Thread by @maggie_xer

THREAD.

My story, re #Glinner, & my #GrahamLinehanIsVile & #GlinnerisVile tweet, which resonated. MY story. Not his.

I was a trans ally, or so I believed. And then? I read a thread re an infamous Canuck trans woman, who seemed overly fixated on cis girls. /1

This person welcomed controversy. Clearly has problems. Still does. But. Seemed to THRIVE on it. I was violently sexually assaulted (cis man), as a kid, by someone who resembled her, loosely. I freaked out. /2

Still an ally, I contacted a respected Canuck trans woman, involved in politics. I asked, "What can I do?". She had good ideas, as also worried re this person (NOT because trans). I then spoke to an alleged victim. /3

Whilst still a trans ally, I turned to the person I'd heard was as a HUGE advocate of women's rights (didn't know of him, at all). #Glinner. I told him I was a trans ally, but was afraid of this TW. Please help! Graham was kind. He respected my views. Directed me. Was gentle. /4

I became increasingly close to him, in terms of trust. He KNEW how I felt, as a traumatized woman. He GOT IT. I became fixated on this Canuck trans woman. I turned to the GCers, who were like a warm bath. I wrote against trans people. My close TW friends were horrified & hurt. /5

Graham was my ROCK. And, when the Canuck trans woman cyber-stalked me, he was my FRIEND. He was who I could trust. He DEFENDED (cis) women, especially traumatized ones. CLEARLY trans people were BAD. /6

Then many things happened, including #Glinner very publicly defending me, interviewing me, counseling me. Whilst I was a major part (founder) of a GC Canuck coalition of cis women, it was Graham who was the one I most trusted. We shared trans friends, so ok! We were great! 🙄 /7

When, FINALLY, I came to my senses, and left the GC cult, it took MONTHS to disengage from Graham. I emailed him, actually distraught that I was severing our connection, despite despising all things GC. Because? HE was IT. HE was the LEADER of this shite. /8

His pull? His influence? I GET that he's now a joke to many, but please know that it was #Glinner who kept me in the heinous #GC cult. It wasn't until he sent me a "f*ck you, traitor" email that I could finally let go. It's a cult. And it's POWERFUL. Truly. /9