Thread by @ALLIANCELGB

Amid all the disorientation of 2020, it has in many ways been a good year for #LGBAlliance. We have seen steady progress, and made some fantastic leaps forward, in our campaign to protect LGB rights./1

In January we had our kick-off event at Oran Mor in Glasgow. We campaigned to support the long-standing women’s groups in Scotland to Press Pause on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. The Bill was subsequently tossed into the long grass./2

In February Kate Harris outlined what we call “Stonewall Law” at the Make More Noise event in Manchester. She explained how the law was being misrepresented. The phrase “Stonewall Law” was gradually taken up by other campaigners./3

Later that month we had a constructive meeting with the Metropolitan police, with whom we built a good relationship. We also started on what would prove a fruitful dialogue with GEO, and over the rest of the year met with politicians across parties as well as UN officials./4

Our ads in Scottish newspapers attracted a lot of attention. Our detractors posted an image they hoped would show we stood alone. In fact it showed how necessary we are. LGBTQ+ groups reject sex-based rights. But we're encouraged that some are starting to engage with us.

During the first lockdown, Bev Jackson interviewed Fred Sargeant, who was at Stonewall in 1969 when Stormé DeLarverie ignited the Stonewall riot. He constantly corrects misrepresentations of LGB history. Bev also interviewed the great lesbian activist Martha Shelley./6

At the end of April, the CPS LGBT+ Hate Crimes Guidance was withdrawn from schools in England & Wales. This ill-informed document would have reinforced sexist and homophobic stereotypes, suppressed free speech and made female students feel unsafe./7

In June, @jk_rowling wrote a magnificent essay that transformed the sex and gender debate. The public came to realize that it was “transphobic” to discuss biology and the sex-based rights of women and LGB people./8

At the end of June, the black lesbian criminal law barrister
@BluskyeAllison, one of our founding supporters, announced that she was suing Stonewall. This is only one of over 16 cases relating to sex and gender that will be coming up before the courts in the next year./9

In the summer LGB groups started forming worldwide. By December there were groups in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, the UK, the US & Wales. LGB International has truly arrived! (sorry some countries missing here!)/10

In October, on the basis of comprehensive evidence-based research, World Rugby ruled that the participation of transwomen in women’s rugby prejudiced safety. Reactions suggested most LGB people agree. We continue to support safe & appropriate participation in sport for all./11

On 22 October we marked our first anniversary by launching a webinar series named “The Gay Spot” in honour of the black lesbian pioneer Ruth Ellis. Ellis & her partner called their home the “Gay Spot”. It was a refuge for black same-sex couples./12

Keira Bell @KLBfax changed history. On 1 December, three High Court judges ruled that children under 16 are unable to consent to medical experiments currently carried out by @TaviAndPort. This has worldwide implications. Thank you for your bravery, Keira./13

In December we welcomed the decision that gay and bisexual men will no longer be discriminated against in relation to donating blood and that safety assessments will be done on an individual basis./14

After a superb speech by Johann Lamont,the word “gender” was changed to “sex” in the Forensic Medical Services Bill Scotland. This major victory meant that women who'd been victims of rape/sexual assault could specify they wanted any medical examiner to be a biological female./15

The year ended on a wonderful note for all LGB and women’s rights campaigners, when the intrepid philosopher Kathleen Stock was awarded an OBE for her services to higher education./16

As we look forward to 2021 we're grateful for the tremendous support we've received. We can’t name everyone. Thanks to all the politicians, journalists, academics and people from every walk of life who have stood up for free speech and the rights of same-sex attracted people./17

We also thank our team including all the volunteer groups who work with us, our wonderful donors, & everyone who sends us informative and encouraging messages.
You give us the strength to go on.
We love you all.
#LoveWins #HappyNewYear.
Kate Harris, Bev Jackson and Malcolm Clark