WDI weekly newsletter

News from WDI

WDI Germany surrogacy webinar - 29 January 2021

The next WDI Germany webinar, on surrogacy, takes place 29 January 2022. Speakers include Dr Renate Klein and Eva Maria Bachinger. Register here. 

WDI webinars this week:

WDI Feminist Question Time (FQT) takes place on Saturdays at 15.00 UK time. This week, 22 January, we have Anne R. from Brazil/UK, on mothers, their children and feminism, Nina from Canada, on Employment Equity: Vs Merit to Self Identity and more, Blandine Desanges, France, on how counting femicides is now seen as transphobic and Anna Cleaves and Laila Namdarkhan, UK, News from UK - Erosion of single sex wards, conversion therapy and more Register here. 

WDI Radical Feminist Perspectives (RFP) takes place on Sundays at 10.00 UK time. This week, 23 January, 'A Passion for Friends' by Janice Raymond discussed by Sheila Jeffreys and Julia Long. Register here.

Sex-based rights around the world

Parents sue Canadian 'anti-hate' group for libel

A couple in Canada are taking legal action against Anti-Hate.ca after the group branded them 'transphobic' for advocating a watchful waiting approach to their daughter's 'gender dysphoria'.

Teacher removed from school board meeting for 'transphobia'

A Canadian teacher was removed from a school board meeting by the chair after raising concerns that some books aimed at young children promoted puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones as 'cool'. 

Indian education body introduces gender ideology concepts to curriculum

The National Centre for Education Research and Training, an autonomous organisation set up in 1961 by the Indian government to assist and advise on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education has published a manual: ‘Inclusion of Transgender Children in School Education: Concerns and Roadmap’ on its website continaing training material for school teachers with mentions of puberty blockers, hormones and surgical interventions as solutions to ‘gender dysphoria.’

Children of 12 should be able to 'change gender' without delay

A Scottish children's charity, Children in Scotland, which is funded by the taxpayer, has advised government ministers that children of 12 should be able to 'change gender' without a 3-month 'reflection period'. 

Women speak out against compulsory hijab

Iranian journalist and women's rights campaigner Masih Alinejad has launched a social media campaign, #LetUsTalk, against compulsory hijab.  

LA district attorney refuses to recommend prison sentence for sex offender

Los Angeles DA, George Gascon, has refused to recommend a prison sentence for a man who attacked and sexually assaulted a 10 year-old girl in a women's bathroom shortly before his 18th birthday. Gascon has refused to recommend a custodial sentence because the man now claims a female 'gender identity' and might be 'vulnerable' in prison. 

Prisoners with a trans identity to get separate prison facilities in India

The Union Home Ministry in India has written to states asking them to ensure prisoners who claim a trans identity have access to separate facilities. 

British MP tries to silence female police commissioner

Tory MP Crispin Blunt, who is in favour of self-ID, made an official complaint about Lisa Townsend, Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, after she continued to speak publicly about women's rights, despite his 'counseel'. 

US local papers publish sympathetic articles about child rapist

Local newspapers in Kansas, USA, have published sympathetic articles about the difficulties of male prisons for men who pretend to be women, using the story of Rayne Bennett, a man who imprisoned and raped a 14 year-old girl, as an example. From 4W.

UK social worker suspended over Facebook posts supporting women

British social worker Rachel Meade has been suspended from her job and censured by her regulator after one member of the public complained about posts supporting women that she had liked and shared on Facebook. She is suing her employer for harassment and discrimination. 

Victim of male sex offender in British women's prison speaks out

While in a women's prison in the UK Cheryle Kempton was sexually assaulted by Karen White, a male sex offender placed in the female estate because of his 'gender identity'. Read her story. 

Resources

The Great Awokening

Powerful video about the harm being done to children in the name of the new religion of 'gender identity'. 

Canadian government reprimanded by human rights organisations

CEDAW criticises Canada's '...compliance with women’s political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights and issued recommendations for better observance of those rights.' Read Simone XX's analysis in Women Are Human. 

'Towards the Abolition of Surrogate Motherhood' published

'In this eloquent and blistering rejection of surrogacy, a range of international activists and experts in the field outline the fundamental human rights abuses that occur when surrogacy is legalised and reject neoliberal notions that the commodification of women’s bodies can ever be about the ‘choices’ women make.' ICAS

M's book is edited by Marie-Josephe Devillers and Ana-Luana Stoicea-Deram and published by Spinifex. French and Spanish versions are due later this year. Order here. 

New feminist news site - REDUXX

REDUXX is a new 'feminist platform dedicated to bringing you honest news, opinions and investigations on issues the media won't.'

The BC government removes barriers to changing sex on ID documents

Read Meghan Murphy's essay on the BC state government's decision to make it easier to change sex on official identification documents in Feminist Current. 

And the Best Actress award goes to... a man!

Women Making Films discusses the recent Best Actress in a TV Drama Golden Globe awarded to MJ Rodriguez for his performance in Pose. 

Birth is a Feminist Issue

'Birth and reproductive justice to me are at the core of our oppression as women.' Read more from feminist birth campaigner and writer Matriactivista on the FiLiA website. 

'Defense of Lia Thomas Rang Hollow and Missed Point of Controversy'

Read Coach Linda Blade's guest editorial in Swimming World.

Events

PDF Quebec webinar on surrogacy - 21 January

Register here to attend the PDF Quebec webinar on surrogacy (in French). Clémence Trilling, from the surrogacy committee, will present the issues at stake in Bill 2 (PL 2), submitted in the fall of 2021 to reform family law and regulate the use of surrogate mothers. Places are limited. 

Courage Calls to Courage - Madison, Wisconsin, US - 23 April 2022

Women's Liberation Radion News (WLRN) has organised an event at Madison Public Library on 23 April 2022. Speakers include Kara Dansky, Lierre Keith, Thistle Petersen, Saba Malik and Jeanette Cooper. More information and tickets available here. 

New study group - Shulamith Firestone

Batya Weinbaum will be starting group four of her study group on Shulamith Firestone in February. For more information please email Batya.