Thread by @jk_rowling

I've been aware of one of the incidents described in this thread for a long time, because I know people involved. I'm posting this in response to the head of Rape Crisis Scotland's attempts to use rape survivors as human shields for her own career. 1/9

https://twitter.com/SD5419203477703/status/1834693365796859953

The incident involves a group of female sexual assault survivors, who a few years ago requested a meeting with Sandy Brindley, head of Rape Crisis Scotland. They wanted to express their concerns about gender self-ID legislation. 2/9

Specifically, the survivors wanted Rape Crisis Scotland to support a woman's right to request a female medical practitioner. They went to the meeting well aware that they'd be reliving and possibly discussing their own highly traumatic experiences . 3/9

When they arrived at the meeting, the survivors found another woman present, in addition to Sandy Brindley. This woman wasn't introduced, so the survivors assumed she must be another woman who'd experienced rape or sexual assault. 4/9

They were mistaken. The woman in question was @sharoncowan22, Sandy Brindley's romantic partner, who had no role at Rape Crisis Scotland but is an academic with a particular interest in gender identity and trans issues. 5/9

@sharoncowan22 Sandy Brindley, the head of a rape crisis charity, had invited her girlfriend to sit in on a meeting with victims, none of whom had given consent to identifying themselves as rape survivors in front of a total stranger.
6/9

@sharoncowan22 As if that wasn't enough, @sharoncowan spoke up during the meeting to berate and criticise women who want same-sex medical care. The survivors' concerns were dismissed and they were sent on their way. 7/9

@sharoncowan22 @SharonCowan What happened at that meeting has been an open secret ever since among people particularly engaged in the gender self-ID debate. A large number of people were aware that Sandy Brindley had been guilty of a staggering breach of trust and lack of professionalism. 8/9

@sharoncowan22 @SharonCowan Brindley, who claims to be unaware of calls for her to be fired, is responsible for the catastrophe at Edinburgh Rape Crisis. She has betrayed rape survivors' trust in the most brazen ways imaginable. Scottish rape survivors deserve far, far better. Brindley has to go. 9/9

And I've mistakenly typed @ sharoncowan in tweet 7 rather than @sharoncowan22. Apologies.