I got my paid work done quicker than expected, so here I am again 😎
My report below is from part of an American conference featuring some campaigning women athletes. In the last update I mentioned the women’s 100 metres world record. Here is another great example of the difference between elite male and elite female athletes.
A 4 minute mile is the completion of a mile (1.6 km) run in four minutes or less. It was first achieved in 1954 by Roger Bannister, at age 25, in 3:59.4. As of June 2022, the "four-minute barrier" has been broken by 1,755 male athletes, and is now a standard of professional middle distance runners in several cultures. In the decades since, the mile record has been lowered by 16 seconds, and currently stands at 3:43.13, by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco, at age 24, in 1999. No woman has yet run a four-minute mile. The women's world record is currently at 4:07.64, set by Faith Kipyegon of Kenya in Monaco on 21 July 2023.
Possibly the most famous film about running is the 1981 film Chariots of Fire directed by Hugh Hudson featuring two British athletes, with Ben Cross as Harold Abrahams and Ian Charleson as Eric Liddell. The film builds to them competing in the 1924 Paris Olympics.
And here is the actual first four minute mile
Psychological War on Women
This is a conference organised by The Independent Council on Women’s Sports on 22 September and this session features four great women athletes: cyclist Holly LaVesser and swimmers Paula Scanlan, Kylee Alons and the wonderful Riley Gaines. To give just one example from the stories told, Kylee explains that she had to change in a small storage room to avoid being in the same changing room as Lia Thomas! The session is introduced by two leading academics. It’s long, so set aside some time when you can - it’s worthwhile.
JKR
Israel Ojoko in BNN Breaking ( JK Rowling ‘Takes the Hit’ on Transgender Debate at Women’s Rights Conference 15 October) reports:
The stage was set in Glasgow, at the FiLiA Women’s Rights Conference, where one of the world’s most renowned authors, J.K. Rowling, stood. She was not there to weave magical tales; instead, she was there to tackle a contentious issue: transgender rights. Beneath the glare of spotlights and the weight of controversy, she spoke with a resolve that reflected her conviction.
Rowling’s Stance on Transgender Issues
Rowling’s voice echoed across the hall, carrying her stance on transgender issues. She proclaimed her willingness to ‘take the hit,’ to bear the brunt of backlash because she can ‘afford it’. This assertion was not a battle cry against the trans community, but a defense of her views on women’s rights. She emphasized the importance of preserving women-only spaces, specifically for ‘biological women’.
Women’s Rights and Trans Rights: A Balancing Act
Rowling, despite the criticism, maintained her stance as a celebrated feminist. She clarified that her concerns were not against trans rights but focused on safeguarding women’s rights. She envisioned a world where both trans people and women could coexist safely. Her activism extended beyond mere words, as she has actively supported women’s causes, funding rape crisis centers and a women-only sexual violence support center.
The Reception and Reaction
As she concluded her speech, the audience erupted into applause, giving her two standing ovations, a testament to her influence and the resonance of her message. However, outside the venue, her words sparked a different reaction. Trans activists, opposed to her views, protested her appearance, a move that initially led to the cancellation of the event.
The full report is here:
Women’s Ju Jitsu
Martina Navratilova strikes again 😎
Jeremy Wilson in The Telegraph ( British Ju Jitsu conducting 'urgent review' of transgender policy after Navratilova brands them 'jerks' 16 October) reports:
Martina Navratilova, Getty Images/Tim Clayton© Provided by The Telegraph
The British Ju Jitsu Association has announced an “urgent review” of its trans inclusion policy after Wimbledon legend Martina Navratilova lambasted the “unconscionable” allowance of transgender women in the female category.
Navratilova had replied last week above a post on the social media platform X which claimed that “unbelievably the British Ju Jitsu Association has just updated its policy to continue allowing contact competition between males and females”.
Navratilova wrote: “This is dangerous - a totally unconscionable decision. Women should not compete at all. Boycott these jerk [sic] who make these decisions. Who are mostly males, I am sure.”
The eight-page trans inclusion policy, which was dated September 2023 along the bottom, had been in line with the former policy of the International Olympic Committee, which said that transgender women who had transitioned after puberty must have testosterone below 10nmol/L for at least 12 months prior to competing.
The IOC scrapped that policy in November 2021 and it is now more than two years since the UK Sports Councils concluded that the inclusion of trans women in sport could not balance fairness and safety in a single competitive model.
The full article is here:
‘Deadnaming’
This looks like a bit of a bonkers decision to me but I have now located the Tribunal judgment and will read it first before I comment further. Bear with me! The judgment is here by the way:
Any thoughts gratefully received.
‘Telegraph reporters’ ( Trans woman awarded more than £25k after bosses ‘deadnamed’ her 16 October) report:
Kingston Town Hall© Provided by The Telegraph
A trans council worker has won more than £25,000 after bosses failed to change her [ Dusty - it’s a him, of course - I wish the media would stop doing this!] name on their admin system.
In what is thought to be the first case of its kind in the UK, the trans woman successfully sued her employers for sex discrimination because they failed to change her name on their systems after she transitioned, which meant her “deadname” was used instead.
“Deadnaming” is the act of referring to a transgender or non-binary person by a name they used prior to transitioning, such as their birth name.
Kingston Council, in south west London, took more than two years to update the woman’s name on her pensions records, and almost as long to update her door pass and name on the staff directory.
Her work locker had a sticky note on it with her previous name crossed out and her new name written instead, an employment tribunal in Croydon heard.
Bosses also refused to take her complaints of unfair treatment seriously and instead insisted she apologise after accusing one manager of conducting a “witch hunt” against her, the tribunal heard.
The hearing was told this all had a “significant” impact on her mental health and she went off sick for six months before she took the council to the tribunal.
Upholding her sex discrimination claim, the panel - chaired by employment judge Fiona McLaren - ruled that “deadnaming” the worker was “less favourable treatment” which had contributed to her distress.
She was awarded £25,423 in compensation including £21,000 for injury to feelings.
The tribunal was told the trans woman - identified only as Miss AB - worked on transport projects for Kingston Council and told her employers she was planning to transition eight months before she eventually did in July 2020.
Miss AB claimed she was given no support by her employer who she said failed in its duty of care towards her.
The tribunal heard that in September she objected to street lighting plans she deemed unsafe, was accused of throwing a “hissy fit”, was told she could not have direct contact with councillors and was then reprimanded for ignoring an instruction not to send an email without passing it by her manager.
Writing to her boss, she threatened to sue for discrimination and said: “I feel since my transition, I have been singled out on a witch hunt. I will not be bullied and treated in a demeaning manner.”
Ayanna Bailey, from the council’s HR department, told the tribunal it had “learned a lesson” over deadnaming.
The Sister’s Tale
Just in case you missed it, this is a very moving and, after a lot of heartbreak, ultimately happy tale from EDI Jester.
And finally…
I have nicked the ‘and finally’ section from, of course, JL’s Good News Supplement. I do enjoy (especially after a few trans horror stories) scrolling through sites such as Geobeats and The Dodo but including these at the end of each update is perhaps a bit of over kill so I intend to reduce them to a couple of times a week. I trust that is ok 😇
A TIM geta a payout for the "distressed" caused by being referred to in his original name. What about female employees, patients and students who are being told their facilities are now open to males who identify as women, or laughably, as non-binary? Are they going to be compensated for the culture of misogyny and bullying they are being forced to be part of? Not only will they not be compensated, they will be described to as bigots and transphobes and be subjected to further bullying.
I’ve only just watched the Jester video and had to comment on how powerful it is, not just the words but Barry’s delivery. I’ve made a note of it in case I ever need to play it to my granddaughter. I don’t understand how so few people really understand the misery and heartbreak this vile ideology is causing.