This is a disgraceful abuse of power by Nicholson. Isn't there any recourse to legal action for defamation? This has impacted the profile of the LGB alliance quite severely and I imagine many of those objecting to its charity funding will have got their opinions as a result Nicholson's smear campaign. Isn't he in breach of the ministerial code? I agree that Twitter militates against proper understanding of facts, context, chronology etc and its good to see the excellent effort that went into the narrative above to explain the events clearly; too much information isn't verified these days or just accepted at face value., the mainstream media are the worst, they just copy and paste directly from social media (pressure of keeping ahead in a digital age, but we have lost more than we realise). This story should be spread far and wide.
I noticed a year ago that Nicolson has me blocked. I've never interacted with him, or indirectly through anyone else's Tweet. Indeed, he's such a non-entity that - despite watching Parliament regularly - I'd never even heard of him.
I do rather think that when it comes to allegations that LGB Alliance are a 'hate group' there's some undefinable desire to be too polite in the response.
There are many hundreds of Twitter users who will happily proclaim that LGBA is a "hate group" but amongst them are some notable individuals who in the face of all evidence, pursue this line unremittingly.
And the evidence against is rather compelling. The LGB Alliance has a particular focus on one subject; it protests against 'transing the gay' - particularly adolescent gay and lesbian youths and children. It doesn't obscure that view in wishy-washy language, it doesn't 'beat-around-the-bush'. The LGB Alliance is out-and-out against 'transing-the-gay'. And one of the most obvious indicators of its view is its film on the same subject;
So, easy to understand what the LGB Alliance stands for. And unfortunately, statistics and independent statements back its view. Even in 2012 the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust was reporting that 70% of the adolescents it was treating for gender dysphoria. 'Transing-the-gay' was already well-established then, and in the string of 30+ clinical staff resignations, that policy was identified as being paramount;
'Homophobia in families attending GIDS is mentioned in all the transcripts Newsnight has seen.
As well as seeing young people struggling with their sexuality, staff say some parents appeared to prefer their children to be transgender and straight, rather than gay.
In one example, a GIDS clinician describes a young person who had come out as a lesbian and faced homophobic bullying, "within the family and quite openly in school".'
Amongst those who repeatedly accuse LGB Alliance of being a hate group are some notable individuals, all male-born;
Owen Jones
David Paisley
Katy Montgomerie
Jolyon Maugham
and
John Nicolson MP
Conceivably each of those above would agree with the LGB Alliance's stance against 'transing-the-gay', but haven't yet been able to get around to noting that although they agree with the LGBA's stance on this subject, they still reckon its a 'hate group' for some other (unspecified) reason.
Unfortunately the LGB Alliance is, as mentioned, so explicit in its opposition to transsing-the-gay, it can be safely assumed that those who so vehemently oppose it, are absolutely committed to the transing-of-the-gay as a social and political policy.
The obvious argument against this of course is that three of the individuals listed are gay. The other two could perhaps claim that they simply support the policy and although it is horrifically homophobic, it isn't as bad as say what Iran practices towards gay men and lesbians, or what the national socialists (trying to avoid Godwins Law here) performed on homosexuals - which was principally to kill them. And if that was their argument - I guess there might be another, but I can't think what it is - they could also claim to just two individuals of many who share the same support for transing-the-gay.
But I digress. We are left with Owen Jones, David Paisley and John Nicolson MP. Each acutely aware that the LGB Alliance is dedicated in its opposition to transing-the-gay, even though each of them are gay males. How to explain this?
And I'm not going to try to answer that question. I've plenty of speculation, and a few possible answers that have been well-documented over-the-decades, with keywords like 'ageing and self-loathing' but I reckon the answers should come from Owen Jones and David Paisley and John Nicolson MP themselves. It might take a few years-to-secure, but in the inevitable inquiries and self-recrimination that will bring these 'crazy' years to an end, I'd be certain that all three will feel compelled to try to explain their views, and how they managed to turn 'Quisling'.
As a former internet detective who spent far too much time reconstructing these sorts of events in the past, thank you, this is terrific work.
Item the second. John Nicholson deserves to be trolled. By which I mean that I am amazed he is not already listed on Kiwi Farms, or has his own relentless parody account, or even a wordpress page about his jackassery. You British terfs are laying down in the job, I tell ya!
I am intrigued by the headline given to that interview: “The Most Hated Man On The Internet” along with Nicolson calling the interview “superb”. Anyone who actually links on the clip will surely be as appalled at the shabby attacks coming from the interviewer as they are impressed at how articulate Graham Linehan is in defending himself. In short, the video shows the opposite of what Nicolson states. The shameless misrepresentation is entirely consistent with Nicolson’s slithery manoeuvrings over this entire affair.
This case seems to me to be a microcosm of the whole media structure for quite some time now i.e. the media’s furious insistence that the events shown are the opposite of what they most patently are. In this particular case, they are hoping that you will simply swallow that “most hated man on the net” without checking the content. Either that or you will be so molded by the title that the content won't matter.
Dave Hewitt has the patience of a saint! As do the people at LGBA.
I recall Nicholson having several late night Twitter rants about that time. It seemed as if he became somewhat "tired and emotional" as the night wore on.
He is a very strange, misogynistic, nasty man.
A gay man calling a charity for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people "sinister".
Also sounds as if he gets all his info from the vicious anime characters on Twitter.
So Nicolson calls your interview with Sarah Smith “superb” as if to suggest it backs up how he feels? Has Nicolson WATCHED the interview? You trash Sarah Smith ... and note her initials!
With respect, it was a pretty odd idea offering Jan Morris as a participant in a radio debate. At the time Jan Morris was 94 years old, and not in the best of health ( died six months later). I wonder if anyone had actually consulted them?
Or is it just that Morris was pretty much the only British person of any distinction other than being transsexual (to use their own word in their book on the subject ) ?
Just to comment, after my tweet of April
21st 2020, to John Nicholson, which was very neutral and was requesting dialogue … he blocked me.
He, a fellow gay man, blocked me merely for asking for dialogue and pointing out that Alliance LGB were nice and decent people. Go figure.
Many thanks Dave. No doubt JN is a misogynistic cockalorum.
Oh, I wholeheartedly agree: anytime a group of men get together to discuss what a woman is it beggars belief!
This is a disgraceful abuse of power by Nicholson. Isn't there any recourse to legal action for defamation? This has impacted the profile of the LGB alliance quite severely and I imagine many of those objecting to its charity funding will have got their opinions as a result Nicholson's smear campaign. Isn't he in breach of the ministerial code? I agree that Twitter militates against proper understanding of facts, context, chronology etc and its good to see the excellent effort that went into the narrative above to explain the events clearly; too much information isn't verified these days or just accepted at face value., the mainstream media are the worst, they just copy and paste directly from social media (pressure of keeping ahead in a digital age, but we have lost more than we realise). This story should be spread far and wide.
What does "greasy bender" mean? I searched with no answer!
Pile-on...oh grow up or get off twitter!
A great read, thank you Dave. Interesting to read a researched breakdown of the facts. And a timely reminder to donate to LGB Alliance ✅
"I was called a greasy bender"
I have shrunk into a foetal position ... through laughter!
I noticed a year ago that Nicolson has me blocked. I've never interacted with him, or indirectly through anyone else's Tweet. Indeed, he's such a non-entity that - despite watching Parliament regularly - I'd never even heard of him.
I do rather think that when it comes to allegations that LGB Alliance are a 'hate group' there's some undefinable desire to be too polite in the response.
There are many hundreds of Twitter users who will happily proclaim that LGBA is a "hate group" but amongst them are some notable individuals who in the face of all evidence, pursue this line unremittingly.
And the evidence against is rather compelling. The LGB Alliance has a particular focus on one subject; it protests against 'transing the gay' - particularly adolescent gay and lesbian youths and children. It doesn't obscure that view in wishy-washy language, it doesn't 'beat-around-the-bush'. The LGB Alliance is out-and-out against 'transing-the-gay'. And one of the most obvious indicators of its view is its film on the same subject;
https://youtu.be/oTf1gPZaBWg
So, easy to understand what the LGB Alliance stands for. And unfortunately, statistics and independent statements back its view. Even in 2012 the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust was reporting that 70% of the adolescents it was treating for gender dysphoria. 'Transing-the-gay' was already well-established then, and in the string of 30+ clinical staff resignations, that policy was identified as being paramount;
'Homophobia in families attending GIDS is mentioned in all the transcripts Newsnight has seen.
As well as seeing young people struggling with their sexuality, staff say some parents appeared to prefer their children to be transgender and straight, rather than gay.
In one example, a GIDS clinician describes a young person who had come out as a lesbian and faced homophobic bullying, "within the family and quite openly in school".'
(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51806962)
Amongst those who repeatedly accuse LGB Alliance of being a hate group are some notable individuals, all male-born;
Owen Jones
David Paisley
Katy Montgomerie
Jolyon Maugham
and
John Nicolson MP
Conceivably each of those above would agree with the LGB Alliance's stance against 'transing-the-gay', but haven't yet been able to get around to noting that although they agree with the LGBA's stance on this subject, they still reckon its a 'hate group' for some other (unspecified) reason.
Unfortunately the LGB Alliance is, as mentioned, so explicit in its opposition to transsing-the-gay, it can be safely assumed that those who so vehemently oppose it, are absolutely committed to the transing-of-the-gay as a social and political policy.
The obvious argument against this of course is that three of the individuals listed are gay. The other two could perhaps claim that they simply support the policy and although it is horrifically homophobic, it isn't as bad as say what Iran practices towards gay men and lesbians, or what the national socialists (trying to avoid Godwins Law here) performed on homosexuals - which was principally to kill them. And if that was their argument - I guess there might be another, but I can't think what it is - they could also claim to just two individuals of many who share the same support for transing-the-gay.
But I digress. We are left with Owen Jones, David Paisley and John Nicolson MP. Each acutely aware that the LGB Alliance is dedicated in its opposition to transing-the-gay, even though each of them are gay males. How to explain this?
And I'm not going to try to answer that question. I've plenty of speculation, and a few possible answers that have been well-documented over-the-decades, with keywords like 'ageing and self-loathing' but I reckon the answers should come from Owen Jones and David Paisley and John Nicolson MP themselves. It might take a few years-to-secure, but in the inevitable inquiries and self-recrimination that will bring these 'crazy' years to an end, I'd be certain that all three will feel compelled to try to explain their views, and how they managed to turn 'Quisling'.
As a former internet detective who spent far too much time reconstructing these sorts of events in the past, thank you, this is terrific work.
Item the second. John Nicholson deserves to be trolled. By which I mean that I am amazed he is not already listed on Kiwi Farms, or has his own relentless parody account, or even a wordpress page about his jackassery. You British terfs are laying down in the job, I tell ya!
I am intrigued by the headline given to that interview: “The Most Hated Man On The Internet” along with Nicolson calling the interview “superb”. Anyone who actually links on the clip will surely be as appalled at the shabby attacks coming from the interviewer as they are impressed at how articulate Graham Linehan is in defending himself. In short, the video shows the opposite of what Nicolson states. The shameless misrepresentation is entirely consistent with Nicolson’s slithery manoeuvrings over this entire affair.
This case seems to me to be a microcosm of the whole media structure for quite some time now i.e. the media’s furious insistence that the events shown are the opposite of what they most patently are. In this particular case, they are hoping that you will simply swallow that “most hated man on the net” without checking the content. Either that or you will be so molded by the title that the content won't matter.
For anyone with a large block of spare time, there's probably some interesting data to be collected on how MPs interact with women online vs men.
Dave Hewitt has the patience of a saint! As do the people at LGBA.
I recall Nicholson having several late night Twitter rants about that time. It seemed as if he became somewhat "tired and emotional" as the night wore on.
He is a very strange, misogynistic, nasty man.
A gay man calling a charity for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people "sinister".
Also sounds as if he gets all his info from the vicious anime characters on Twitter.
So Nicolson calls your interview with Sarah Smith “superb” as if to suggest it backs up how he feels? Has Nicolson WATCHED the interview? You trash Sarah Smith ... and note her initials!
With respect, it was a pretty odd idea offering Jan Morris as a participant in a radio debate. At the time Jan Morris was 94 years old, and not in the best of health ( died six months later). I wonder if anyone had actually consulted them?
Or is it just that Morris was pretty much the only British person of any distinction other than being transsexual (to use their own word in their book on the subject ) ?
He's always given me the shivers...