Latest news with #FionaMcAnena
Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
I admit to being a ‘Terf': Tired of Explaining Reality to Fools
One of the things that makes me feel most patriotic – and such feelings do not come easily, trust me – is that I live on Terf Island. Baffled Americans who have swallowed the Kool Aid and recite things like 'Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary people are valid', while living in a country that chops the breasts off disturbed young women, look at the likes of me and my friends, who want kids left alone, and think it is us who have the problem. For them we are some kind of monsters. We, the Terfs of Terf Island (a misguidedly derogatory nickname that reflects the UK's important role as the centre of gender-critical feminism), want to protect the rights of women and children. And with support we are slowly turning the pernicious gender juggernaut round in just about every area. I can't remember the first time I was called a Terf. It was meant as an insult (trans-exclusionary radical feminist). Originally, the only bit that I felt applied to me was 'feminist'. I did not want to exclude trans people. I am not that radical. But I am tired. It's been a long old battle trying to explain that biology should not trump ideology. TERF: Tired of Explaining Reality to F---wits. To be labelled a Terf was an attempt to shut bolshy women down. Now, a new book, Terf Island, by Sex Matters campaigner Fiona McAnena, reflects the struggle by looking at the social history of the resistance to gender ideology. It's out on August 1, and is well worth a read. As the book highlights, our basic objections were (and still are) to men in women's spaces, men in women's sports, the medicalisation and sterilisation of children, and the erasure of the word women from language so that we became 'people with cervixes' or 'gestational carriers'. The idea that sex itself was changeable and just an undefined feeling in your head? We didn't buy any of this and we were seen as old, redundant, out of touch. Why wouldn't a bunch of awkward, often middle-aged women (which included lesbians) just go along with the shiny new creed where no one was born male or female anymore and everyone could be everything on a whim, the trans activists must have wondered. How mega exciting! (And how profitable for big pharma, big medicine, big shrinkery.) Who would not want to be modern and sexually ambiguous? As for stuff like rights and spaces and protections for women and safeguarding for children… who cares? That was from the dark days, before rainbow lanyards and flags. Yet Terfs just would not get with the programme. We committed the biggest sin of all. We simply did not believe that a man in a wig and stockings could be a woman. What's more, we organised – and held gatherings supported by the advocacy group Woman's Place. Networks were created. The Lesbian and Gay Alliance was formed. Court cases where women had been discriminated against for their 'gender-critical beliefs' were won. Bit by bit, Terf Island was countering the ultra-effective lobbying of Stonewall, which had wormed its way into many public sector bodies. In Scotland, Sturgeon's push to allow gender self-ID fell apart after we saw where that could lead – Isla Bryson, a rapist in a female prison. Since then, Labour, having idiotically signed up to the SNP's self-ID cause, has been coming round. We have had the Sullivan Review, the Cass Review and the Supreme Court ruling, all seeking to improve data collection, policy-making and definitions around sex and gender, rooted in biological fact. I've been maligned for years as a Terf, so excuse me while I celebrate the victories of grassroots groups of busy women against much of the establishment. Other European countries, Australia and, whisper it, some Americans are now paying attention to our push-back, particularly on puberty blockers and 'gender medicine'. Trump's slogan at the election ' Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you ' tapped into the unease many were already feeling. But cult thinking is hard to give up. Tim Roca, the Labour MP for Macclesfield, does not appear to have got the memo that his party has accepted that the word woman means biological woman. He found the Supreme Court judgment 'very depressing', even though it simply clarified the law. He described 'transphobes' as 'swivel-eyed' and 'not very well people'. It's going to be very hard for these people to row back. One-hit wonder Kate Nash has recorded a song that rambles on and then addresses people like me as germs. ('Exclusionary, regressive, misogynist (germ, germ)/Yeah, you're not rad at all.') A young posh duo called the Lambrini Girls perform a muddled ditty with the chorus 'Shut your stupid f---ing mouth you stupid f---ing Terf / There's a reason your kids aren't returning your calls, Carol'. I am afraid these people may think they are rad and out-there but they are missing what is going on. You know, in the world? The slow-motion car-crash of the tribunal of Sandie Peggie, who was cleared of misconduct after NHS Fife suspended her when she complained about having to share a changing room with Dr Beth Upton, a transgender medic, is revealing what happens when an organisation panders to the whims of a trans-identifying male. We end up with a nurse suspended for wanting to change in private. The Peggie case is covering NHS Fife in gender woo-woo that it can't shake it off. It has beclowned itself by putting gender ideology above common sense. This is the level of insanity that Terfs have stood against for years now. But it's changing.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Police Scotland say transgender suspects have the right to ask for a male officer to search one half of their body and a female officer to search the other half
Police have issued new guidance ruling transgender suspects can demand one half of their body is searched by a male officer and the other by a female colleague. Gender-critical campaigners have accused Police Scotland of potentially putting female staff at risk with new rules drawn up after a recent Supreme Court verdict. The latest guidance - issued with comments from Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton - has been condemned by activists including Kellie-Jay Keen, of the group Let Women Speak, and Sex Matters charity chief Fiona McAnena. Judges determined in April that the word 'woman' meant a biological female and not gender within the terms of Britain's Equality Act. Police Scotland - the crime force covering the whole country - carried out a review in response to April's judgment and has now published what it calls 'interim transgender search guidance'. A statement described searching as a 'complex and important area of policing'. Police Scotland said the force 'must ensure that it is acting in line with its duties under the Equality Act and the Human Rights Act, and that officers and staff feel confident that they are conducting searches lawfully'. Among the new guidance is a question-and-answer section, which inclludes the suggestion: 'Can a transgender detainee ask for a separate area search depending on anatomical presentation?' The reply provided states: 'Yes - a transgender detainee can ask for a separate area search. 'This means that one half of their body will be searched by one biological sex officer and the other half of their body will be searched by a different biological sex officer.' The guidance has been sparked concerns among gender-critical campaigners, who worry female officers would be left in uncomfortable and even risky situations. Kellie-Jay Keen, who runs the group Let Women Speak, told MailOnline: 'I'm worried about the rights of female officers, if they're subjected to the whims of a suspect. 'I'd be asking the police force for single-sex searches - otherwise women aren't safe. It's just beyond belief that messages like this are being sent out.' Ms McAnena, director of campaigns at the charity Sex Matters, said: 'This ludicrous policy that allows one half of a suspect's body to be searched by a woman and the other half by a man comes from a police force which has embraced transgender ideology. 'Police Scotland's new rule is a gift to any suspect who may get satisfaction or enjoyment from being disruptive. 'This is particularly the case for trans rights activists who take an interest in eroding boundaries and making women uncomfortable.' The new Police Scotland statement comes just weeks after a controversy over similar searches for prison inmates identifying as transgender. MailOnline reported last month how female prison guards were having to strip search the top half of transgender inmates before male colleagues check their lower region. Trans criminals held at HMP Dovegate described how two female guards are used to check the top half of their bodies while two male colleagues check below the belt. The inmates subjected to the searches say they feel 'humiliated and violated' by the additional checks by male officers, which leaves their confidence 'shattered'. However, women's rights campaigners accused prison bosses of breaching the 'human rights' of female officers. April's ruling by the Supreme Court in London deemed the definition of a woman to be based on biological sex, meaning transgender women are not considered to be women in the eyes of the law. The verdict means trans women with a gender recognition certificate could potentially be excluded from single-sex spaces if 'proportionate'. Police Scotland has now said in a statement: 'The Service has been reviewing affected areas of operational policing, including the procedure for conducting certain kinds of searches, to provide clarity to our colleagues and communities. 'The guidance states that officers and staff will undertake all searches whether in custody or as part of a stop and search interaction, which involve the removal of more than a jacket, gloves, headgear or footwear, on the basis of biological sex. 'The guidance also states that when an individual, whose lived gender differs from their biological sex is subject to search and requests to be searched by an officer of their lived gender, efforts will be made to ensure an appropriate officer conducts the search, where this is operationally viable to do so. 'In these circumstances written consent will be required from the authorising officer (Inspector rank or above), the person to be searched, and the officer(s) conducting the search.' The force said the approach followed advice from its legal team, 'as well as engagement with relevant business areas, staff associations, trade unions, the Scottish Government and other key partners'. What does the Supreme Court gender ruling mean? What did the Supreme Court rule? The Supreme Court ruled the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex. What does it mean for single sex spaces? The court's decision will have huge consequences for how single-sex spaces and services operate across the UK, experts said today. The written Supreme Court judgment gives examples including rape or domestic violence counselling, refuges, rape crisis centres, female-only hospital wards and changing rooms. The court ruled that trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if 'proportionate'. The government said the ruling 'brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs'. What does it mean for employers? Employment experts say it will provide companies with greater 'clarity' over single sex spaces for their staff. Lara Brown, senior Research Fellow in the Culture and Identity Unit at Policy Exchange, said a trans woman with a GRC who is excluded from single-sex spaces cannot say she is being discriminated against as a woman. She explained: 'This ruling makes it legal for any space that wants to be single sex to exclude biological men.' Could employers still be at risk of discrimination? The Supreme Court made it clear that trans people are protected under the gender reassignment provisions in the Equality Act and will be able to bring claims if they are discriminated or harassed. Experts say a trans woman will be able to bring a sex discrimination claim if they are disadvantaged because they are perceived to be a woman or because they associate with a woman. Rob McKellar, legal services director at Peninsula, said failure to be an inclusive workplace, regardless of any protected characteristics, could result in a discrimination claim. What does the ruling mean for competitive sports? In recent years, many sports have cracked down on rules around transgender athletes at the elite level. Athletics, cycling and aquatics are among those who have banned trans women from taking part in women's events. The UK government said it hopes the decision will provide clarity for sports clubs. Although today's ruling did not concern sport directly, former Olympian Sharron Davies welcomed the decision, saying it was important to 'define what a woman is'. Could a pregnant woman with a GRC be entitled to maternity leave? Experts said today that the ruling that only women can become pregnant shows a trans man (biological woman) would be able to take maternity leave, while a trans woman (biological man) would not. Jo Moseley, an employment law specialist at national law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: 'The Supreme Court acknowledged that only women can become pregnant. Therefore a trans man (a biological woman who identifies as a man) can take maternity leave. 'Had the court reached a different decision, it's possible that trans men with a GRC wouldn't have been entitled to protection in relation to pregnancy under the characteristics of 'pregnancy or maternity'.'
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
House of Lords canteen slammed for serving rainbow-coloured ‘Pride crumble' dessert
A HOUSE of Lords canteen has been given a roasting for serving a rainbow-coloured 'Pride crumble' dessert. Peers and staff working on the Parliamentary estate have been offered the woke sweet treat, pictured above, to mark Pride month. Portions of the pudding were on offer yesterday for £2.15 with custard. Only last week, rainbow couscous was on the menu in the River Restaurant overlooking the River Thames. But campaigner Fiona McAnena questioned whether the colourful crumble had been created after so-called Progress Pride flags were removed from the cafeteria earlier this week. Ms McAnena, who represents the Sex Matters charity, added: 'Whoever is behind this may think that they are supporting a noble cause. 'But do they really support the reality of what the transgender rights flag represents, including sterilising surgeries, cross-sex hormones that cause permanent physical damage, and rapists in women's prisons?' Tory peer Baroness Nicholson had demanded the cafeteria's Pride flags be taken down as they had not been given proper permission. The latest row comes weeks after Nigel Farage's Reform UK party said town halls under its control would be stopped from flying LGBTQ+ and Pride flags. Reform said it would allow only the St George's Cross and the Union flag to be displayed. 1
Boston Globe
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Transgender women banned from women's cricket in England and Wales
The announcement comes a day after transgender athletes were banned from playing on women's soccer teams in England and Scotland by the Football Association. Transgender women were already banned from the top two tiers of elite women's cricket from the start of this year but had been permitted to compete in the women's game at lower levels including recreational cricket. Advertisement No longer. The U.K.'s highest court issued a ruling two weeks ago that defined a woman for anti-discrimination purposes as someone born biologically female. The head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said after the ruling that transgender women would be excluded from women's toilets, hospital wards and sports teams. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up While the ruling was cheered by some feminist groups, it has been condemned by trans-rights groups who said it would have a broad and detrimental impact on daily life. The issue has been polarizing in the U.K. and beyond, particularly in the United States, where President Donald Trump has signed executive orders to prohibit participation of transgender athletes in sports and to use a rigid definition of the sexes, rather than gender, for federal government purposes. The orders are being challenged in court. Advertisement Reactions to cricket ban Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at Sex Matters charity, said: 'The ECB's two-tier policy was never coherent. Restricting the top end of the women's game to female-only showed that it understood men's size and strength confer an unfair advantage in women's sport. 'But protecting around 300 women in England and Wales while leaving the other 33,000 female cricketers to face male bowling and batting was indefensible.' A spokesperson for Stonewall, the LGBTQ+ charity, said: 'The recent decisions of sporting bodies to ban trans women from women's sport have been made too soon, before the implications of the Supreme Court's ruling have been worked through by lawyers and politicians or before statutory guidance has been issued. 'It is very disappointing as several of them have been long term and vocal supporters of our Rainbow Laces campaign, advocating for inclusion in sport for all ages and at all levels.'
Irish Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
UK transgender women planning move to Ireland to continue football career
A number of transgender soccer players are planning to relocate to Ireland to continue their football career following a recent ban introduced by the English Football Association. The FA has introduced new rules which means transgender women will not be able to play competitively at any level following last month's UK Supreme Court verdict. Natalie Washington, a campaigner at Football v Transphobia, said: 'The people I know that are talking about this are saying: 'Well, that's it for football for me.' Read more: Transgender women banned from playing women's football by English FA 'Most people clearly don't feel that they can go and play in the men's game for reasons of safety, for reasons of comfort.' Because of the change in the FA's rules, trans women are now considering coming to play football in Ireland as the FAI deal on the eligibility of a player on a case by case basis. An FAI Spokesperson said: 'The FAI continues to consult with relevant stakeholders on the policy around gender eligibility. 'FIFA is undertaking its own comprehensive review which may influence the development of the FAI's policy. Currently, any query on the eligibility of a player is dealt with on a player-by-player basis, with a clear commitment to assessing all relevant factors in a reasonable and proportionate way.' The FA's change of stance follows a UK Supreme Court ruling which clarified that references to sex in the Equality Act meant biological sex. It has been welcomed by human rights charity Sex Matters as their director of campaigns Fiona McAnena said: 'The FA has had ample evidence of the harms to women and girls caused by its nonsensical policy of letting men who identify as women play in women's teams. 'Every other sporting body now needs to re-establish a genuine women's category, and this shameful period in history will finally be brought to an end.' Now, with the rules changing, some trans women are seeking to play football in Ireland.
