The state of things
Aren't women great? No wonder so many men want to be one
Ireland: Captured, but women are fighting back
Here’s a long thread of women who have been blocked by Amnesty boss Colm O’Gorman and the reasons why.
This was my favourite. What an absolute fraud that man turned out to be.
Sign the petition if you agree that a man who signs a letter demanding the removal of political representation from women is not fit to run Amnesty Ireland.
Coming soon: we’ll be talking to one of the women Colm O’Gorman wants to silence, Laoise from The Countess Didn’t Fight For this.
Australia: Captured, but women are fighting back.
In Victoria, Australia, a new bill proposes to introduce four new crimes relating to a failure to support or affirm either sexual orientations or gender identities, and a new commission to investigate and mete out punishments for these failures. If the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Prohibition Bill 2020 (VIC) passes into law, any individual with a gender identity who can establish serious injury, or injury, may be able to see the person who caused it fined up to $200,000 or imprisoned for up to 10 years. 'Injury' can be physical or mental.
The bill also changes the definition of sexual orientation as a protected attribute in the Equal Opportunity Act, shifting from same-sex attraction to emotions, affections, and attractions based on gender identities. It also moves to make denial of a person's gender identity a matter of family violence, and to make companies and corporations liable for their employees' failure to support or affirm another individual's gender identity. Holly Lawford-Smith talks to Nina Vallins (lawyer & spokeswoman for the Victorian Women's Guild) about the bill here, and to Kath Deves (law graduate & spokeswoman for Save Women's Sports Australasia) about the bill here.
There is also this fine speech by Senator Clare Chandler on what the Keira Bell case means for Australia.
And this is an absolute barnstormer.
America: Captured, but women are fighting back
Here’s an interview with MK Fain who was slandered in this disgraceful Atlantic piece.
To his credit, Greenwald has gone from throwing around the word ‘TERF’ to realising that something has gone awry here. I hope someone shares the interview with him because you can learn almost everything there is to learn about how mainstream publications like The Atlantic are deliberately misleading the public about the beliefs, aims and tactics of radical feminists.
Scotland: Captured, but women are fighting back
The Lamont Amendment to the Forensic Medical Services Bill ensures that ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ will not be conflated and rape victims—yes, that’s rape victims— will be allowed to refuse examination by a male after they have been assaulted.
Well, thankfully, the amendment passed by a landslide.
Here’s Johann Lamont’s moving speech on the matter. It is such a breath of fresh air to hear the anger in her voice as she fights for the very least society should offer rape victims, a space free from men in the aftermath of an assault.
However, nine people voted against the amendment, eight of them men.
When they come around asking for your vote, remember their names.
UPDATE: Stuart of Wings Over Scotwrites "I should note that Liam McArthur in fact didn't vote against the amendment. Alex Cole-Hamilton said the Lib Dems were all opposing it, but McArthur didn't. Not sure if he voted for it or just didn't vote at all - he wasn't an abstention. "
Regarding the Forensic Medical Services for Female Victims of Sexual Violence legislation - I simply cannot even begin to grasp how allowing male born people, no matter what they wear or how they 'identify' to work with the victims of sexual trauma is a "trans rights" issue.
By making this assertion, these people out THEMSELVES (I do not refer to all trans people obviously) as perverted fetishists who believe they should be entitled to have access to the most intimate aspects of women's lives without question. It belies the fact that they see women as being not quite human, as mere props in their fantasy lives &/or to provide validation of the fantasy that they are, in fact, accepted as 'women'.
I'm astonished that so few apparently have enough insight to see how this is perceived by others.
What a joy and relief to see film of dull parliaments and to realise politicians - good, brave ones - are making the case for women in the seats of power. Finally. I feel - well, I hope - Keira Bell is going to be a touchstone and inspiration for many more.