WDI newsletter

News from WDI

This will be our last newsletter for a few weeks as we take a summer break. We'll be back on 31 August. 

'Spanish government shields its coalition by betraying women'

Amparo Domingo, of WDI Spain, debunks the false grounds on which the Spanish government plans to hurry the passing of the 'Trans Bill'. 

WDI  stands in solidarity with Marie-Luise Vollbrecht

WDI Germany stands in solidarity with the PhD student and feminist Marie-Luise Vollbrecht against a defamation and smear campaign carried out against her on social media, in which politicians and journalists have also participated. The campaign started after the biologist pointed out the difference between the category of sex and sex role stereotypes, correctly named sex as immutable and spoke about the two-sexed nature of human beings. Read our full statement. Watch an interview with Marie-Luise here. 

WDI Canada supports SC ruling on 'stealthing'

Read WDI Canada's statement on the Supreme Court's ruling that men who do not wear condoms after being requested to do so by their partners can be convicted of sexual assault.

WDI México participa a la última reunión de abolicionistas

El fin de semana del 15 y 16 de julio se llevó a cabo la Tercera Jornada Abolicionista organizada por la Alianza de Redes Feministas Nacionales de la cual forma parte WDI-Mx. Los temas expuestos fueron los Vientres de Alquiler y el Discurso de las Infancias Trans. El viernes contamos con la presencia de Yndira Sandoval, Verónica Caporal, Laura Lecuona y Michelle Morales. Más información en la página del WDI México.

WDI Mexico attends latest abolitionist meeting 

The Third Abolitionist Journey organized by the Alianza de Redes Feministas Nacionales of which WDI-Mexico is part of took place on July 15th and 16th. The topics were Surrogacy and the Trans Childhood Narrative. On Friday speakers included Yndira Sandoval, Verónica Caporal, Laura Lecuona and Michelle Morales. Read more on our WDI Mexico page. 

Kate Graham talk at Speakers' Corner

Kate Graham speaks at Kellie-Jay Keen's latest Speakers' Corner event. Kate speaks from 01:40. 

WDI webinars

While Feminist Question Time has a well-deserved break in August some of us women will be reading plays by women playwrights. All sessions are women only. No need to register - just use the normal Zoom link. 

6 August - 'Bezhti' (Dishonour) by Gurpreet Kaur, taken off at Birmingham Rep after Sikh men caused a riot. 

13 August - 'Top Girls' by Caryl Churchill, one of the UK's most distinguished living playwrights. 

20 August - actor Amanda Wagner will perform a one-woman play, 'The Second Coming of Joan of Arc' by US playwright Carolyn Gage, followed by a live Q&A with Amanda. 

The next WDI Radical Feminist Perspectives (RFP) will take place on Sunday 28 August at 10.00 UK time.

Register here.

Radical Feminist Perspectives hits 50!

Full Youtube playlist of our 50 Radical Feminist Perspectives is available here. 

Campaigns

Fundraiser for Christina Ellingsen of WDI Norway

For those who can afford it donations can be made to the WDI Norway legal defence fund in support of Christina Ellingsen, who is facing up to 3 years in prison for saying that men cannot be mothers or lesbians. 

Sex-based rights around the world

Allison Bailey wins case against her chambers

Lesbian barrister Allison Bailey has won her case against Garden Court Chambers, which has been ordered to pay her aggravated damaged. Read Alison's press release. The story has been covered widely by UK media - some examples are available here and here. 

Tavistock paediatric gender clinic to close

The NHS is to close the Tavistock, the paediatric gender clinic for England and Wales, following an interim finding from the Cass Review that its model of care is not 'safe' for children. 

US judge rules Visa can be sued for Pornhub affiliation

A feder judge has ruled that Visa can be liable for allegations that Pornhub knowingly features child sex abuse material. 

Man takes first place in women's watercross event

Lola Furnemont, a man, takes the top spot in a promotional event for women's watercross (cycl'eau) cycling in Namur, Belgium. 

Male murderer given special privileges in women's prison

A man serving a 50-year sentence for murdering a woman has been placed in a women's prison where he receives special privileges. 

Belgium to send male prisoners to women's jails

Belgium is due to release new rules on housing men in women's prisons and undertaking a project to make it easier for male prisoners to change their legal sex.  

Male serial killer of women placed in women's prison

A man who has murdered two women has been placed in the women's prison on Rikers Island to await trial for murdering another woman. When he was released from his previous sentence he was allowed entry to the women's shelter where his third victim resided. 

Open letter raises awareness of need for balanced perspectives

A Franco-Belgian team of childhood professionals (doctors, psychologists, teachers, academics) of the Observatoire "La Petite Sirène" has published a manifesto aimed at warning the public  of a need for impartial information both in the media and in the public institutions about gender dysphoria among teenagers. Over 8,000 signatures have been collected already. You can add your name here. 

Belgians changing legal sex rise more than 10 times in 10 years

In 2012 46 Belgian citizens applied to change the 'gender' markers on their official documentation. In 2021, 530 people applied. Self-ID has been allowed since 2018. 

Resources

Kerala adopts a new religion

Vaishnavi Sundar writes about Kerala's adoption of gender identity ideology. 

Report from the ICONS conference on women's sports

Read this report from 4W on the Independent Council on Women's Sports conference, which took place in June 2022. 

Interview with Austrian Green MP, Faika El-Nagashi

'For several weeks, the [Austrian] Green MP Faika El-Nagashi has been under attack by trans-activists for having highlighted the radicalization of the scene. An interview about freedom of expression, the rejection of science and the question of who can be a “woman” today.' Interview in Falter (in German).  

Do women have a right to self-defence against rape?

Read Phyllis Chesler's article on whether women in the US have the right to defend themselves against rape. 

Events

Lasst Frauen Sprechen - Stuttgart, 8 August

The initiative Lasst Frauen Sprechen [Let Women Speak] of which WDI Germany is part, is holding a protest on 8 August in Stuttgart, Germany, to stand in solidarity with Christina Ellingsen of WDI Norway and to protest the announced introduction of a self-id law in Germany. The event takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. at Kleiner Schlossplatz in Stuttgart. More information can be found on the initative's Twitter account.