Thread by @neil_dorin

After two days of hearings for @preta_6, there’s a nagging thought that I can’t shake after watching yesterday’s cross examination of the head of the UBC nursing program by Amy’s very diligent lawyer, Karen Bastow:

1/x

Amy graduated from the UBC nursing program, with honours, roughly a decade ago and has maintained continuing education since then. She is facing two allegations from the public, one of which is still anonymous regarding her public comments on social media.

2/x

Many of the comments in question are based in the factual information professed to her by UBC. These facts are rooted in hundreds of years of scientific consensus about the biological reality of the human species.

3/x

Are we to believe that in approximately one decade, the previous scientific consensus, that underpins the education of Amy and all her colleagues, has been so disproven that to make statements rooted in the previous consensus is grounds for discipline?

4/x

This strikes me as highly unlikely. It would seem more likely that what Amy is facing is a shift in the public consensus, not the scientific. The Overton window of “acceptable discourse” has shifted in *some* areas, having been coerced by some in good faith, some not.

5/x

What is most troublesome to me is that those who have taken the belief, and indeed it appears to be a belief, are convinced that this new consensus is not only factually correct, but also morally righteous. So much so that they are willing to treat criticism of it as heresy.

6/x

I cannot shake the notion that what I’m witnessing, in solidarity with Amy, is a modern witch trial. As uncomfortable as it is for me to watch, I remind myself that it is infinitely more challenging for Amy. This feeling is offset by how well her legal team is performing.

7/x

Thanks goodness there are lawyers like @LDBildy and Karen Bastow willing to defend the rights of other women like Amy. So far, Karen seems to be the new Ben Cooper ☺️.

8/x

The college is calling their final witness today and then my understanding is there will be a break for a month and then 4 more days where Amy’s lawyers will present their witnesses and final arguments will be heard.

Hang in there Amy. You’ve got this. 💜

9/9

@eva_kurilova @ABRadFems @inferavirino @MForstater @BluskyeAllison @helenstaniland @HJoyceGender @jk_rowling

For anyone who wants to follow along, @goinglikeelsie is doing a wonderful job (while on vacation from a very different time zone) taking notes and tweeting from her notes. 🙏

#IStandWithAmyHamm