Thread by @forwardnotback

I remember standing with the women being demonised as ‘terfs’ and worse when they were part of the “a woman’s place in in a trade union” campaign
When they were fundraising to support the miners strike
When they were “women against the poll tax”
Why are we letting them down

We used to campaign for equal rights for women
For safe spaces
For recognition for women as a sex based class
For their right to self organise and have an equal voice
Full protection under the law based on their sex
Against women being depicted as sex objects
But now ...

A bloke with a beard stands up at a Labour Party Conference, Yes a Labour Party Conference and condemns women for meeting, calls them bigots,applauds this intimidating women and Conference applauds
What is it with woke men with beards that makes them hate women

But perhaps more importantly what has happened to the Labour Party and the wider Labour Movement that accommodates this blatant assault on women’s rights

And before woke bros and others jump in
Of course trans people should be be treated fairly and without discrimination - full employment rights, access to healthcare, access to education the right to meet and organise - so of course trans rights are human rights

BUT *whispers gently*

Do are sex based women’s rights

And it is the law

Do why tonight - why am I making these points again
Because a dear friend, a woman, a lesbian, a Labour Party and trade union member met tonight for a beer and told me she is leaving labour and probably leaving her trade union because she doesn’t feel she belongs

She went to the @Womans_Place_UK meeting in Brighton
She felt threatened
She felt frightened
Most of all she felt totally unsupported by the Labour Party
And I don’t blame her

But she said
Most of the aggression and insults on either side come from men
Most of the intimidation and social media shit comes from men

I thought I was going to be told off ...
She laughed and said “what is it you blokes say - not all men”
I smiled

She said “don’t push it”

“And buy me a f*cking pint”

And to end - if this offends you I can’t say sorry because I’m not
Obviously I don’t want to offend people BUT if you take offence at the issue of women’s rights and equality for all I don’t care and you probably wouldn’t like me anyway

And now I’m being told off for not mentioning her bloody hair cut

An update you probably don’t need: my socks are being criticised