The Good News Supplement: Monday 28th October - Sunday 3rd November

Nov 05, 2024

Queen Kemi at Mumsnet

Kemi Badenoch has had the courage to say what few other politicians dare to say; there’s no such thing as a ‘trans child’ and the GRA needs attention.

Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party (hoorah!), took part in an online discussion with Mumsnet this week. She spoke candidly about her views on gender identity ideology.

“Looking at the purpose of what a gender recognition certificate means in 2024 I think is important”. She added, “I also think that we should look at how a law that was made for adults is now being used for children, so I fundamentally disagree with the concept of a child being trans when the law talks about doing these things post-18. So I use the phrase ‘gender-questioning children’.”

Thank goodness we have an opposition leader who has both the backbone and the savvy to prevail against the government’s gender zealots.

Founded on Principles

The co-founder of Scotland’s rape crisis services has urged its centres to restore single-sex services.

Last week we reported that Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis (GCRC) has severed its ties with scandal-ridden gender zealots, Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS), and will be providing female-only single services from now on.

Veteran women’s campaigner, Rosemary Whyte, helped to found Scotland’s first rape crisis centre in Glasgow in 1978. This week she has spoken out to praise GCRC’s ‘brave and principled’ decision and said she hopes Scotland’s other rape crisis centres follow this lead and return to offering strictly women-only services. She accused the RCS leadership of ‘betraying women’ over its adherence to gender ideology.

“I am absolutely delighted with the brave decision taken by the Glasgow centre. It is the first to break from RCS, which I am very pleased about as it was in Glasgow that we set up the first rape crisis centre, and the first is always the trailblazer.”

Sex Matters Schools the NHS

The redoubtable Sex Matters has caused the NHS to withdraw problematic training about women’s single sex spaces.

In August the NHS introduced ‘Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Human Rights Skills’ training which was was mandatory for ‘all staff, including off payroll workers’. Employees were provided with five case studies and required to answer multiple choice questions to assess whether or not the actions taken in a particular situation would be considered discriminatory.

One scenario titled ‘transphobic colleague’ gave the example of an employee who does not want to share a toilet with a ‘trans person’. The training described this as unacceptable and (wrongly) stated that asking trans staff to use gender-neutral or disabled toilets could constitute ‘illegal harassment’. A concerned NHS employee shared the document with The Daily Mail.

Sex Matters subsequently wrote to Amanda Pritchard, NHS CEO, condemning the training and called for it to be changed. The NHS has since withdrawn the module.

An NHS spokesperson told The Mail, “This guidance is out of date and has already been removed as new training is being developed. We are determined that all women who work and receive care in the NHS are treated with dignity and respect.”

Bravo Sex Matters!

Holyrood Reports

That fighting the madness of gender woo is reaping rewards was further evident in the Scottish parliament this week.

Conservative MSP, Tess White, addressed the Citizen Participation & Public Petitions Committee in Holyrood this week and accused Police Scotland of ‘prioritising the feelings of sex offenders over the victims of sexual crime’ having allowed rapists to ‘self-identify’ as women.

Although this policy was scrapped in a climb-down last month, MSPs recognised there is still confusion over the current rules about the recording of sex and gender. They agreed to invite Chief Constable, Jo Farrell, to Holyrood to provide an explanation of Police Scotland’s policies.

Furthermore, the Citizen Participation & Public Petitions Committee agreed to keep open the petition set up by think-tank, Murray Blackburn Mackenzie. The MBM petition calls on the SNP Government to require Police Scotland, the Crown Office and the courts to accurately accurately record the sex of people charged with or convicted of sexual offences.

What is a Woman?

Staying in Scotland, there’s only a few weeks to go before For Women Scotland take their fight over the definition of the word ‘woman’ to the Supreme Court.

They’re still a few quid shy of reaching their crowdfunding target so if you’d like to make a donation, you can do so here.

We wish FWS the very best of luck and applaud their incredible hard work and persistence. All power to you, sisters.

And Still I Rise

After Germany’s Self Determination Act came into effect this week, thousands of women stood with our German sisters and raised our voices in protest.

In cities all over the world, we gathered outside German embassies and consulates to make our voices heard.

Here in the UK, the women (and our male allies) of Terf Island gathered in our hundreds outside the German Embassy in London. (I was there and can report huge numbers, brilliant speakers, and a defiant but uplifting raising of voices.)

There were also fantastic protests in Scotland…

And in Wales.

In Dublin, a group of fabulous protestors handed a letter to the German Ambassador.

Indeed, women made their voices heard all around the globe.

Some examples…

Glinner of Hope

Don’t miss Our Graham being interviewed by Connie Shaw on her podcast, The Fringe, this week.

Don’t forget that Graham’s memoir, Tough Crowd, is still available from Amazon, The Express shop, Lightning Eye, Waterstones, Blackwells and all other discerning outlets. (There are also audio versions available on Audible and Spotify too.)