Venue Slams Hateful RADFEM2012 Conference. Thrown out! [View all]

[Catherina]

VENUE SLAMS HATEFUL RADFEM 2012 CONFERENCE

Well, what a victory this is! For those who are unaware about ‘RedFem 2012?, it was a conference organised by radical feminists more akin to venomous snakes than actual feminists that you can read about in Roz Kaveney’s wonderful artile here. And to make a long story short, it was a kettle of narrow, detestable thinking namely bearing fangs at the transgender community. Christ only knows why. Something about trans folk doing –… some vague evil deed or another? I know (am friends with, have had personal relations with) a bloody lot of wonderful trans people and in my experience its community is little other than virtuous, but I suppose there’s no arguing with bigots holding outdated values. Anyway, the conference’s venue eventually decided to speak up and slam the thing, which, y’know, is frickin’ amazing, and you can read about said slamming here.

I really do detest radical feminists such as the ones who were organising RadFem 2012; I identify as a sex-positive feminist, and just the thought that these people brand themselves as feminists makes me wince. When will people learn that bigotry has no place within feminism? Hatred breeds hatred, and as for the likes of Sheila Jeffreys and her ‘cult’, well, watch out. Everyone, regardless of gender, regardless of identity, is quickly realising that your odious views have no place within our future.

http://lettersfrombluehaven.com/2012/06/01/conway-hall-slams-hateful-radfem-2012-conference/

Here's the slamming from the Venue. It's a thing of beauty!

Statement Regarding RadFem 2012

In consultation with the organisers of RadFem 2012 and our legal advisors, Conway Hall has decided not to allow the booking in July 2012 to proceed. This is because it does not conform to our Terms and Conditions for hiring rooms at Conway Hall. In addition, we are not satisfied it conforms with the Equality Act (2010), or reflects our ethos regarding issues of discrimination.

We had sought assurances that the organisers would allow access to all, in order to enable the event to proceed at the venue. We also expressed concern that particular speakers would need to be made aware that whilst welcoming progressive thinking and debate, Conway Hall seeks to uphold inclusivity in respect of both legal obligations and as a principle.

In the absence of the assurances we sought, the event in its proposed form could not proceed at Conway Hall.

That said, we recognise the breadth of debate to be had amongst the feminist and transgender communities and it is our sincere hope that there will be constructive and positive dialogue on these matters going forward.

In response to Sheila Jeffreys’ online Guardian article in their ‘Comment is free’ section, dated 29th May 2012, we would like it to be known that Conway Hall has in the past made clear that speakers / attendees at events for other hirers will not be permitted where we have felt that these individuals have expressed and may express (on our premises) views which conflict with our ethos, principles, and culture; the reference to David Irving was simply one of the examples given.


http://conwayhall.org.uk/statement-regarding-radfem-2012

We. Will. Not. Stand. For. It.