Getting back on track

The Amnesty report

A major row has erupted after Amnesty International UK published — and then quickly withdrew — a report labeling more than 100 organisations as “anti-rights”, including women’s rights groups, charities, support services, and campaigning organisations. Maya Forstater and Fiona McAnena talk about the parlous state of democratic debate on human rights, when organisations are branded as threats simply for advocating sex-based rights. Amnesty is now facing demands for answers, calls for apologies and potential legal action. Read the letters to Amnesty. [https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/amnesty-faces-backlash/]Read our letter to the Charity Commission. [https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/the-charity-commission-must-act/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sex-matters-news.org [https://www.sex-matters-news.org?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Victory for women’s sports in America

In this week’s episode, Fiona McAnena is joined by Kim Jones, co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports [https://iconswomen.com/], to discuss the landmark US Supreme Court ruling which reaffirmed that Title IX protections are based on biological sex.In January, the Supreme Court heard two cases that required it to adjudicate on what “sex” means in US anti-discrimination law. Idaho and West Virginia were defending state laws that restrict female athletics to those born female. Acting in the public interest and in pursuit of its charitable aims, Sex Matters provided an “amicus curiae” brief supporting the two states.Fiona and Kim break down what the decision means, why it matters and what comes next in the legal battle to protect safe, fair sport for women and girls. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sex-matters-news.org [https://www.sex-matters-news.org?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Conversion Practices Bill targets parents

In this week’s episode, Helen Joyce speaks to Dennis Kavanagh, director at the Gay Men’s Network [https://sex-matters.org/posts/other-resources/gay-mens-network-banning-conversion-therapy/] and non-practising barrister, about the legal minefield that is the draft Conversion Practices Bill. Dennis examines the low threshold for criminality in Clause 1 of the bill, which states that “any conduct” can be a conversion practice and risks putting parenting on trial and breaching human rights. Helen and Dennis speak about the potential for transactivists to use the bill to suppress discussion of trans ideology and the harms of gender-affirming care. Read our analysis of the bill. [https://sex-matters.org/posts/publications/conversion-therapy-still-not-illegal-or-still-not-happening/] Read our response to Galop’s report. [https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/the-360000-helpline-that-didnt-ring/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sex-matters-news.org [https://www.sex-matters-news.org?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Sex, gender and free speech on campus

In this week’s episode, Helen Joyce and Fiona McAnena discuss the current climate of free speech and gender ideology within British universities. Helen reflects on her recent talk to students at Durham Union – you can read her account of the event on her Substack [https://www.thehelenjoyce.com/p/breaking-taboos]. Read our recent report, Getting back on track [https://sex-matters.org/posts/publications/getting-back-on-track/], which explains how the legislative framework can enable and protect sport at a university level. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sex-matters-news.org [https://www.sex-matters-news.org?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Abusive strip-searching rules: our legal challenge

In this week’s podcast we talk to Cathy Larkman, retired superintendent and policing lead at Women’s Rights Network, about our judicial review against the National Police Chiefs’ Council over its abusive strip-searching policy. Under PACE – the main law governing police conduct – strip-searches must be carried out by an officer of the same sex. But the NPCC says that doesn’t apply to trans detainees. We say that PACE is the only lawful basis for police searching, and that clear rules protect both officers and detainees. Cathy speaks from experience about how female police officers will come under pressure to search male detainees, including rapists, cross-dressing fetishists and men who simply enjoy threatening and humiliating women. Read about our case [https://sex-matters.org/posts/updates/police-strip-searching-sex-matters-judicial-review/] and support our crowdfund [https://sex-matters.org/take-action/help-us-to-stop-abusive-police-searching-policies/]. Read [https://www.womensrights.network/wrn-police-report] State sanctioned sexual assault [https://www.womensrights.network/wrn-police-report], Cathy’s report for the Women’s Rights Network. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sex-matters-news.org [https://www.sex-matters-news.org?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]