[bots]

Twitter is banning women who "speak out against the dangerous dogma of trans ideology," a feminist group has said.

In a letter to Twitter director Martha Lane Fox, Fair Play for Women says the company is allowing "a concerted attack on women's free speech".

But trans activist Ashleigh Talbot said the group's letter seeks to "whip up" hatred against trans people.

Twitter said its rules are enforced equally for every user, regardless of the commentary they engage in.

Fair Play for Women describes itself as a group of "ordinary women" who argue that "in the rush to reform transgender laws" women's voices will not be listened to.

It says Twitter users have been banned for stating "basic, incontrovertible biological facts" such as saying men are not women.

Their letter links to comments, that it says has led to people being banned from the site:

"The penis is a male sexual organ"
"Men are male"
"He's a man"
"Male mammals produce sperm"
"Women give birth"

etc etc


Transsexual writer Miranda Yardley said she was banned from Twitter for stating that a Green Party spokesperson is a man - despite Aimee Challenor describing herself as a transwoman.

Writing on her blog she said: "According to the rules of Twitter it is now hateful conduct to call someone who is a man, a man.

"The implication of this is that the concept of proscribed speech, things we are now not allowed to say, now extends to the truth. This is fundamentally illiberal."

Fair Play for Women also said women receive abuse for talking "about their biology" - including being threatened with violence and referred to as Terfs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists).

The group has called on Martha Lane Fox - who is also a member of the House of Lords - to use her position in Twitter to "stop allowing bullying men to police our language, threaten us and abuse us".

But trans activist Ashleigh Talbot said the letter "seeks to do nothing but whip up further hatred against trans and non-binary people by calling us dangerous".

She said many of those who say their free speech is being curtailed "are often doing so from a regular column in a national newspaper or from a national radio programme".

"Every week for the last few months there have been anti-trans attack pieces in the Mail, Times, Telegraph, Sun and so on," she said.

She added that trans people represent a "small, vulnerable community" who are subject to "bile day in and day out in the media".

Twitter did not want to comment on the letter but said it does not suspend accounts for being feminist, and that it would only ever suspend accounts for violating their rules.

It said the rules are enforced equally for every user regardless of the commentary they engage in.

The BBC has contacted Martha Lane Fox for a comment.

Currently, if someone wishes to have their gender identity legally recognised they have to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate - a process LGBT campaigning group Stonewall describes as "long, demeaning and bureaucratic".

Stonewall is calling for a system of gender recognition based on self-identification, and wants to remove the requirement for a medical diagnosis before a transgender person can change their legally recognised gender.

The organisation says changing the law would make life easier for trans people and "barely affect" non-trans people - also known as "cis" people.

In July 2017 then Equalities Minister Justine Greening said the Gender Recognition Act needed to be updated and that a consultation would begin in the autumn.

The Scottish government is currently consulting on gender recognition.

The campaigning group Man Friday argues allowing people to self-identify as a particular gender "removes any gatekeeping to women's identity and protected spaces".

To protest against any change to the law, the group choose Fridays to identify as men and take part in activities such as using male changing rooms.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44288431

-------------------

Vicky warned us .....

[arista]

["The penis is a male sexual organ"
"Men are male"
"He's a man"
"Male mammals produce sperm"
"Women give birth"]


We need Jordan Peterson
to speak on this Utter Mess

[Oliver_W]

Hmm. When it comes to speaking out against transwomen in bathrooms, I'm neutral, I don't have a strong opinion either way; stating that there are only two genders and you can't change your biological sex, well yes, this is true, but unless you're contradicting someone who says otherwise it's a bit unnecessary to go on about; targeting traps and calling them men - don't do that.

[Withano]

It’s fine stating facts like the penis is a male sex organ.

But when it is deliberate and intentional transphobia, it’s needs to be dealt with. Saying it is fine, there’s usually a very clear motive though, and I’m glad Twitter knows this.

I think the issue is that these sort of women don’t understand... or pretend to not understand... that it is transphobia because they can hid behind a thin cloak of science.

[Vicky.]

Tis true. Not believing in pink and blue brains gets you banned...meanwhile samsung death and rape threats and being a misogynistic dickhead is fine.

Trans activist ideology...where brains are indicative of sex...but penises are not.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

...meanwhile samsung death and rape threats and being a misogynistic dickhead is fine.

The phone wars are getting really competitive.

[Vicky.]

Lol this is why I don't usually post when lurking on my phone

[user104658]

Twitter is banning women who "speak out against the dangerous dogma of trans ideology," a feminist group has said providing absolutely no evidence other than hearsay.

Non-article.

[Greg!]

Originally Posted by Withano

It’s fine stating facts like the penis is a male sex organ.

But when it is deliberate and intentional transphobia, it’s needs to be dealt with. Saying it is fine, there’s usually a very clear motive though, and I’m glad Twitter knows this.

I think the issue is that these sort of women don’t understand... or pretend to not understand... that it is transphobia because they can hid behind a thin cloak of science.

.

[Greg!]

Maybe tibb should take a leaf out of twitters book

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Greg!

Maybe tibb should take a leaf out of twitters book

Haha one day.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Withano

It’s fine stating facts like the penis is a male sex organ.

But when it is deliberate and intentional transphobia, it’s needs to be dealt with. Saying it is fine, there’s usually a very clear motive though, and I’m glad Twitter knows this.

I think the issue is that these sort of women don’t understand... or pretend to not understand... that it is transphobia because they can hid behind a thin cloak of science.

Indeed. If anyone has ever been banned for posting reasonable, balanced, not-agenda-driven academic wonderings about the nature of gender and sexuality... I will be very surprised.

More likely, people have used these "science FACTS!!!" in deliberate and obvious attacks.

[Brillopad]

Biggest load of sh**te! Twitter jumping on the bandwagon to up their profile - desperate. Have never used it but just might now to make a few points - they can ban away as I couldn’t give a damn! No loss whatsoever!

[Livia]

After centuries of male oppression, women finally get to at least steer toward equality... but no. We still need males to tell us what is means to be a woman.

If you're trans, good luck to you. Be happy, live your life how you want. But don't tell me you and I are the same because we're not.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Livia

After centuries of male oppression, women finally get to at least steer toward equality... but no. We still need males to tell us what is means to be a woman.

If you're trans, good luck to you. Be happy, live your life how you want. But don't tell me you and I are the same because we're not.

Spot on Liv!

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Livia

After centuries of male oppression, women finally get to at least steer toward equality... but no. We still need males to tell us what is means to be a woman.

If you're trans, good luck to you. Be happy, live your life how you want. But don't tell me you and I are the same because we're not.

Not sure what this has to do with twitter banning transphobic users?

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Withano

Not sure what this has to do with twitter banning transphobic users?

Because I've been accused of being transphobic because I don't accept trans-women as being the same as me.

Who exactly is judging who is and who isn't transphobic anyway? Twitter? Because Twitter seems perfectly happy to let racists, terrorists, trolls and paedophiles go on their merry way.

[Greg!]

Originally Posted by Livia

Because I've been accused of being transphobic because I don't accept trans-women as being the same as me.

No one is the same as you though. Everyone is unique. So what's the issue?

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Greg!

No one is the same as you though. Everyone is unique. So what's the issue?

The issue is, if you have a penis, you are not female. Even if you have surgery, in my eyes, you're a trans woman. Equal to me, but not the same.

Same with f to m transitions... They are trans men... equal to other men, but not the same. Of course, we don't get nearly so much drama from f to m trans people. They just seem to want to live their lives happily and bollox to other people and their opinions, which I admire.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Greg!

No one is the same as you though. Everyone is unique. So what's the issue?

I agree with this but you could just as easily look at that from the flipped perspective though. If everyone is an individual, and no one is the same, then why is it so important for m2f trans people to be considered part of the "woman group identity".

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by Livia

After centuries of male oppression, women finally get to at least steer toward equality... but no. We still need males to tell us what is means to be a woman.

If you're trans, good luck to you. Be happy, live your life how you want. But don't tell me you and I are the same because we're not.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Livia

After centuries of male oppression, women finally get to at least steer toward equality... but no. We still need males to tell us what is means to be a woman.

If you're trans, good luck to you. Be happy, live your life how you want. But don't tell me you and I are the same because we're not.

Exactly my thinking too,sick of people telling us what we should accept and not.

[Vicky.]

Yes, Miranda Yardley is very transphobic. Transactivists seem to think so, because Miranda accepts that she is male, not female and also fights for the rights of female people, rather than trying to trample them. This alone makes you a transphobic bigot.

http://mirandayardley.com/en/i-perma...er-make-worry/

Edited this post to include Mirandas blog post on this actually..since I just read it. Mirandas other posts are of interest too, to anyone who actually cares.

Its just bollocks. But bollocks that I don't really have the energy for on here anymore, which will please many

It is true though, that women are being banned left right and centre. I think its probably more because twitter seem to ban mainly on number of reports, rather than anything else though, and transactivists are pretty rabid and will all pile onto people who disagree with them. I think women should start organizing in the same way tbh, and start mass reporting (actual) misogyny to see if that gets the same response. I somehow doubt it, but would be happy to be proved wrong. I reported the couple of rape/violence threats I got and actually kept an eye on the accounts and not one ban was given. So it seems thats fine. Of course.