Short thread 🧵on #Mermaids, Aimee Challenor & Green Party. In 2016, Challenor, then prominent in our party, organised an open letter to attack Daily Mail for running a story questioning role of Mermaids in a dispute between parents on social transitioning of their child.
Here's story from Oct 2016: Parents in bitter battle over their child's gender: Father brands controversial transgender charity as ‘meddlers’ in yet ANOTHER case of a mother dressing her son, five, as a girl dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3…
👉 Mother believes boy, five, should wear girl's uniform to school
👉 She was backed on issue by Mermaids who leant on school
👉 Father says his son has simply been confused by his mother dressing him
👉 five-year-old has been dressed as a girl since he was two by mother
Challenor lobbied hard within Green Party to coordinate open letter to "support Mermaids, condemn constant attacks on their reputation & condemn attempts to discredit & undermine their work, & call for Daily Mail to apologise." Still online 👇 docs.google.com/document/d/1EV…
Many members, officers & representatives of Green Party signed this open letter. I believe Challenor to have had devastating negative influence on our ability to think clearly on matters of policy & politics during her period of active engagement.
A culture embedded to this day.
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Whistleblowing Allegation: Corruption of Green Party Internal Democracy
I have today called for urgent, independent investigation into facts surrounding subversion of will of conference in taking of controversial motion on #DQSH last weekend #GPC22 👇 electshahrar.co.uk/corruption-of-…
As an ordinary member, I write to blow the whistle on evidence of serious wrongdoing in the Green Party of England and Wales and I believe it to be both in the interest of the Party and the wider public interest to do so.
Late motion "Solidarity with DQSH" taken without due authority of conference. There are multiple grounds to believe that this part of a determined effort by some to pass the motion “at all costs”, the chief obstacle to doing so being to make sure that plenary time made for it.
Remember grotesque contravention of @bindelj basic freedom of speech by @MyNottingham in June?
"Violence against women and girls:
Nottingham council apologises to Julie Bindel for unlawfully cancelling talk"
Big respect Julie for this win! 💪🏽♀️👏🏽👏⚖️❤️👇🏼 theguardian.com/society/2022/o…
👉 A city council has apologised to veteran feminist and lesbian activist Julie Bindel after cancelling a talk because of “the speaker’s views on transgender rights”.
👉 She ended up speaking in the library car park and at the time said she would be suing the council.
👉 In a statement at the time, it said: “Nottingham is an inclusive city and as a council we support our LGBT community and have committed to supporting trans rights as human rights through Stonewall.”
Green Party has just passed Late motion Solidarity with Drag Queen Story Time/Hour. Couple of excerpts below - from synopsis & one of action points. #DQSH#GPC22
Just to note a few points from debate. I spoke against motion on following grounds
👉 procedurally had not benefitted from full amendments & scrutiny process
👉 motion full of straw men, chiefly conflating far-right critics with others with justifiable concerns
👉 wider context being missed, one in which lifelong feminists such as @bindelj having to take council to court for debarring her from speaking on women's rights in library space. Why weren't we putting motions about this too?
Leaders Q&A have just been asked by member whether they will "unequivocally condemn gender critical belief as transphobic". #gpc22
Adrian's response *by far* most nuanced, opens by saying disnclined to speak in "slogans & soundbites" whilst agreeing with leaders on panel & this wasn't a criticism of them (v diplomatic). Then moves on to reference @thecassreview & to take account of evidence & safeguarding.
Hats off 👏🏼👏🏽 @AdrianRamsay for speaking with nuance & compassion on this topic, whilst recognising needs of interests of all to be respected. Massive breakthrough here on our leadership team for a co-leader to have courage to say this in incredibly hostile environment in party.
Challenging GPEW Deputy Leader Election 2022: Institutionalised Smear Campaigns, Rule Breaches & Hostile Environment 4 Gender Critical ♀️
Unfortunately I feel I must speak out against the legitimacy of the Deputy Leader contest. Part thread. Link to full 👉electshahrar.co.uk/challenge-to-d…
I have raised my concerns with ERO and was told that results would not be announced today (7 Sept 2022) & this would give him extra time to consider my representations & consult with other officials.
I have challenged the result on a number of grounds, including material breaches of rules by candidate who was announced today as winner, Zack Polanski. Best laid plans on announcing a result should not take priority over integrity of our internal democracy.
When asked at deputy leader hustings tonight to name a union figure who inspired me, I chose Emmeline Pankhurst.
I said any of us who truly believed in workers rights to collective action should have been horrified at scenes of intimidation against women at Manchester statue.
I'd expect Greens in public position to call out such behaviour not remain quiet.
If you think party failing to speak truth & justice on women's rights you can elect a deputy to redress that lack - in keeping with our deep green values for freedom of protest & equality for all.
In 1903 Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), an all-women suffrage advocacy organisation dedicated to