The state of free speech on campus

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]

Child gender medicine: CAN-SG conference

In this week’s episode, Fiona McAnena talks to Dr Louise Irvine, co-chair of the Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender (CAN-SG), about Rethinking Youth Gender Medicine, on Sunday 5th and Monday 6th July in London. The conference will feature world experts discussing the social and clinical care of gender-distressed children and young people. Whether you’re a clinician, educator, parent, researcher, or simply concerned about child safeguarding and ideology distorting medical practice, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. CAN-SG has offered Sex Matters’ supporters an exclusive discount: use the code SM25 for 25 percent off all ticket prices [https://can-sg.org/conference-rethinking-youth-gender-medicine/]. Further discounts are available for people on low incomes, and students can attend the full two days for just £20. 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]

Getting back on track

In this week’s episode, Maya Forstater and Fiona McAnena talk about our new report, Getting back on track: Using the Equality Act to enable and protect sport for women and girls [https://sex-matters.org/posts/publications/getting-back-on-track/] – why we’ve produced it, and what’s in it. We show how UK law provides for separate sport for women and girls in several different ways, for fairness, safety and opportunity, from grassroots participation to elite competition, and why not having a female category may result in legal challenges for indirect discrimination and harassment. 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]