Latest news with #MayaForstater
Telegraph
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour council ‘breaking law' after hoisting pro-trans flag
The Progress Pride flag is an amended version of the 1978 rainbow-coloured Pride flag and includes black, brown, pink, pale blue and white stripes, which represent people of colour in the LGBTQ+ community, the trans community, and those living with HIV/Aids. Andrea Williams, the chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said Hackney could be 'vulnerable to litigation'. She told The Telegraph: 'Flying the so-called Progress flag at a time where the Government and the courts have been actively moving to protect the psychological and physical health of young people and safe spaces for women from overreaching interpretations of transgender-related laws is clearly a political statement. 'By flying that particular flag, the mayor of Hackney is clearly engaging in partisan political advertising based on her own and her political party's views on this issue.' Maya Forstater, the chief executive of human rights charity Sex Matters, added: 'Dismissing people who complain about flags or waving this away as a 'culture war' completely misses the point. These symbols are not harmless messages of 'inclusivity'. 'The Progress Pride flag represents a highly contentious belief. It is Hackney council's job to serve the whole community, in line with the Equality Act, not to signal its support for the claim that 'trans women are women'. 'Flying this flag sends a highly political and ideological message to every resident of Hackney, not to mention those council workers at the front line in the leisure centres, libraries and youth clubs where the law about single-sex spaces and services needs to be upheld.' 'The cracks are impossible to ignore' The row comes after the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act ' refer to a biological woman and biological sex '. The Telegraph understands there is increasing concern amongst members of the ruling Hackney Labour group over trans rights. One source said: 'The cracks in Hackney Labour are becoming impossible to ignore – especially on sex and gender. Since the Supreme Court judgement, councillors who've been silenced by fear of cancellation are beginning to find their voices. 'Many were deeply uncomfortable when the previous mayor forced through the 'trans women are women' motion without a single word of debate. Many lesbians and women who believe sex matters have repeatedly asked why Hackney flies the Progress Pride flag but refuses even to consider a women's rights flag for International Women's Day.' In correspondence seen by The Telegraph, Ms Woodley said: 'A version of the Pride flag has flown above the Town Hall each February and July since summer 2017, to mark LGBT+ history month each February, and also the week leading up to and including the London Pride weekend each summer, in solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community and to highlight the council's commitment to equalities and social inclusion. 'In summer 2020, the council replaced the original Pride flag with the Progress Pride flag, which includes extra colours to represent queer people of colour and trans people in recognition of the diversity and intersectionality of the community. In 2023, the Progress Pride flag was then replaced with the Intersex Inclusive Progress Pride flag.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
At long last, the SNP is forced to accept the word 'woman' refers to biological sex
The definition of a woman refers to biological sex, the SNP government has finally been forced to accept in landmark new guidance. For the first time, the Scottish Government has set out its new position in formal guidance published in the wake of its Supreme Court defeat on the issue. In an update about laws around gender quotas on public sector boards, it states references to woman or women in the legislation 'are references to a biological woman or women'. It issued the new approach after being threatened with legal action unless it implemented the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman. Now ministers have been urged to ensure that all relevant guidance and legislation is updated. Maya Forstater, chief executive of human rights charity Sex Matters, said: 'The Scottish Government's clarification that the word 'woman' refers to biological women in its guidance concerning public boards might look trivial to a casual observer, but its impact will be outsize. 'As we have outlined in our letter before action, the Scottish Government must now act to bring all its policies in line with the law – and biological reality.' The Gender Representation on Public Boards Act was meant to create a 50:50 balance of women and men on quango boards. It originally defined a woman as 'anyone living as a woman', including biological males with or without a gender recognition certificate (GRC). For Women Scotland successfully challenged this in Scotland's courts and ministers dropped the definition from their law, but the revised guidance continued to say 'woman' included a trans woman with a GRC. After For Women Scotland appealed to the Supreme Court, judges ruled the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. In updated guidance on the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act issued as the Scottish parliament entered the summer recess, a section on 'the meaning of 'woman' for the purposes of the Act' said that 'references in the Act to a 'woman' or to 'women' are references to a biological woman or women'. The updated guidance was issued after Sex Matters threatened new legal action within 14 days if ministers fail to implement new policies and guidance. Scottish Tory equalities spokesman Tess White said: 'It appears only the threat of legal action has seen some common sense break out in the SNP. However, John Swinney has still failed to apologise for backing Nicola Sturgeon's reckless gender reforms.' In its submission to the Supreme Court ahead of last year's case, the Scottish Government argued references to a woman who is pregnant in the Equality Act would also apply to a 'pregnant man' born female. During the case, Ruth Crawford, KC, representing the Scottish Government, said a person with a GRC is 'recognised in law' as having changed sex 'and will have the protection afforded under the Equality Act'.
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
How JK Rowling became a lightning rod for attacks by pro-trans activists
These are dark times in the wizarding world. Stephen Fry, who narrated all seven of JK Rowling's Harry Potter audio books, has become the latest celebrity to lambast the author for her views on trans issues. Fry told the Show People podcast that Rowling 'has been radicalised by terfs' (a slur meaning 'transgender-exclusionary radical feminists') and described his former friend and colleague as a 'lost cause'. But Fry's censure won't deter the author. Rowling has spent the past five years fending off increasingly vitriolic attacks and even death threats as she became the chief spokesperson for women's rights – and the biggest lightning rod for attacks by pro-trans activists. It was in 2019 that Rowling began sharing her views publicly, initially by supporting other campaigners. In December of that year, she robustly defended Maya Forstater, a researcher locked in an employment discrimination battle for expressing gender-critical opinions. Rowling posted on Twitter: 'Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who'll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill'. Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who'll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 19, 2019 Rowling progressed to leading the charge in 2020. In June, she posted a scathing tweet in response to an article about 'people who menstruate'. Rowling commented: 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?' It prompted an online backlash in which her critics called her transphobic – an allegation she denied. 'People who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud? Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020 Still, it wasn't entirely clear what was motivating her involvement until she published a lengthy and thoughtful essay on her website that same month. Rowling wrote that her interest in this subject actually went back two years: she had been closely following the debate, and reading books and articles by trans people, gender specialists, psychologists, doctors and more. Rowling explained that she also had a very personal interest. She revealed that she was a domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor, and that was part of her concern around the erosion of protected single-sex spaces. Rowling's remarkable candour is part of what makes her such an effective advocate, says her friend, fellow campaigner and Telegraph columnist Suzanne Moore. The pair first got in touch in 2020 – also an eventful year for Moore, who left The Guardian after 338 of its employees wrote a critical open letter in response to Moore's column about women's rights. Moore says of Rowling: 'Her experience of domestic violence, and her understanding of what it is to be poor, to be a single parent, to not to have access to services, that is a crucial aspect. Although she's incredibly rich and famous, a part of Jo will always be worrying about how to pay the next bill or afford childcare. That means she understands the vulnerability of others. I think people relate to that – it's a very human thing.' Rowling's emotional response is balanced, says Moore, by her conviction about the core issues, including 'that women and girls matter, and that children should not be medicalised. She sees this as one of the biggest medical scandals of the past decade.' Mandy Rhodes, editor of Holyrood magazine and a long-time campaigner for women's rights in Scotland, admits she was initially sceptical about Rowling's involvement. 'I did have that moment of thinking 'Oh, it's someone very famous jumping on the bandwagon'. But within days I understood how committed she was.' Crucially, argues Moore, Rowling 'didn't come into this for her own ego'. Nor was it a fashionable position to take; quite the opposite. 'She could have just sat back and enjoyed her massive success,' says Moore. 'She chose to take a stand. You see all these men like Stephen Fry or Boy George coming at her and they end up looking absolutely stupid. She's what everybody fears: a woman who doesn't give a f---. She doesn't need to be liked – she's already loved. She's a rock star.' Rhodes explains: 'Many of us who put our heads above the parapet were then in the position of trying to save our jobs or keep our sanity because of the criticism being levelled at us. Jo was in a more powerful position and she used it. That really elevated everything.' In 2022, Rowling took action by funding a women-only support centre, Beira's Place in Edinburgh, for victims of sexual violence. 'There was no such single-sex service before,' she said in an interview. 'I know that was well worth doing because of the number of women who are coming through our doors.' Over three years she has donated £1 million to fund running costs, including a staff of nine counselling support workers who have provided more than 6,000 hours of support to 700 women and girls.' Moore visited the centre with Rowling and was struck by how 'Jo sat back and listened to the experienced staff explaining why this was important. That said a lot to me.' Rowling has also regularly challenged controversial legislation in Scotland. In 2022 she condemned a bill that would make it easier for trans people to legally change gender, and in 2024 she criticised a new hate crime act by posting her views on X and challenging Scottish police to arrest her. 'As a writer, she passionately believes in free speech,' says Moore. 'That's something that her critics don't necessarily understand about the arguments she's making.' That same year, Rowling leapt to the defence of resigning Labour MP Rosie Duffield, who had previously been criticised by Keir Starmer for saying that only women have a cervix. The author wrote on X that Duffield 'was one of the few female Labour politicians with the guts to stand up for vulnerable women and girls.' Rosie Duffield was one of the few female Labour politicians with the guts to stand up for vulnerable women and girls, while self-satisfied numbskulls like you fought to give away their rights and spaces. TL;DR Keep her name out of your mouth. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 28, 2024 Rowling has also weighed in on women's sport. In 2024 she posted a photograph of Olympic Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, saying that it showed a man 'enjoying the distress of a woman he's just punched in the head'. Rosie Duffield was one of the few female Labour politicians with the guts to stand up for vulnerable women and girls, while self-satisfied numbskulls like you fought to give away their rights and spaces. TL;DR Keep her name out of your mouth. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 28, 2024 Moore says that while many women share such concerns, voicing them puts you in a very lonely position. Even Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who owe their fame to Rowling's Harry Potter movie franchise, have publicly disagreed with her on trans issues, as has Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne. 'People are hurling abuse at you constantly,' adds Moore. 'This issue came to a head during lockdown, when you felt really isolated. Jo is absolutely the person you want beside you in the trenches: her personal courage, her cleverness and her funniness keep you going.' They were both highly amused, says Moore, when a lunch that Rowling organised for campaigners (including Forstater, Prof Kathleen Stock and Julie Bindel) at the River Café in west London in April 2022 became the focus of rabid attention. 'Women have pasta and wine and suddenly it's a national news story! Actually what she's done is bring people together from across the political spectrum and foster real camaraderie.' Rhodes was delighted to meet Rowling at the Edinburgh launch, in 2024, for the book of essays The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht (Rowling contributed a piece). 'At first I didn't recognise her – she hadn't made an effort to stand out,' says Rhodes. 'I tapped her on the shoulder and said, 'Hi, I'm Mandy', and she immediately said, 'It's so amazing to meet you', and was actually quite deferential to me, which was very kind. I don't think you can exaggerate how horrible and painful it felt being in Scotland at the forefront of all this. It meant a lot to all of us that she was there.' It also helps to have a globally best-selling author articulating your message. Reflecting on Rowling's 2020 personal essay, Rhodes says: 'What she wrote was so simple, so easily understood, it cut through all the nonsense.' Moore thinks that the relentless criticism does sometimes get to Rowling, 'but she jokes to us about it and she stays amazingly calm online. There's all sorts of stuff she could say to someone like Stephen and she doesn't. It's a relief seeing 'there's a woman who cannot be put in her place'. She's inspirational. I'm confident we can keep fighting back, as long as we have people like Jo fighting with us.'
Leader Live
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Gender critical group threatens legal action over court judgment implementation
Sex Matters, which intervened in the For Women Scotland case against the government, has sent ministers a formal 'letter before action'. In April, the Supreme Court said the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex – a ruling which had implications for access to single-sex spaces. Sex Matters argue the Scottish Government is failing to implement the ruling in the public sector, though ministers including John Swinney have said they accept the judgment and are waiting for further guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission before taking the next steps. The letter, seen by the PA news agency, says the government must implement the ruling 'without delay'. It also says the government's guidance in a document called 'Supporting transgender pupils in schools' is 'wrong and must be withdrawn with immediate effect'. The charity's chief executive Maya Forstater spoke to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme on Wednesday. She said: 'The Supreme Court has made the law absolutely clear: men are male and women are female and both have a right to dignity and privacy in things like toilets and changing rooms as well as specialist services like women's refuges. 'The Scottish Government is dragging its feet, it hasn't changed its policies.' Ms Forstater said the Government had not implemented the ruling in schools or in its own facilities. She said the Government has 14 days to reply to the letter, adding: 'All we're asking them to do is put a simple statement on their website which says that their facilities are separated by sex and they also provide unisex facilities so everyone's included.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'The Scottish Government has been clear that we accept the Supreme Court judgment. We are reviewing policies, guidance and legislation potentially impacted by the judgment. 'This will prepare us to take all necessary steps when the regulator of the Equality Act 2010, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, publishes its revised statutory code of practice and associated guidance for services, public functions and associations. 'The EHRC is currently consulting on this revised Code of Practice. 'The Scottish Government's approach is aligned with that of the UK Government and Welsh Government in awaiting the EHRC's revised statutory code of practice. 'We will respond to the letter in due course.'
Rhyl Journal
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Gender critical group threatens legal action over court judgment implementation
Sex Matters, which intervened in the For Women Scotland case against the government, has sent ministers a formal 'letter before action'. In April, the Supreme Court said the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex – a ruling which had implications for access to single-sex spaces. Sex Matters argue the Scottish Government is failing to implement the ruling in the public sector, though ministers including John Swinney have said they accept the judgment and are waiting for further guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission before taking the next steps. The letter, seen by the PA news agency, says the government must implement the ruling 'without delay'. It also says the government's guidance in a document called 'Supporting transgender pupils in schools' is 'wrong and must be withdrawn with immediate effect'. The charity's chief executive Maya Forstater spoke to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme on Wednesday. She said: 'The Supreme Court has made the law absolutely clear: men are male and women are female and both have a right to dignity and privacy in things like toilets and changing rooms as well as specialist services like women's refuges. 'The Scottish Government is dragging its feet, it hasn't changed its policies.' Ms Forstater said the Government had not implemented the ruling in schools or in its own facilities. She said the Government has 14 days to reply to the letter, adding: 'All we're asking them to do is put a simple statement on their website which says that their facilities are separated by sex and they also provide unisex facilities so everyone's included.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'The Scottish Government has been clear that we accept the Supreme Court judgment. We are reviewing policies, guidance and legislation potentially impacted by the judgment. 'This will prepare us to take all necessary steps when the regulator of the Equality Act 2010, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, publishes its revised statutory code of practice and associated guidance for services, public functions and associations. 'The EHRC is currently consulting on this revised Code of Practice. 'The Scottish Government's approach is aligned with that of the UK Government and Welsh Government in awaiting the EHRC's revised statutory code of practice. 'We will respond to the letter in due course.'
