Thread by @Womans_Place_UK

Our statement in relation to the P*nk News report on the donation to #WPUK from #Lush womansplaceuk.org/2020/12/02/wpu…

We will not respond to all the half-baked claims and insinuations masquerading as journalism in the PN piece. Many of the errors in the report could have been avoided by diligent journalistic research which it is not our job to provide. #Lush #WPUK #SexMatters

We are disappointed to see the same old canards about WPUK funding and our campaign regurgitated despite the fact that we have refuted them time and time again. We have recently published this WPUK MythBusters womansplaceuk.org/2020/11/28/wpu…

WPUK welcomed statement made by #Lush (30/11) about its grant to our campaign and we share concerns expressed in that statement about toxicity of debate. We have been on the receiving end of that toxicity since our inception. Like Lush, we are very keen to see respectful debate.

It is therefore disappointing that #Lush has added to the toxicity of the discussion by making a further statement on 1 December in which they misrepresent our campaign. We are happy to discuss with Lush further, at any time, their misapprehensions. #WPUK

We are very grateful to #Lush for the generous grant of £3,000 which has helped us ensure women’s voices have been heard in public debate. We appreciate their pluralist approach to grant giving. We applaud them in supporting the rights of a range of disadvantaged/oppressed groups

We respect the decision #Lush has subsequently made not to fund “campaigning work, discussion or lobbying on the specifics of the proposed changes to Gender Recognition Act”. It is not the responsibility of private companies or businesses to facilitate respectful public debate.

Too many companies have adopted easy virtue-signalling stunts without addressing fundamental inequalities faced in society, including within their own business structures. #Lush #WPUK

Too often, such simplistic interventions have skewed discussion, exacerbated disadvantage and failed to tackle the underlying causes of inequality. #WPUK #Lush

In the UK, public bodies have a duty to foster good relations between those with different protected characteristics, to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation prohibited by the Equality Act...

...and to advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

We intend to continue making sure that such bodies do their job. #WPUK #lush

Thank you for all your support.