Thank you to al who supported my legal costs through Crowd Justice. I am delighted to have won my claim of harassment against
@ace_national
. It cannot be acceptable that people like me, who believe, as most people do, that u can’t change sex, are subjected to harassment at work.
I am pleased to say that following my successful claim for harassment in the Leeds Employment tribunal against Arts Council England we have reached agreement.
Statement here
I have an employment tribunal in May against my employer, Arts Council England - read about it here, and if you can please help me raise the funds for my legal representation. Thanks to many who already have x Fighting bias at the top of the Arts Council
@anyabike
I've asked
@TheNewEuropean
to retract the statement I've publicly attacked trans people. I have not.
@SamFowles
slur associating me with anti-semitism, racism & Islamaphobia, is a familar trope, one also used by my harassers. It's unacceptable & I'm tired of the lazy abuse.
@ace_national
I will be asking the Secretary of State for Culture,
@lucyfrazermp
, to look again at my complaint, that the Arts Council were biased against an applicant organisation,
@AllianceLGB
. The Public Sector Equality Duty entitles us all to fair access to services - its worth defending.
@ace_national
Institutions like the Arts Council need to be held accountable, when they are biased and enable harassment of gender critical people. I hope my case has woken up leaders in the arts as to what’s going on.
@ace_national
And worse still, that employers encourage and collude in this behaviour. People in the arts, and especially women, are facing a tide of bullying with spurious accusations of transphobia, and many are frightened to speak out as they risk public cancellation.
From a backer - 'I work in the arts & lost 2 jobs - 1 for standing by a lesbian colleague, accused of transphobia & another for asking inclusion officers not to use the word TERF as it is divisive & used to incite violence...too many women are losing jobs'
@afneil
Hi Andrew - welcome ! The impact of gender ideology is very wide ranging. For me I ended up leaving an organisation I loved through the courts. Many others are facing harassment in my sector, the arts. I’d be more than happy to discuss this with you
Absolutely blown away to receive this wonderful gift from
@WRNKirklees
and
@FemsRad
. It’s so beautiful and thoughtful of you, and as an original 1919 token of strength, is a gift from our suffragette sisters of the last century - thank you so much xxxxx
’why do individuals have to expose the shabby behaviour of institutions captured by gender extremism? Dominoes are falling: the OU, Westminster Council, Arts Council England, the Center for Global Development. All lost @ tribunals’
@polblonde
@CherieCurrie3
Is this true
@ParishHudd
? If so you could be breaking the law and there is plenty of case law to show that. Best to reverse this decision now or publish why you've cancelled
@CherieCurrie3
gig
Hi
@RSMuseumsStudies
, myself and
@AudreySuffolk
have serious concerns that this guidance is misleading and museums would be wise to avoid it. Why not open replies to take questions ?
So many leading arts, heritage, museums, cultural & research organisations are sharing
#TransInclusiveCulture
& encouraging their members & followers to take up & use the guidance.
#CitizensOfChange
The guidance is based on world leading legal and ethical scholarship …1/3
Me after 5 days of my Employment Tribunal in sunny Leeds. Panel now deliberating. We shall know later today whether a decision might be made tomorrow (Do NOT hold your breath!) thanks to
@anyabike
@LizMcG_emplaw
@tribunaltweets
and
@LeedsReSisters
Having won my claim of harassment against
@ace_national
on the grounds of my gender critical beliefs, I do hope
@BIMM_Institute
are beginning to see the writing on the wall, when it comes to settling
@GrittyNorthern
's case. Just settle & reinstate!
I never really know how to fill in the monitoring part of job applications. I wonder how arts audiences deal with these new categories. But anyway ...this will have to do I guess!
Some have asked why my home insurance can't cover this - here's why from
@ArcLegalUK
'the harassment she claims to have suffered arise from her own gender-critical views which are in themselves capable of amounting to harassment'. Really !
@MForstater
Was I just asking for it ?
I have an employment tribunal in May against my employer, Arts Council England - read about it here, and if you can please help me raise the funds for my legal representation. Thanks to many who already have x Fighting bias at the top of the Arts Council
Thanks
@joannaccherry
- we cannot accept, in a democratic society, public institutions that enable discrimination of staff, nor, more importantly, in delivering public services. I ask again that
@lucyfrazermp
investigates if
@AllianceLGB
grant was withdrawn inappropriately
A recent tribunal exposed
@ace_national
employees describing registered gay rights charity
@AllianceLGB
as 'a cancer' and ‘neo-nazi'. Today I asked what the UK Govt is doing to root out this sort of bias in the public body and charity which dispenses considerable public funds
I asked some what rights they thought I was trying to deny trans people because I think trans people do and should have the same rights as everyone else, but I was shouted down. So really I’m non the wiser about what trans rights are
@BBCNewsnight
In this clip SNP MSP, Mr Fulton McGregor, entirely fails to convince me that ‘freedom of speech is extremely important to the Scottish Parliament.’ Quite the opposite…
Leaving
@stonewalluk
is at last a wise move by
@HENLEYDARREN
&
@nickserota
Arts orgs ! Leave this discredited scam. It misrepresents the law & u cannot afford it!
ACE leaves diversity scheme | News | ArtsProfessionalb
How can anyone read this - Artist ‘restricted from her own show over gender views’ - & argue there’s no censorship in the arts ?
We need
@Freedom_in_Arts
@lucyfrazermp
- consider intolerance as part of
@ace_national
review
Thank you everyone who has already donated - I still have more to raise - but let me tell you I am confident my case is important, is well evidenced and that I can win this. X Fighting bias at the top of the Arts Council
Congratulations and welcome
@lisanandy
to the Culture portfolio in England.
@RosieKayK2CO
and I look forward to working with you, and sharing our
@Freedom_in_Arts
manifesto to protect artists & artistic freedom
@RosieKayK2CO
& I have written 2
@ace_national
requesting guidance sent 2 librarians advising censorship, is not promoted by influential members of the English Public Libraries Stakeholder Working Group chaired by
@biblioluke
@polblonde
nails it when she says “What right does Arts Council Wales have to misgender all of us who use correct pronouns like he and she?” Where does this leave welsh arts orgs, dependent on
@Arts_Wales_
Why alienate your audiences?
@anyabike
@TheNewEuropean
@SamFowles
Thanks Anya - it's ridiculous enough that colleagues could have made wild, unsubstantiated allegations but for papers to publish journalists (a barrister?!) to do so is really low
Lovely picture of
@SexMattersOrg
sheroes at the fabulous
@PHMMcr
, national and designated custodians of feminist history, welcoming to all and fostering good relations between people as per the Public Sector Equality Duty. A wonderful museum - feminists, do visit
Ok - still pretty crud at selfies ! But brilliant at chatting with that there woman with beliefs worthy of respect in a democratic society
@MForstater
x
I was lucky enough to have a brief discussion with stonewall chair
@iain_w_anderson
outside the labour conference & we agreed on the importance of trans, gay & women’s rights. I asked can we talk about the detail as that’s the clash- he said no this is the megaphone moment & left
I’m genuinely shocked to see a writer who has sold millions of books and is good friends with some powerful politicians tweet approvingly about the practice of blacklisting people for their lawful views. Does she think these people will never come for her?
'He felt it was an anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ organisation.'
@DeniseFahmy
explains how she was 'harassed and victimised' due to gender-critical beliefs.
Part 1/2
🖥 GB News on YouTube
@ObserverUK
Today, after reading this article referring to vilification, I dug out the Impact Statement I made when I worked
@ace_national
(June22) before my employment tribunal (April23).
For those who don't know how vilification feels, or have no sympathy, do read
'If you're raising a different opinion it can lead to bullying'
Denise Fahmy discusses the new organisation being launched to fight censorship in the arts world, after the largely left-wing sector bullied people with alternative views on gender.
Excited to have collected these hot off the press!
Let’s protect artistic freedom and put an end to cancellation and bullying in our sector
@Freedom_in_Arts
with
@RosieKayK2CO
Hurrah ! My legal team now comprises 2 amazing women Liz McGlone
@LizMcG_emplaw
and Anya Palmer
@anyabike
. Please donate if you can - I am half way to my target and my hearing's in May. So much to do in such a short time - Please RT & thank you
Thank you
@KemiBadenoch
:
@RosieKayK2CO
and I would be very happy to speak with your Inclusion at Work panel about poor employment practice in the arts sector - Diversity obsession has led to Kafkaesque madness
Thank you to everyone who has supported me this far - I can’t believe how many people there are their experiences and comments are so important. We are all documenting this moment and I will win this case !
This report, investigating new national policing practice, is really frightening for women in West Yorkshire. I have written to West Yorkshire Mayor
@TracyBrabin
and the Deputy Mayor, responsible for policing, to ask for their help in revoking the policy
@DeputyMayorPCWY
Me
@TheCriticMag
Gender critical Arts women , like Sara Morrison in dispute with her employer Belfast Film Festival, are still finding themselves in employment tribunals for their views, despite the plethora of cases that have now been upheld
Thank you too to the many Arts Council colleagues who have privately got in touch to offer their support - and their outrage ! Your support is my rocket fuel !
Thanks
@soniasodha
for explaining this so clearly - and so interesting you open the piece with the legal risk a small arts organisation faces. Clarification of the Equality Act on sex is very much needed.
@WRNCalderBradf
@CMBClibraries
Hi
@andrewdoyle_com
you discussed
@Calderdale
libraries removal of books on your show on Sunday. Apparently it’s an HR matter and can’t be discussed any further. But it’s not clear if the books are back on the shelves - Sounds a bit odd to me!!
Let’s look at this another way - I worked
@ace_national
assessing applications 4 public funding from artists & arts orgs
Should I be employed if I publicly stated I would bin applications from people I disagreed with?
Don’t forget !
Impartiality protects a democratic society.
In the interests of free speech we call on
@ethan_diamond
CEO of
@Bandcamp
to re-instate UK musician
@LouiseDistras
account, discography and income. Bandcamp can’t give up on freedom of expression – it has a moral responsibility to protect it.
@SpeechUnion
You’re so right
@MForstater
the public, charity and arts sector are often intimidated by bullying staff groups. That was my experience and why I’ve ended up at a tribunal
Employers could save themselves a lot of money and pain (and be better places to work) if they cultivate the kind of culture where senior people say this when the bullies come for their colleagues.
Hi
@ArtsPro
did you see this ? Would you like me to explain what happened and my wider concerns for our sector ?
Denise Fahmy v Arts Council England (Case no. 6000042/2022) | Didlaw
@MForstater
@MaureenMottra10
This decision should be revoked by BBC trustees including acting chair Dame Elan Closs Stephens.
Can you table this with your boss Tim Davie,
@BBCNews
?
Unless journalistic standards really are driven by fashionable fictions ….
Hi
@AnnelieseDodds
it would be wonderful if we could also meet shadow culture secretary
@LucyMPowell
I’ve written twice to culture secretary
@lucyfrazermp
about failing impartiality
@ace_national
but not heard back. Could we discuss our concerns with you?
Me again in the news !- if you’re able to support my attempt to bring about justice, check out my pinned tweet and thank you to everyone who already has - yr kind words too xx Arts council officer 'is hounded out of her job amid toxic transphobia row'
@HJoyceGender
I'm really shocked by it Helen - Do write to
@biblioluke
who chairs the Libraries Working Group
@ace_national
to check what action he will be taking to uphold freedom of expression in his sector.
Appalling - RACHEL ROONEY’S EXIT INTERVIEW FROM PUBLISHING – Wild Woman Writing Club
@wwwritingclub
- how many artists, writers & performers are being bullied in the arts under this new McCarthyism? Tell me - we can act collectively
Thanks
@Transgendertrd
. This 🧵 really explains why these 2 books at the Young V&A shop are so contested. Museums have a responsibility, as we all do, to safeguard girls - these books don’t seem to help girls grow up happily. Want to catch up
@TristramHuntVA
?
We wholeheartedly support the removal of the Stonewall poster and two books on "queer identities" from Young V&A.
@TristramHuntVA
was right to be concerned and we thank him for prioritising the safeguarding of children.
We explain why in this thread 👇
I am delighted to be able to contribute towards
@PilgrimTucker
Crowd Justice, drawn from the balance of my own Crowd Justice case. 1,284 well wishers helped me win my tribunal in June and now they help me to support another woman defending her right to gender critical beliefs.
An update on my discrimination and breach of contract case against the Open University:
And a short film explaining some of the gender critical elements of the case:
please share, and donate if you can
@runthinkwrite
Perfect
@afneil
- what has happened in recent years to women’s rights, has been an absolute tragedy. All of those rights, to protect women, girls &lesbians, which we’d won & were unquestionable, are now up for grabs. Welcome to the battle to restore a liberal society
I supported this case because harassment isn't only an employment issue. For many women it's plain & simple abuse & can be exploited even by those close to us, to hurt us. I'm supporting Louise to help her win & stop the next abuser 'looking for an angel'
@OpenUniversity
@ace_national
- Speak to us
@Freedom_in_Arts
- we can help u get this right !
Statement from Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University regarding the recent employment tribunal judgment - OU News
‘The fact that barristers are advising Scottish cultural organisations and comedians that they could fall foul of its provisions is chilling free speech and creative expression.’
Thank you to everyone that has already donated to support my legal costs. Now that I've reached halfway I can finally work with the wonderful
@LizMcG_emplaw
for my hearing in May. This is an important case for the Arts - please share and spread the word !
I have an employment tribunal in May against my employer, Arts Council England - read about it here, and if you can please help me raise the funds for my legal representation. Thanks to many who already have x Fighting bias at the top of the Arts Council
Congratulations
@AllianceLGB
- such a shame
@ace_national
&
@London_cf
revoked funding 4 a film about gay men last Spring. Watch a clip here & ask yourself how come these funders were so easily influenced by a malicious claim against a gay organisation ?
We are delighted that the tribunal found in our favour and that Mermaids and the LGBT Consortium have failed in their bid to remove our charitable status.
#LGBAllianceWin
See our statement here:
Thanks Richard. Would it be useful to meet with
@AudreySuffolk
and I to discuss the concerns we set out in ? We agree, there is room in museums for all.
There is plenty of room in museums for all of us -read our statement in response to recent inaccurate & misleading coverage of Trans-Inclusive Culture Interest & support is growing & cultural organisations can continue to use the guidance with confidence.
Jo points an inherent problem in arts funding, that ‘work is unwittingly scored according to how closely it matches the values of the funders’ rather than the public - Arts Cancel England | Josephine Bartosch | The Critic Magazine
Extraordinary yet another case going to court !
Isn’t it now clear that people can be gender critical and others can believe in gender identity & we can all just live with that?!
I’ve supported this case for that very freedom.
via
@CrowdJustice
I'm staggered by this. Has it really come to this, that best sellers like
@docstock
’s Material Girls are being effectively banned by libraries ? What are you going to do about it
@biblioluke
&
@ace_national
You've been sitting on your hands for 2 long & this is on your watch
New: Libraries across the country are being advised to prevent LGBT people seeing “offensive” gender-critical books
Tips for council libraries suggest hosting drag queen events and limiting copies of “transphobic books” by gender-critical authors
This report highlights the current state of affairs - follow
@tribunaltweets
4 my hearing today - ‘the frequent tactic of smear campaigns against women.Branding them as Nazis is a means of attack 2 deter women from speaking & expressing their views
I’ve had so much support I’m now 68% of the way to my target with 12 days to go - some of the comments on the Crowd Justice page are testament to the bullying in the arts. My case is the tip of the iceberg.
I have an employment tribunal in May against my employer, Arts Council England - read about it here, and if you can please help me raise the funds for my legal representation. Thanks to many who already have x Fighting bias at the top of the Arts Council
'There are all sorts of ways you can tread on a landmine these days.'
'Yes, there is an atmosphere of extreme censorship.'
Co-founder, Freedom in the Arts, Rosie Kay, discusses a new organisation to offer support to artists in a world of cancel culture.
watch
@SalmanRushdie
talk about his new work, Knife. Named for many reasons, not least that words can cut through.
He mentions the concerns I share with
@Freedom_in_Arts
, that right now the arts is actively censoring others
@WeAreFairCop
I would never have thought Scotland’s Hate Crime Act could fall foul of baseless, malign & time consuming allegations from vexatious neighbours. No way !
@stephenwhittle
@Nichola09797176
The 1,284 people who contributed to my legal bill & helped me achieve justice when I was harassed due to my gender critical views were not naive, Stephen. They were generous, decent people. U might not agree with our views but there’s no need to insult us.
Useful reading for employers by civil servants
@seen_network
, explaining the legal premise of my successful tribunal claim against
@ace_national
The Fahmy v Arts Council England tribunal judgment posts/2023-09-09-the-fahmy-v-arts-council-england-tribunal-judgment/
Thanks
@PHMMcr
for hosting the wonderful
@SexMattersOrg
- 21st century women fighting for our rights in the perfect location - at the home to the original suffragette banner. Thank you for conserving and celebrating women’s radical history and our future xx
Thank you
@PHMMcr
for providing the venue for our board meeting.
It's a great museum about people fighting for their rights.
Go see the recently acquired Manchester suffragette banner.
(The shop is also fab for feminist gifts!)