Unsurprised to see this statement by @JoPhoenix1 and @GoonerProf. But it's a sad and worrying time when a university chooses to break the law on academic freedom to appease a small but determined group of extremists. jophoenix.substack.com/p/joint-statem…
Shame on @essexuniversity and all spineless university managers. They have the resources and power to stand up to bullies. Instead they enable proponents of an extreme ideology to call the shots in teaching, research and public engagement. For shame. gcacademianetwork.org
Listen to this interview with @JoPhoenix1 after the first apology. She was gracious and generous, and optimistic that @essexuniversity would lead the HE sector out of the current impasse. We can't imagine how she must have felt after they 'recanted'. savageminds.substack.com/p/jo-phoenix
How about a comment from @ucu which of all unions should be in the forefront of defending academic freedom. We won't hold our breath. Solidarity with @JoPhoenix1 and @GoonerProf and we wish you had a decent union to take this case on for you. jophoenix.substack.com/p/joint-statem…
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Some initial responses to the non-statutory guidance for schools in Scotland released yesterday - a thread. TLDR: the guidance is based on uncritical acceptance of gender identity ideology. We hope that headteachers will seek alternative advice. gov.scot/publications/s…
Before we comment on the problems with the new guidance, we want to direct everyone in Scottish schools to @Transgendertrd's school resources. The @scotgov guidance is non-statutory. You don't have to use it and you'll find much better advice from TT. transgendertrend.com/transgender-sc…
Problem One. Uncritical use of loaded language as though it's universally accepted. We found 11 mentions of sex being assigned at birth, and no mentions of the fact that sex is determined at conception and observed and recorded at birth. This is ideologically-driven propaganda.
@ToniaAntoniazzi on the HE (Freedom of Speech) Bill this evening: “There is mounting evidence that female academics’ ability to discuss their rights in law is... being curtailed in our HE sector". Shame so many @UKLabour MPs denied that evidence.
@RosieDuffield1 spoke powerfully about "the worrying trend to cancel or no-platform mainly women" and asked "Is a set of rules and the threat of penalties the best way to protect freedom of speech?” Spoiler: it's not. So what's to be done?
@joannaccherry nailed it. "University authorities often look the other way or, worse still, participate in the witch-hunts against lifelong feminists who simply want to make sure that women’s voices and women’s concerns are heard in important debates".
As Marion Millar attends for police questioning for speaking up for women's rights, we reflect on the Scottish Hate Crime Bill consultation. We and others warned that the legislation would be used to intimidate and silence women. #IStandWithMarionMillar#WomenWontWheesht
In the Scottish Parliament, LWD signatory @1_elainesmith argued for amendments "that would give clarity to the police who will have to interpret this legislation". It hasn't taken long for her to be proved right. #IStandWithMarionMillar#WomenWontWheesht
#IAmTheStorm@JoanMcAlpine
"A major ideological schism has opened up in feminist thought, with its roots in university gender & so-called queer studies courses, in which it is argued that gender is a personal choice & that sex is an identity. #BinTheBill
"That view is taken by the leadership of most Government-funded organisations. However, it is increasingly being challenged by a growing number of grass-roots feminist movements, which argue that gender roles are oppressive & that women face discrimination, violence & subjugation
"due to the sex that they were born. The debate is polarised, but it is dynamic and changing. Only yesterday, one of the grass-roots feminist groups succeeded in a legal challenge to the UK census, which will force the Office for National Statistics to collect sex information in
#BinTheBill today.
Hear from #IAmTheStorm@JennyMarra
"Hate is now such a contested term, and I am worried that members of the Parliament are complacent about the atmosphere in which 1/
"women are currently arguing that sex continues to matter in shaping their experiences of the world.
I know that from my experiences over the past two years.
I was branded online as hateful for questioning NHS Scotland’s policy that stated that a baby’s gender was
2/
"assigned at birth. I know that not to be true and that my son’s own sex was clearly observed and recorded at birth, but for that to be branded as hateful is perhaps an example of the atmosphere that we are operating in.
The campaign group @Womans_Place_UK which submitted
3/
Thread - 10 inspiring #ExpelMe speeches.
One year ago at 7pm, against a backdrop of intimidation from the usual men's rights mob, our historic rally started in defence of @ALLIANCELGB & @Womans_Place_UK who'd been defamed in
Since then 1000s of Labour supporters have signed our Declaration & joined our campaigns.
First up was this fabulous message from MSP @JohannLamont
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Then @BevJacksonAuth for @ALLIANCELGB
"I'd like to thank the impromptu choir outside...I look forward to being able to sit down and talk to each other...
Sex not gender"
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