

"Language is important. Ideas are powerful. Philosophy matters." We didn't review Material Girls by @Docstockk in The Times when it came out earlier this year. We've put it right now

thetimes.co.ukMaterial Girls by Kathleen Stock review — the ideas that frighten the trans bulliesAfter the news that Kathleen Stock, a professor of philosophy at Sussex University, has resigned after months of harassment by trans activists, her publisher is reprinting her book.

“I heartily recommend it, not just because it is a clear, easy read, but also because it made me understand the trans issue better and see philosophy in a different light.”

The Dominoes Continue To Fall

The Department of Health has withdrawn from Stonewall’s diversity programme.

Edward Argar, Minister of State for Health, confirmed that his department left Stonewall’s programme earlier this year.

No Sex Please, We’re Scottish

There could be a legal challenge to the guidance which allows self-identification of gender instead of sex in the forthcoming Scottish census.

Feminist campaign group, Fair Play For Women, won a similar case against the Office for National Statistics over the England and Wales census. It is now considering taking legal action against Scottish ministers.

FPFW director, Dr Nicola Williams, said, “We cannot see any reason why UK census law doesn’t apply in Scotland. We are taking legal advice and considering next steps”.

And Finally…

Jamie Gnuman197... @Jamie24272184

We're not doing this Bob.