Latest news with #SexMatters
The National
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
JK Rowling called The National 'anti-woman' – here's my response
She made this claim because we ran an article, and have run many articles previously, describing groups like Sex Matters as "anti-trans". I would like to take the opportunity to defend this newspaper against Rowling's frankly ridiculous description, and explain why "anti-trans" is indeed suitable language for these activists. What did JK Rowling say and what was the context? On Wednesday, our reporter Laura Pollock published a story headlined "Sex Matters considers new legal action against Scottish Government". In the social copy for the article, we stated: "An anti-trans campaign group is threatening further legal action against the Scottish Government, saying ministers are failing to implement the recent Supreme Court judgment on biological sex in equalities law." On Wednesday night, Rowling tweeted: "For Women Scotland is a feminist campaigning group. You appear to be an anti-woman newspaper." It is important to note that we weren't referring to For Women Scotland, but the group Sex Matters, which suggests Rowling didn't actually read the story before trying to smear our publication. Sex Matters and "anti-trans" First of all, let's take on the argument that describing Sex Matters as "anti-trans" is unfair, pejorative language. Rowling says it is simply a "feminist campaigning group". Is that the case? Sex Matters is an organisation which spends most of its time trying to keep trans women out of all women's spaces. Its recent campaigning includes attacking Westminster Council for displaying Pride flags during Pride Month, and arguing that schools should not teach children that people can transition. In its advice for parents on sex and gender in schools, it also states clearly: "Schools should not celebrate festivals such as Transgender Day of Remembrance." It is very difficult to find examples of Sex Matters campaigning on issues which do not relate to gender identity or matters related to the so-called trans "debate". To describe Sex Matters as simply a "feminist campaigning group" would be misleading, and fail to take into account its primary function. The National – an "anti-woman newspaper"? Myself and the reporters on staff at The National would have once been horrified to learn that JK Rowling had described us as "anti-woman". Today, it reads simply as another Twitter insult dispensed without any grounding in reality. So, here are the facts. The National is led by a woman, with a female assistant editor. On staff, we have more women working as reporters than men. An equal number of men and women write columns for us. We are part of the Pass the Mic programme, mentoring a number of women of colour in Scotland every year and helping them break into the media. We have campaigned on issues like buffer zones, pushing the Scottish Government to bring in legislation to protect women from abuse. For the 2024 International Women's Day, an all-women team produced the newspaper. Everything from the front page to the sports section was written and edited by women. It was the first time this had been done in the Scottish media in my own lifetime. Some of the team in the office for the International Women's Day edition in 2024 (Image: Colin Mearns) That edition looked at a range of issues affecting women in Scotland and around the world. Those challenges included women in Gaza being forced to have C-sections without anaesthetic, thanks to Israel's systematic destruction of the health service. This is an extremely urgent feminist campaigning issue which I have not heard Rowling or her friends at Sex Matters raise concerns over. Rowling has chosen to respond to language she did not like (due to its perceived sympathy towards trans people) by launching an intellectually lazy attack on a newspaper, primarily staffed by women, with a strong track record on reporting on feminist issues. Ultimately, I question the feminist credentials of those who brand the women working at The National "handmaidens" or accuse us of internalised misogyny because the coverage doesn't align neatly with their specific views. It is also not for JK Rowling to determine what all women think or feel. Nobody, no matter how wealthy or influential, can speak for all of us. Thankfully, arguments like Rowling's will not convince many people who are not already deep down the anti-trans rabbit hole. But her attempts to control our language are not welcome and should be called out by those who claim to value free speech. At The National we deal in truth, and will not be cowed by a billionaire trying to control media output to fit her own worldview.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Scottish government given deadline to implement ruling on biological sex
The Scottish government has been given a deadline to implement the UK supreme court's ruling on biological sex across all public bodies or face further legal challenges. Sex Matters, the UK-wide gender-critical campaign group, has threatened legal action in 14 days if ministers continue 'intolerable' delays to new policies and guidance required by April's landmark ruling that the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act 2010 does not include transgender women who hold gender recognition certificates. The move reflects ongoing frustration among gender-critical campaign groups at what For Women Scotland, who brought the supreme court case, described as 'extraordinary pushback' since the unanimous judgment. Politicians, LGBT+ rights groups and prominent supporters have raised concerns that the ruling could result in the erosion of rights, privacy and dignity of trans people across the UK. These fears were increased after the equality watchdog the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) brought out interim advice soon after the judgment which, they said, amounted to a blanket ban on trans people using toilets of their lived gender, which many in the community said effectively excluded them from public spaces. The ruling has wide-ranging implications for service providers, public bodies and businesses, with the EHRC currently consulting on a revised code of practice that will provide a practical guide on implementation. However, the Sex Matters letter says the consultation is 'not an invitation – particularly to public authorities – to act in a way that is unlawful in the meantime'. Sex Matters intervened in the supreme court case that was brought by For Women Scotland against the Scottish government over a law aimed at improving gender representation on public boards. Maya Forstater, a founder of Sex Matters, said the supreme court was clear that legal protection for trans people 'does not translate into a right to use opposite-sex services', adding that allowing trans women to use women's toilets, showers and changing rooms had 'created a hostile environment for women'. Sex Matters is particularly concerned about the Scottish government's guidance for schools, which encourage teaching staff offer flexible arrangements for young transgender people and states that the use of toilets is governed by social convention rather than law. The Good Law Project, which is challenging the EHRC's interim advice in court next month, revealed earlier this week that the commission appeared to be rolling back on its initial blanket position. Last weekend, For Women Scotland co-director Susan Smith encouraged individuals to 'keep pressure on MSPs and MPs', and make use of the fighting fund announced by the author and activist, JK Rowling, to launch their own actions. Rowling said the fund was 'not going to be sharing any details or figures about applications and inquiries, as it's a private fund, not a fundraising charity, and funding details are strictly confidential'. A Scottish government spokesperson said that they would respond to the letter in due course. They 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.'
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Supreme Court ruling has ‘changed landscape' of Peggie tribunal
Maya Forstater, chief executive of campaign group Sex Matters, was speaking during a visit to Holyrood with Ms Peggie on Wednesday, where the pair met a number of politicians to discuss the impact the legal proceedings have had on Ms Peggie. The nurse, who has worked at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for 30 years, was suspended by NHS Fife after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton. She took the health board and Dr Upton to an employment tribunal, lodging a complaint of sexual harassment or harassment related to a protected belief under Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010. The visit to Holyrood also came shortly after a letter from Sex Matters to the Scottish Government threatening legal action if they did not implement April's Supreme Court judgement on biological sex in equalities law. The ruling stated said the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex, which has implications for access to single-sex spaces. Asked how the judgment had affected the ongoing tribunal, Ms Forstater said: 'I think it's really changed the landscape. You can't ignore it. 'But in practical terms, it was only about people with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs), and the doctor in this case didn't have a GRC. 'So, what NHS Fife was doing was unlawful before the Supreme Court judgment (and) it's definitely unlawful now. And I think everyone can see that.' She said of Wednesday's meetings that it had been 'important' for politicians to hear what Ms Peggie had been through as as result of 'bad policies that NHS Fife, NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government (are) still sticking with'. She went on: 'All the politicians we met really understand the human impact of this on women. 'That Sandie's rights at work were abused because of bad policies, bad decisions, right from the top. 'And what they heard was the real human impact on her.' She added that there was 'really no excuse' for delaying the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment. 'The law is clear from the moment that the Supreme Court gave their judgment, the Scottish Government, all public bodies, all private employers, were obliged to act,' she said. Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon also took part in the visit. Afterwards she said: 'Politicians needed to hear directly from Sandie to understand how the sheer depth of the discrimination and harassment she and women like her have endured in workplaces – in her case, as a nurse with 30 years' unblemished service, simply because she objected to having to undress in front of a man. 'We were grateful for the politicians' time and welcomed the opportunity to share insights into how misguided actions by public bodies such as NHS Fife have devastating real-life consequences and come at great expense to the Scottish taxpayer. 'We had productive meetings, and the door is always open for any politicians who were unable to meet Sandie today.' Tribunal hearings took place in February and it will resume in July. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay was one of the politicians that Sandie Peggie met during her visit. Commenting afterwards, he said: 'It was a privilege to meet Sandie Peggie and to hear a first-hand account of her appalling ordeal. 'It is outrageous that a dedicated NHS nurse's career has been destroyed and her life consumed by a suffocating legal process simply because she stood up for women's rights. 'Sandie has paid a massive price for her brave and principled stand against the SNP Government's promotion of gender politics which now infects Scotland's entire public sector. 'NHS Fife should stop squandering vast sums of taxpayers' cash on this nonsense and every state agency in Scotland must now respect the law and women's rights.' A Scottish Government spokesperson 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.' The spokesperson added that it would be inappropriate to comment on Ms Peggie's case while judicial proceedings in an employment tribunal are ongoing. NHS Fife has been approached for comment.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Supreme Court ruling has ‘changed landscape' of Peggie tribunal
Maya Forstater, chief executive of campaign group Sex Matters, was speaking during a visit to Holyrood with Ms Peggie on Wednesday, where the pair met a number of politicians to discuss the impact the legal proceedings have had on Ms Peggie. The nurse, who has worked at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for 30 years, was suspended by NHS Fife after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton. She took the health board and Dr Upton to an employment tribunal, lodging a complaint of sexual harassment or harassment related to a protected belief under Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010. The visit to Holyrood also came shortly after a letter from Sex Matters to the Scottish Government threatening legal action if they did not implement April's Supreme Court judgement on biological sex in equalities law. The ruling stated said the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex, which has implications for access to single-sex spaces. Asked how the judgment had affected the ongoing tribunal, Ms Forstater said: 'I think it's really changed the landscape. You can't ignore it. 'But in practical terms, it was only about people with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs), and the doctor in this case didn't have a GRC. 'So, what NHS Fife was doing was unlawful before the Supreme Court judgment (and) it's definitely unlawful now. And I think everyone can see that.' She said of Wednesday's meetings that it had been 'important' for politicians to hear what Ms Peggie had been through as as result of 'bad policies that NHS Fife, NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government (are) still sticking with'. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said it had been a 'privilege' to meet Ms Peggie (Jane Barlow/PA) She went on: 'All the politicians we met really understand the human impact of this on women. 'That Sandie's rights at work were abused because of bad policies, bad decisions, right from the top. 'And what they heard was the real human impact on her.' She added that there was 'really no excuse' for delaying the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment. 'The law is clear from the moment that the Supreme Court gave their judgment, the Scottish Government, all public bodies, all private employers, were obliged to act,' she said. Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon also took part in the visit. Afterwards she said: 'Politicians needed to hear directly from Sandie to understand how the sheer depth of the discrimination and harassment she and women like her have endured in workplaces – in her case, as a nurse with 30 years' unblemished service, simply because she objected to having to undress in front of a man. 'We were grateful for the politicians' time and welcomed the opportunity to share insights into how misguided actions by public bodies such as NHS Fife have devastating real-life consequences and come at great expense to the Scottish taxpayer. 'We had productive meetings, and the door is always open for any politicians who were unable to meet Sandie today.' Nurse Sandie Peggie (centre) alongside her solicitor Margaret Gribbon (left) and Sex Matters CEO Maya Forstater (right) outside the Scottish Parliament (Andrew Milligan/PA) Tribunal hearings took place in February and it will resume in July. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay was one of the politicians that Sandie Peggie met during her visit. Commenting afterwards, he said: 'It was a privilege to meet Sandie Peggie and to hear a first-hand account of her appalling ordeal. 'It is outrageous that a dedicated NHS nurse's career has been destroyed and her life consumed by a suffocating legal process simply because she stood up for women's rights. 'Sandie has paid a massive price for her brave and principled stand against the SNP Government's promotion of gender politics which now infects Scotland's entire public sector. 'NHS Fife should stop squandering vast sums of taxpayers' cash on this nonsense and every state agency in Scotland must now respect the law and women's rights.' A Scottish Government spokesperson 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.' The spokesperson added that it would be inappropriate to comment on Ms Peggie's case while judicial proceedings in an employment tribunal are ongoing. NHS Fife has been approached for comment.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Supreme Court ruling has ‘changed landscape' of Peggie tribunal
Maya Forstater, chief executive of campaign group Sex Matters, was speaking during a visit to Holyrood with Ms Peggie on Wednesday, where the pair met a number of politicians to discuss the impact the legal proceedings have had on Ms Peggie. The nurse, who has worked at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for 30 years, was suspended by NHS Fife after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton. She took the health board and Dr Upton to an employment tribunal, lodging a complaint of sexual harassment or harassment related to a protected belief under Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010. The visit to Holyrood also came shortly after a letter from Sex Matters to the Scottish Government threatening legal action if they did not implement April's Supreme Court judgement on biological sex in equalities law. The ruling stated said the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex, which has implications for access to single-sex spaces. Asked how the judgment had affected the ongoing tribunal, Ms Forstater said: 'I think it's really changed the landscape. You can't ignore it. 'But in practical terms, it was only about people with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs), and the doctor in this case didn't have a GRC. 'So, what NHS Fife was doing was unlawful before the Supreme Court judgment (and) it's definitely unlawful now. And I think everyone can see that.' She said of Wednesday's meetings that it had been 'important' for politicians to hear what Ms Peggie had been through as as result of 'bad policies that NHS Fife, NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government (are) still sticking with'. She went on: 'All the politicians we met really understand the human impact of this on women. 'That Sandie's rights at work were abused because of bad policies, bad decisions, right from the top. 'And what they heard was the real human impact on her.' She added that there was 'really no excuse' for delaying the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment. 'The law is clear from the moment that the Supreme Court gave their judgment, the Scottish Government, all public bodies, all private employers, were obliged to act,' she said. Ms Peggie's solicitor Margaret Gribbon also took part in the visit. Afterwards she said: 'Politicians needed to hear directly from Sandie to understand how the sheer depth of the discrimination and harassment she and women like her have endured in workplaces – in her case, as a nurse with 30 years' unblemished service, simply because she objected to having to undress in front of a man. 'We were grateful for the politicians' time and welcomed the opportunity to share insights into how misguided actions by public bodies such as NHS Fife have devastating real-life consequences and come at great expense to the Scottish taxpayer. 'We had productive meetings, and the door is always open for any politicians who were unable to meet Sandie today.' Tribunal hearings took place in February and it will resume in July. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay was one of the politicians that Sandie Peggie met during her visit. Commenting afterwards, he said: 'It was a privilege to meet Sandie Peggie and to hear a first-hand account of her appalling ordeal. 'It is outrageous that a dedicated NHS nurse's career has been destroyed and her life consumed by a suffocating legal process simply because she stood up for women's rights. 'Sandie has paid a massive price for her brave and principled stand against the SNP Government's promotion of gender politics which now infects Scotland's entire public sector. 'NHS Fife should stop squandering vast sums of taxpayers' cash on this nonsense and every state agency in Scotland must now respect the law and women's rights.' A Scottish Government spokesperson 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.' The spokesperson added that it would be inappropriate to comment on Ms Peggie's case while judicial proceedings in an employment tribunal are ongoing. NHS Fife has been approached for comment.
