Let's break down the fallacy of Linehan's transphobic rhetoric, because that's what it is: Fallacious, bigoted/prejudicial and a set of talk (which sadly can see innocent people getting hurt or worse for no good reason), especially what with throwing around the word "violent" 1/
The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines violence as, "an act of physical force that causes or is intended to cause harm."
It further breaks down violence into four types of crimes: murder (killing), assault (phys. attack), robbery (forcible taking) and rape (forced sex). 2/
Violence is further categorised based on the motivation behind the act. Reactive (emotional) violence seeks to express hostility with a view to hurting another.
Proactive (instrumental) violence seeks to extract some form of reward. 3/
When a trans person uses the bathroom which they identify with (in this case, a trans woman using the ladies' restroom), there is neither the use of force nor any harm inflicted on others. 4/
No one dies, no one is physically injured, no property is damaged or lost, nor is anyone sexually assaulted, at the hands of the trans person using their preferred bathroom (again in this case, a trans woman in the ladies bathroom). 5/
It should be interesting to note, however, that violence is further categorised between predatory and affective types. Per Britannica: "Predatory violence involves planned acts of hostile force. Affective violence is more impulsive and unplanned." 6/
With that being said, the captured post by Graham Linehan is, in and of itself, objectively violent, and actually incites violence towards trans women in particular who have actually done nothing violent in using the ladies' bathroom. 7/
"Make a scene, call the cops... punch [her]."
It's ironic that the man who wishes to claim that a trans woman is being "violent and abusive" by using the bathroom of her choice is encouraging acts of hostility which includes physical harm!
8/
Graham seems to want to lean on more flimsy definitions of violence in accusing trans women, such as "irritable violence" (motivated by frustration) and "territorial violence" (motivated by intrusion into one’s perceived territory or space).
9/
What I find most disturbing is the phrase which immediately precedes the incitement to resort to physical/sexual assault on a trans woman: "if all else fails."
This phrase comes immediately after, "Make a scene, call the cops."
10/
Imagine calling the police on someone (instrumental violence) just because they are in the bathroom doing NOTHING which causes harm to you, and the police (who are supposed to be able to determine whether a violent act has indeed taken place) don't do your bidding.
11/
So you decide to ASSAULT that person, whom the police have determined have not done anything to harm you in the first place!
If we follow Linehan's advice in order, you've now committed PREMEDITATED physical AS WELL as emotional violence; TWO PREDATORY ACTS!
12/
Might I also point out that, in situations where one is being PREYED UPON and there is FEAR OF DANGER, one usually has the right to DEFEND oneself from such violence?
Especially if someone comes at you in an isolated, enclosed space?
13/
What will Graham have to say for himself when he entices one woman to attack another woman, only for the former to receive a broken arm and a bloody face or worse when the latter defends herself from BEING UNLAWFULLY ASSAULTED IN THE BATHROOM?
14/
Is this how one protects women's spaces? Is this how one looks after the safety of women and girls? By encouraging VIOLENCE against women and girls simply for BEING IN A ROOM?
Is this how feminism is advocated?
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Yes, I know this is one hell of an eyeful to absorb, but considering the importance of the subject at a time like this and how much more time others have spent spreading misinformation/disinformation and hateful rhetoric, this is more constructive.1/
I'm now gonna go back to the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which, despite being clear-cut and categorical on the human rights of ALL individuals, SOME people insist on being purposely obtuse and ignorant about its premises, only hurting themselves. 2/
As I pointed out with previous articles contained in the ICCPR, human rights are to be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of who you are, and simply because you weren't explicitly named in its provisions, it doesn't mean that you don't have any rights. 3/
I'm picking up from this thread, because while I know it's an eyeful to absorb, I'm still going to put this out there because I know there are others who wish to get a clue, to make sense of everything, and who may feel similarly as I do. 1/
I started this discourse because I wanted, in spite of my own feelings of concern, to put the information out there that the end is not so much in sight as many of us may worry that it is, barring some ham-fisted, callous tactic(s) with a view to purposely ending the world. 2/
So here's where I start with the meat and potatoes. First of all, every human right which we enjoy, even those which are currently being infringed on in the names of "free speech, sanity, common sense and morality" are inalienable, interrelated and interdependent. 3/
9 years ago, I was introduced to one of the oversight mechanisms and given a somewhat in-depth preview of the world of international law and treaties.
Subsequent to my attendance at the 46th General Assembly of the OAS, I have always held considerable stock in treaty law. 1/
What with all that's been going on both in the US and the UK, while I myself am particularly dismayed, I still hold out hope that the rule of law will prevail and that inalienable and indivisible human rights will withstand the test of time, as they've always done. 2/
I remember when the year turned over a few months ago, reading through a book by a certain religious sect which I was once a part of myself. I was simply bored and just wanted to idly thumb through something that had both words and images as my mind was rapidly turning over. 3/
Just as I was writing my last tweet in the most recent thread, I came across a lovely little gem on Page 25 of the Yogyakarta Principles +10 under "Additional Recommendations" particularly paragraph R:
"[We further recommend that] Sporting organisations integrate the Yogyakarta Principles (2006) and these Additional Principles (2017), as well as all relevant human rights norms and standards, in their policies and practices, in particular:
"i. Take practical steps to create welcoming spaces for participation in sport and physical activity, including installation of appropriate changing rooms, and sensitisation of the sporting community on the implementation of anti-discrimination laws in the sproting context...
Gonna go a little further, as the Yogyakarta Principles are not limited to just the one document drawn up in 2006.
11 years later, between September 18-20, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland, the Principles were revisited and expanded.
The Yogyakarta Principles +10, as the extension is known, acknowledges in its Preamble, among other things:
"UNDERSTANDING 'gender expression' as each person's presentation of the person's gender through physical appearance - including dress, hairstyles, accessories...
"...cosmetics - and mannerisms, speech, behavioural patterns, names and personal references, and noting further that gender expression may or may not conform to a person's gender identity;
"NOTING that 'gender expression' is included in the definition of gender identity...
"We, the International Panel of Experts in International Human Rights Law and on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity:
"RECALLING that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and that everyone is entitled...
"...to the enjoyment of human rights without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status;
"DISTURBED that violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion...
"...stigmatisation and prejudice are directed against persons in all regions of the world because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, that these experiences are compounded by discrimination on grounds including gender, race, age, religion, disability, health...