While exploring Rape Crisis Edinburgh’s website I began to wonder if all UK rape crisis centers are for everyone as opposed to for women.

A look at Rape Crisis South London promptly dispels that worry.

Specialist South London sexual violence support for women and girls who have experienced rape and/or childhood sexual abuse.

Boom.

Our services are in response to the needs of survivors and the disproportionate nature of sexual violence committed by men against women and girls. We believe sexual violence to be both a cause and a consequence of gender inequality and are committed to a feminist, empowering model of working.

Thank fuck for that.

There is such a thing as rape of boys and of men, but … Read the rest

In case you’re thinking Edinburgh Rape Crisis has improved in the wake of all this attention –

Who[m] We Support And Our Services

Women only services

We have been trans inclusive since 2008. This means that we have a diverse group of women and non-binary workers and volunteers.

In a survivors initial meeting, the worker will give a clear overview of the services that we offer, including our trans inclusivity. This meeting will be held by a woman who has always lived as a woman and will include exploration of the type of support a survivor wishes and would benefit from. This conversation will also explore any concerns or preferences a survivor has around the support, and who they receive

… Read the rest

Ouch. That’s gotta sting.

Dear Sandy,

While you've been in charge at Rape Crisis Scotland, a man now serving time in prison for multiple sexual assaults was 'treated' at the Edinburgh centre.

The man in charge of the Edinburgh centre called rape survivors who wanted single sex services 'bigots.' 1/9 pic.twitter.com/Fzbwfueqo7

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 22, 2024

You claim I misrepresented what happened at the meeting at which rape survivors were harangued by your trans activist partner, who shouldn't have been there at all. Here's the survivors' own account of what happened.
3/9https://t.co/UVtJUmGp3r

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 22, 2024

I can only assume your cosy relationship with the SNP government, which is a big fan of gender

… Read the rest

The guy who dumped soup on a woman yesterday because he doesn’t like her opinions is…you’ll never guess…in the Equality & Diversity trade. I guess it’s the “but not for you” kind of equality & diversity.

A recent Southampton Solent graduate, I have remained at the university as their first Student Equality & Diversity associate – in short it’s my job to engage with students about their experiences of university and hopefully help to make the campus that little bit more tolerant and friendly for everyone.

Unless they’re feminist women, in which case he’ll assault them. That little bit more tolerant and friendly for everyone.

In my personal life I am a working stand-up comic, amateur journalist and

… Read the rest

She WHAT???

They let Wadhwa have his "we decided together it's time to move on", undeservedly dignified exit. I don't trust that Brindley will be dealt with as she should for this egregious breach, look at what she has already gotten away with.

— Billy Bragg (@Serena_Partrick) September 22, 2024

Why not just give the journalist keys to the rape victims’ front doors?… Read the rest

He’s out on conditional bail.

A Yorkshire man charged has been charged with assault during a demonstration in Sheffield city centre.

Ben Lindsay, 34, of Fitzwilliam Street, Barnsley, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault by beating during a demonstration in Barkers Pool, earlier today (Saturday, September 21).

He will appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on November 25, after being released on conditional bail. South Yorkshire Police issued the following statement, it said: “Man charged with assault after incident in Sheffield city centre.”

It’s almost as if men are not allowed to assault women for saying things the men don’t like. Is there any justice in the world?… Read the rest

Oh for godSAKE.

https://twitter.com/Jonnywsbell/status/1837606638611546566

Mommy: “Frus iss noneven a question, she’s a girl, she’s a female, so of course she’d use the locker room, why would you send another female into the men’s locker room? That……it………iss juss that simple thought.”

Not the sharpest person on the planet, but hey, she’s onboard with the ideology, so that’s what counts.… Read the rest

Brave 7 foot hero caught and handcuffed.

I chased down the THUG that poured a can of soup over @ThePosieParker and had him #arrested in #Sheffield #UK #News pic.twitter.com/LxniOQIInr

— Marti Blagborough (@MartiBlagi) September 21, 2024

Way taller than you mate, way taller than you.

And that, gang, is what we call the money shot.… Read the rest

The Charlotte Observer:

Liam Johns, the transgender man known for his LGBTQ activism in Charlotte and for sharing his pregnancy journey in a 2019 Charlotte Observer series, died on Sept. 14. He was 35. Johns was undergoing dialysis for kidney failure and was on the national kidney and pancreas transplant list when he passed away, said Chase Hayes, a friend and former partner, in an interview with the Observer.

Maybe the kidney failure was nothing to do with any “trans health care” he had, I don’t know, but it’s difficult not to suspect a connection.

In 2018, Johns gave birth to his first child with his partner at the time, who now goes by Freya. In 2022, he gave

… Read the rest

Janice Turner on why men who like to look at child abuse don’t go to prison:

Anyone shocked that Huw Edwards didn’t go to prison hasn’t been paying attention. The sentencing magistrate wasn’t dazzled by his BBC stardom or cutting him slack because of his liberal politics or long-repressed homosexuality. To put it bluntly, the newsreader’s offences were at the very bottom of the paedophile league table.

Edwards had 41 child abuse images on his phone, seven of which were category A, the very worst kind. Compare him with other recent cases: a TV comedian found with 35,000 images on multiple devices, a rabbi from Pinner with 1,694 (189 category A), or the Chesterfield scout leader with 6,440 images

… Read the rest

The tomato soup boys are at it again.

https://twitter.com/ReadingLate/status/1837494186355880405

Big man arrested.

Soup man arrested @ThePosieParker #LetWomenSpeakSheffield rally pic.twitter.com/rkL9PmZdVQ

— News Now Yorkshire (@NewsNowYorks) September 21, 2024

Sheffield, city of steel.

Women of steel. #LetWomenSpeakSheffield pic.twitter.com/ZyuMZ89myu

— Duncan (@DuncanHenry78) September 21, 2024

Tomato soup is a badge of honor.

Our tech support Mary, wearing @HeinzUK too. #LetWomenSpeakSheffield #LWSLocals pic.twitter.com/eXIBi20CRj

— Let Women Speak Official (@StandingforXX) September 21, 2024

Tall fella.

https://twitter.com/AjaTheEmpress/status/1837470036518166573… Read the rest

Classy, Don – he blamed Jewish voters for his hypothetical loss of the election (you know, the one that hasn’t happened yet).

Former President Donald Trump said Thursday that “the Jewish people” would be partially to blame if he loses in November, escalating his persistent campaign trail criticism of Jewish voters and insisting that Democrats hold a “curse” over them.

“I’m not going to call this as a prediction, but in my opinion, the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss if I’m at 40%” support in the polls, Trump told Republicans in Washington at an event billed as opposing antisemitism. “If I’m at 40, think of it, that means 60% are voting for Kamala (Harris),

… Read the rest

Originally a comment by Nullius in Verba on You can’t turn the world upside down by forcing people to stand on their heads.

Very cathartic comment. There’s just one eensy expansion I’d add to this bit:

It’s not the “ridiculousness” of “identifying as something that you’re not” that’s the issue. It’s the fact that that it is unhealthy and dangerous to do so that is the problem.

The thing is, the ridiculousness of it is per se inherently unhealthy and dangerous. Why? Because the ridiculous identification isn’t its own, separate, isolated thing. It isn’t devoid of connection to the rest of the world, as it might be if it occurred in a literal dream. No, this identification is by … Read the rest

The outlook is grim.

Scientists using ice-breaking ships and underwater robots have found the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is melting at an accelerating rate and could be on an irreversible path to collapse, spelling catastrophe for global sea level rise.

Since 2018, a team of scientists forming the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, has been studying Thwaites — often dubbed the “Doomsday Glacier” — up close to better understand how and when it might collapse.

Their findings, set out across a collection of studies, provide the clearest picture yet of this complex, ever-changing glacier. The outlook is “grim,” the scientists said in a report published Thursday, revealing the key conclusions of their six years of research.

Because sea level rise. … Read the rest

When everything is turned inside out:

It started with a dachshund in a dress, and ended with a legal case that has cost taxpayers thousands. Elizabeth Pitt, 63, a social worker, has won her 10-month legal battle against Cambridgeshire County Council for harassment and direct discrimination, after she was investigated for being transphobic.

Money and time well spent, yeah? No.

The case started back in 2022 when Pitt attended an LGBTQ meeting. “We were talking about doing a presentation to the whole county – everyone from bin men to admin staff – about how to support LGBT rights,” she says. “I made the point that I’m a lesbian and I’m not attracted to men who identify

… Read the rest

The Times also (along with the BBC) reports on the Rape Crisis Scotland outrage in a cautious timid obfuscating way.

Rape Crisis Scotland boss apologises for Edinburgh centre failings

What failings were those then?

Subhead:

A review had heavily criticised the support service run by a trans activist, which failed to provide women-only spaces for 16 months

The issue was and is not the “trans activist” part; the issue was and is that he’s a man.

Why do they refuse to say this up front? If even the Times and the Telegraph won’t say it how can we expect the Guardian and the Beeb to say it?

The lede:

Sandy Brindley, the chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland,

… Read the rest

Originally a comment by Your Name’s not Bruce? on Cat exits bag, takes a bow, retires from stage.

You push an idea that makes it look ridiculous, makes the idea of identifying as something that you’re not look so ridiculous and preposterous and obscene….

It’s not the “ridiculousness” of “identifying as something that you’re not” that’s the issue. It’s the fact that that it is unhealthy and dangerous to do so that is the problem. Pointing out the ridiculousness is an act of desperation to get those authorities and institutions which support and enforce trans ideology to recognize the impossibility of the ideas they are forcing on society. In my own comments here at B&W, I’ve used examples like … Read the rest

This again. The BBC needs to learn to call it out as well as stop doing it itself.

Charity boss apologises to rape survivors over crisis centre failings

But declines to step down, so her apology is fake as a 3 dollar bill.

A charity chief executive has apologised “unreservedly” to rape survivors affected by failings at support centre in Edinburgh.

Bollocks. She has nothing but reservations.

Sandy Brindley, of Rape Crisis Scotland, said she found out the centre was not following national standards last October and paused referrals 11 months later when the review said safeguarding was a problem.

So she did nothing for 11 months. What a peach.

She told BBC Scotland’s Drivetime programme there was no

… Read the rest

There’s a very interesting thing here at the beginning.

This is why I fight so hard against this ideology. Those who are determined that people should call male adults 'she' end up defending the idea that a child should be free to identify as a wolf. Not because they believe it; but because they've cornered themselves. @jonlis1 https://t.co/lebrh0PP9b

— Helen Staniland (@helenstaniland) September 19, 2024

I haven’t watched the whole thing, but the bit that grabbed me is all I need. The guy on the left of the screen, apparently Jonathan Lis, says this:

This is an attempt, by people who hate trans people –

Sharp interjection from the woman in the navy blue blazer, who is (I think) one … Read the rest

Originally a comment by Steven on But every dot was connected.

Stories are what they have instead of thinking.

There are, perhaps, two fundamental ways that humans understand things

– tell me a story

– show me a picture

Republicans have always communicated in stories. Stories are accessible, and relatable, and compelling; far more so than, say, policy proposals or white papers. This is one reason that Republicans keep getting the votes of people whose interests they oppose: they tell them stories that they want to hear.

Even more powerful than stories are keywords or tropes: short phrases or words that have come to stand for a whole story. Willie Horton. There’s a bear in the woods. They’re eating … Read the rest