Tweet

Karen Ingala Smith

8 Jun, 19 tweets, 4 min read

Truth, lies and Storytelling
Radio Four’s Today programme this morning (8 June 2021) contained such a blatant piece of misinformation imparted by Benjamin Cohen, CEO of Pink News, that I felt compelled to transcribe it kareningalasmith.com/2021/06/08/tru…

I overheard a discussion on Radio Four’s Today programme this morning (8 June 2021) that contained such a blatant piece of misinformation imparted by Benjamin Cohen, CEO of Pink News, that I felt compelled to transcribe it.

Justin Webb: Just on the point about abolishing legal provisions for single sex spaces, do you not accept that it is perfectly acceptable for women to campaign for those single sex spaces and to say that those who have changes sex should not be in them?

Benjamin Cohen…..[Evades question and talks about someting else for a few moments] and goes on to say, over again, it’s a debate about trans issues without a single trans voice being heard

Justin Webb: Hang on number one, you don’t know anything about me; number two, I asked you a question, would you answer it?

Benjamin Cohen: Sure bit, I just, I’ve made a statement, is this a debate about trans issues with no trans voice?

Justin Webb: Yeah, you’ve made your statement, now could you answer the question?

Benjamin Cohen: You made the statement which is that the provisions around who hets access to single sex spaces has changed, that hasn’t changed, the EqualityAct was passed in 2010, there’s been no changes to that

Justin Webb: Yeah, hang on, what I’m suggesting is that Stonewall would like to change it, and a lot of women are worried about

Benjamin Cohen: Sorry, you just claimed that but that’s not actually true. So, Stonewall supports self-ID (Justin Webb : Exactly) which is about, simply about paperwork, so you’ve been able to self-ID for practical purposes for the Equality Act, since 2010,

Justin Webb: But not for instance to go to a safe space for women, like a women’s refuge, those a protected aren’t they

Benjamin Cohen: (speaking over Justin Webb): yeah, and they continue to be protected.

Justin Webb: And does Stonewall ...

Benjamin Cohen: Can you answer me a question, Justin, has Stonewall said that those spaces should be open to trans people, I don’t believe they have

Justin Webb: Well, exactly

Benjamin Cohen: this is the problem,

Justin Webb: But hang on, I think we agree on this

Benjamin Cohen: It’s such misinformation

Justin Webb: Hang on, I think we agree on this in that case because, is it the case, or is it not the case that Stonewall, is campaigning for those safe spaces not to be women only?

Benjamin Cohen: They aren’t campaigning for that, that’s just misinformation being spread by a homophobic and transphobic media, I’m afraid.

The thing is, Benjamin, you're the one that's not telling the truth here. The extract below shows that Stonewall are campaigning or did campaign for the removal of the protection of women's single sex spaces.

This is from Stonewall's submission to Women & Equalities Select Committee Inquiry on Transgender Equality submitted on 27 August 2015 (stonewall.org.uk/women-and-equa…). Stonewall's recommendations included:

"“A review of the Equality Act 2010 to include ‘gender identity’ rather than ‘gender reassignment’ as a protected characteristic and to remove exemptions, such as access to single-sex spaces”

Screenshot

(Source Woman’s Place UK, Evidence of calls to remove single sex exemptions from Equality Act: womansplaceuk.org/references-to-…)

Saying that Stonewall hasn't campaigned from the removal of women's single-sex spaces looks a lot like misinformation being spread by a media that doesn't acknowledge the need for women's single sex spaces to me. Your move, Benjamin.

This thread can be read here: kareningalasmith.com/2021/06/08/tru…

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

More from @K_IngalaSmith

Karen Ingala Smith

@K_IngalaSmith

11 Mar

If I were to compile a list of ‘women don’t’ advice based on the femicide census:
- women, don’t have male partners
- women, don’t leave male partners
- women, don’t go on dates with men
- women, don’t talk to men at bus stops
- women, don’t have sons
-women, don’t have grandsons

- women, don’t give a glass of water to someone claiming thirst
- women, don’t let the gas-man, or someone claiming to want to check your meter in
- women, don’t take a taxi
- women, don’t help other women in danger
- women, don’t support your daughter who has an abusive partner

- Women, don’t say no to his advances
- women, don’t have male friends
- women, don’t have male flatmates
- women, don’t go into hospital
- women, don’t retire into a retirement home
- women, don’t take a younger lover
- women, don’t take an older lover
- women, don’t get sick

Read 8 tweets

Karen Ingala Smith

@K_IngalaSmith

23 Feb

1) Running refuges on the basis of gender-identity rather than sex, risks making them hostile environments for women experiencing trauma after men's violence.
Trauma informed spaces for women who have been subjected to men's violence must be single sex spaces.

2) There's a paucity of research on rates of violence of males 'who have transitioned' or 'who identify as having transitioned'.
The scant evidence available suggests male transitioners retain male pattern violent offending -there's no research on males who simply self identify.

If you want to hear what survivors have to say, you could start here fovas.wordpress.com
Or this newstatesman.com/politics/2015/…

Read 10 tweets

Karen Ingala Smith

@K_IngalaSmith

3 Feb

Any woman can be subjected to a man’s or men’s violence. We know that class, race, disability, sexuality, any of the differences between women, differences which are often turned in to inequalities do not provide an impenetrable barrier;

though they do present more exposure to or protection from some forms of violence.
Any woman should be able to access specialist support for women who have been subjected to sexual and domestic violence and abuse, including prostitution.

We also know that women of means may have alternatives to those services, e.g. it’s rare you find a woman in refuge, who could afford to book herself into a hotel, or who have access to friends with space. She has choices. Many women in refuges do not. Women in prison do not.

Read 10 tweets

Karen Ingala Smith

@K_IngalaSmith

1 Feb

I see those trying to deprive women victim-survivors of sexual and domestic violence and abuse, including prostitution, of their legal right to single-sex services from specialist independent organisations have come out to play again.

Firstly - it is perfectly straightforward and contains no contradictions to support universal human rights AND sex based rights and protections - and in doing so to prioritise the well-being of women, particularly those who have been subjected to men's violence.

I have made no secret of my belief in the importance of single-sex services for women who've been subjected to men's violence - but don't listen to what other people say I say, read what I say myself for yourself (if you're interested). Links follow.

Read 12 tweets

Karen Ingala Smith

@K_IngalaSmith

22 Sep 20

@bindelj

It’s absolutely true that the scrapping of self-ID is the work of hundreds, no, thousands of ordinary women fighting to retain rights for our sisters.
But I personally would like to say thank you to @bindelj who stood practically alone against the threat of transgender ideology

@Womans_Place_UK

for such a long time.
Secondly to @Womans_Place_UK who took up the mantel for those of us who wanted to address the issue within the context of broader structural inequalities and whose support and sisterhood gave me determination to speak out.

@nia_endingVAWG

Thirdly to @nia_endingVAWG’s board of trustees who gave me the permission to speak out as CEO because they recognised the threat to specialist women’s services and made the issue a strategic aim for nia; and to nia’s staff & senior management team for everything they do for women

Read 4 tweets

Karen Ingala Smith

@K_IngalaSmith

20 Sep 20

This is but a stepping stone.

However...

To the women (and men) who made this happen, whether or not we agree on broader feminist or other political ideals: Thank you. thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/c…

To those with whom I share broader feminist & political ideals, but who have stayed silent on the threat of transgender ideology to women’s rights & protections: many of us will neither forget nor forgive your silence (particularly for me,those with a purported interest in MVAWG)

To people who identify as transgender and their allies, I support universal human rights, including yours.

Read 4 tweets

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Share this page!

Karen Ingala Smith

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

More from @K_IngalaSmith

Karen Ingala Smith

Karen Ingala Smith

Karen Ingala Smith

Karen Ingala Smith

Karen Ingala Smith

Karen Ingala Smith

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Like this author's thread?