Popeye Doyle
Update 654. Safeguarding Special. #BeMore Porcupine.
Now we are back with Dusty’s film series and the latest version of the list is here:
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/empire-of-light-dustys-film-series
Please let us have your suggestions for films but please check the list first to see if it is there already. I am updating the list as we go along. We are going through them alphabetically and have got to F.
I do like a good hero in a film standing against evil, even when, as with Popeye Doyle ( Gene Hackman - what an amazing performance!) in The French Connection (1971), that hero is a little bit scuffed around the edges 😎
Thanks to two wonderful readers for suggested pieces.
Some of the linked pieces below may be behind a paywall.
UK - Safe With Me!
I reported on this gobsmacking dangerous Red Flag campaign here:
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/through-the-portals-part-1?utm_source=publication-search
Nutmeg reports on this on her weekly report (27 July):
That’s all the crazy for this week
Except it’s not - in fact this might be the most insane story of the lot. Dr Ronx Ikharia is a celebrity doctor who has presented youth-based medical shows on the BBC. She describes herself as ‘non-binary’, and has repeatedly used her BBC platform to teach gender ideology to children, such as her support for puberty blockers.
……
She has now launched a project in which she distributes badges, saying ‘Safe With Me’ for people to wear in public places. They will signify to any ‘trans people’ nearby that the badge-wearer will escort them to a toilet. This already sounds like a potential safeguarding disaster but it gets worse - she’s said, having crowdfunded more than £10,000 for this, that she will be sending the badges to schools, as well as shops, offices and public spaces. She says she also doesn’t think that the Supreme Court ruling is the ‘law’.
SEEN in Journalism has contacted the leadership of BBC Children, urging the BBC to cut all future ties with Dr Ronx and remove her existing content from BBC platforms.
You will find the full report and loads of other news here, including:
Labour MP Tim Roca has been caught on camera saying that people who believe men can not become women are ‘swivel eyed and not very well’. He was speaking at a ‘Leading While Queer’ event for academics, in which he also criticised the Supreme Court ruling, and said the debate needs to be based on ‘facts’.
https://grahamlinehan.substack.com/p/nutmegs-week-sandie-peggie-dr-ronx
EDI Jester also lays in to the safe With me campaign:
And Kellie-Jay Keen discusses this with Josh Howie on GB News:
Sandie Peggie
The Tribunal continued today.
Rebecca McCurdy in The Herald (Sandie Peggie referred to trans doctor as 'weirdo' and 'it' 28 July) reports:
Sandie Peggie referred to Dr Beth Upton as a 'weirdo', 'freak' and 'it'. (Image: PA)
Sandie Peggie will give fresh evidence in her employment tribunal against NHS Fife after she was accused of racism and describing a transgender medic as a 'weirdo'.
The nurse is suing her employer after she complained about having to share a changing room with Dr Beth Upton, a transwoman, at Victoria Hospital on Christmas Eve 2023.
Ms Peggie was placed on special leave after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying, harassment and patient safety concerns.
The court at the Dundee Tribunal Hearing Centre on Monday heard from two nursing colleagues of Ms Peggie, who both overheard "derogatory" comments.
Lindsay Nicoll, an emergency nurse practitioner at the hospital, went on numerous holidays with Ms Peggie between 2017 and 2024, the tribunal heard.
However, she told the tribunal that she was uncomfortable with some of the remarks made by Ms Peggie in a "Benidorm group chat".
In 2024, Ms Nicoll said the pair were at an airport when Ms Peggie appeared "disgusted" by a group of women wearing burkas.
Two years earlier, Ms Peggie had shared 10 jokes into the group chat about the floods in Pakistan, concluding the post by stating "sorry if that makes me racist".
After that trip, Ms Nicoll said she left the group chat and told friends she "wouldn't be spending time in Sandie's company".
She also told the tribunal that at a lunch in September 2023, Ms Peggie had mentioned Dr Upton.
Ms Nicoll explained: "She started talking about a doctor who had been working in A&E about three or four weeks. She was really angry about the doctor being there, referring to the doctor as 'weirdo', 'it' and 'him'.
"I remember someone saying 'why can't you live and let live?' She seemed full of anger and hate about this doctor she had only just met."
However, during cross-examination by Naomi Cunningham, who represents Ms Peggie, the witness said she was aware of messages in the group chat that alluded to Dr Upton causing "chaos" in a previous job after it is alleged the medic complained about being misgendered by a dementia patient.
Ms Cunningham also referenced a post from Ms Nicoll in the group chat, where she shared details of a patients name and their complaint.
"Do you agree your regulator places some stress on confidentiality, so sharing patient details, chatting about patients by name on a chat like this would be a breach of regulations?"
Ms Nicoll agreed that it would and said she found her remarks "disappointing".
The witness also admitted that she may have "enabled" Ms Peggie's views by putting a laughing emoji to her comment that she may be "racist" for sharing jokes about Pakistan.
Ms Nicoll was also forced to deny she was attempting to destroy Ms Peggie's career by coming forward with these allegations.
"You thoroughly dislike Sandie Peggie, don't you?" Ms Cunningham asked.
But Ms Nicoll replied: "I am actually really sad about the whole situation. We're clearly very different people."
In cross examination, Ms Cunningham accused Ms Nicoll of being "hostile" and having it in for her former friend.
The tribunal heard that Ms Nicoll had messaged a friend about disliking Ms Peggie's conduct and said that she hoped the nurse was "struck off" from the Nursing and Midwifery Council register.
Ms Cunningham asked: "This is an attempt to end Sandie's career, isn't it?"
Ms Nicoll replied that this was not the case and said she felt there was no place for "bigotry" in nursing.
She said: "I've watched her stare in disgust at people walking through an airport in burkas. I've heard her calling a transgender woman a weirdo and I don't think it's acceptable, no."
"I think it's important for people to understand Sandie's character, the bigoted racism that Sandie is all for," she added.
"I don't think there is a place for it in nursing. I think we should be showing people compassion and empathy and respect and I don't think Sandie does that."
An earlier witness, Fiona Wishart, who also works as an emergency nurse practitioner, told the tribunal she was "offended" by comments made by Ms Peggie in relation to a mosque being built in Kirkcaldy.
The tribunal heard that Ms Peggie allegedly said she had "a good mind to post bacon through the letter box" of the mosque.
Ms Wishart told the tribunal she "specifically remembered it because I found it offensive".
Ms Peggie has been recalled and will give evidence in the tribunal on Tuesday afternoon.
Her barrister, Ms Cunningham, appealed to Employment Judge Sandy Kemp to allow this prior to the evidence from Ms Peggie's colleagues to be heard in order to give the nurse the opportunity to discuss them.
The tribunal will also hear evidence from Dr Maggie Currer, a consultant, who began her evidence on Friday and will discuss a group email with a "need to know" group.
Two additional witnesses have been called by the claimants team. One is Sandra Ross, from the Benidorm group chat, while the other is Emma Ward, an administrator for the organisation Sex Matters, who took a call from a staff member at Victoria Hospital at the weekend.
Ms Ward is expected to tell the tribunal that the caller came forward to report concerns about using a changing room with a transgender person present.
The tribunal continues.
https://archive.ph/RqFJg#selection-1451.0-2019.26
Michael Foran argues that all the above, true or not, does not take away from Sandie objecting to a man in the woman’s changing room. Additionally, Naomi Cunningham for Sandie points to Lindsay Nicoll referring to details of a patient in this chat group.
The For Women Scotland judgment - The Aftermath
One piece from the latest Women’s Rights Network newsletter ( 27 July)
100 Days Later…
WRN’s social media campaign to highlight organisations that, 100 days after the Supreme Court judgment, are still in breach of the 2010 Equality Act
Friday 25 July marked 100 Days since the Supreme Court judgment - 100 days of disbelief, denial, disdain, disinformation and defiance.
Image credit: @moleatthedoor
WRN marked the milestone with a social media campaign to highlight organisations that have not yet complied with the ruling.
WRN posted throughout the day on Sports, Health, Policing, Education, Publishing, Media and reporting, and Life.
Groups and members were invited to use the specially designed poster, courtesy of @moleatthedoor, and share local stories of non-compliance as we named and shamed. WRN Scotland took government and public bodies to task and Wales didn’t disappoint.
When the national law enforcement agency doesn’t understand the laws it’s meant to enforce, there’s a serious problem.
100 days since the Supreme Court judgment instructing police forces to bring their ‘inclusive’ workplace facilities policies into line yet @PoliceChiefs are still working on that. Female officers and staff have no privacy or dignity in work.
Senior officers are indicating they don’t understand the need for them to comply with the law.
Read more here.
UK - Ben Woods
I last reported on Ben’s case against Waitrose here:
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/youre-a-man-with-true-grit?utm_source=publication-search
Update on Support Ben's Fight for Freedom of Speech Against Waitrose
Dear friends and supporters,
Just a quick update to confirm that on Friday 25 July I issued my employment tribunal claim against John Lewis plc for unfair dismissal and belief discrimination.
It is the start of a long fight in the Courts but I’m willing to see it through to the end to obtain justice in my case. I believe that I have a good case against John Lewis but it will now be up to a judge after trial to decide.
As far as the timetable for next steps is concerned, I understand it will take around 8 weeks or so before we receive John Lewis’ defence. After that there will be a Case Management Hearing, which I understand will be in around 6 – 8 months. The tribunal will set down dates to exchange disclosure (the documents that will be used as evidence) and then exchange of witness statements. I will then be given a date for trial at this hearing.
As I’ve said before, I never wanted any of this. I was simply exercising my right to freedom of speech in a democratic society and shouldn’t have lost my job for doing so. I thought we lived in a free country but it seems we will have to fight back to regain it, so I hope my case helps to pave the way for other people to have protection from being dismissed simply because of engaging in political debate on twitter.
As always I will keep you updated and I’m grateful for any help received.
Ben Woods
28.07.2025
New Zealand - LAVA
We last reported on LAVA’s case here:
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/we-will-not-lie-down-part-1?utm_source=publication-search
The case has now begun and here is LAVA’s update on the first week.
Please share this email and support our campaign
July 27th 2025
Dear friends and supporters,
Well, we have had our first week in Court with the Human Rights Review Tribunal and what a week it was! Hilary and Marg as our plaintiffs gave evidence and were each cross examined for around 8 hours. We didn’t time it so can’t be exact but they both started on one day and finished on the next.
The case is not about whether LAVA’s and others’ gender critical beliefs are right or wrong, and nor is it about whether we can convince the Tribunal of the rightness of our beliefs. It is very simply about whether our beliefs can be considered a political opinion and, if they can, are they the sort of political opinions that are deserving of protection under the Human Rights Act. Pride’s case is that they are not because they are hateful, transphobic, and based on disinformation.
The thrust of their cross examination is firstly to demonstrate that we have published, done, or said things that are clearly distressing to trans-identified people (and if we can’t see that then we are clearly a bunch of hateful transphobic bigots). Secondly, they are trying to undermine the credibility and expertise of our witnesses.
Cross-examination of our witnesses is founded in the unquestionable right of trans people to be accepted as they say they are, as undifferentiated men, women, and lesbians. Non-binary people must be accepted as having no sex at all. Their right to be seen as the sex they identify as, is framed as the same as their right to exist. You can’t say transwomen cannot be same sex attracted lesbians because you are asserting trans people have no right to exist.
In the witness box this week, as well as Hilary and Marg, we had our fact witnesses – two women who were there at the Michael Fowler Centre on the day, one of our Expert Witnesses and our Experts who were responding to their Expert Witnesses.
Our Experts who appeared this week were Daphna Whitmore as a political activist, Sue Middleton Emeritus Professor from the School of Education Waikato University, Fern Hickson from Resist Gender Education Aotearoa, Rowena Edge from Save Women’s Sport Australasia, Professor Kristopher Kaliebe MD from the Dept of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the University of Florida, and Simon Tegg from Genspect.
All were superb and managed to remain calm and dignified as their credibility and expertise were challenged.
The case continues for three more weeks:
1-5 September, 15-19 September & 6-10 October.
5th Floor, District Court, 49 Ballance St, Central Wellington
Read more about our case and donate here:
https://www.lava.nz/our-case
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
New Zealand - Helen Joyce is coming!
Our friend Katrina Biggs on her substack, A B’Old Woman looks forward to Helen Joyce visiting NZ on a speaking tour in October ( she is also visiting Australia).
Helen Joyce is coming to New Zealand to talk about the new battle for women’s rights.
Tickets will be on sale soon.
Jul 26, 2025
In late October this year, Helen Joyoce from the UK will be in New Zealand to talk about the new battle for women’s rights.
After hearing that she’d been invited to Australia, the Women’s Rights Party and Free Speech Union jumped on the bandwagon, and asked if she would cross the ditch and come to NZ, too. Although Helen is being jointly hosted here by the Women’s Rights Party and Free Speech Union, she will give different talks at different venues and places for each of the two organisations.
For the Women’s Rights Party, the dates and cities are –
Auckland – 25th October
Christchurch – 28th October
Dunedin – 29th October
Wellington – 30th October
The cost for each talk is $40 for waged, and $30 for unwaged.
Booking for the events will be via the websites of the Women’s Rights Party and Free Speech Union, and notification of when bookings can be made will be there and on all the usual social media platforms. Members of the Women’s Rights Party (membership is $5/year) will get notification via their newsletter. The venues will be revealed closer to the dates of Helen’s talks by email to those who’ve booked. At this point, I don’t know if any of the talks will be recorded for later viewing for members - that appears to be something which is still to be decided.
Below, I have a chat about all this with Anne Mortimer, who is the coordinator for the Canterbury and West Coast region of the Women’s Rights Party; and Helen Houghton, who is the leader of the Conservative Party, as well as a relieving primary school teacher, and at the tail end of studying for a law degree. Anne and Helen are co-organising Helen Joyce’s talk in Christchurch. We also talk about Helen Houghton's cancellation by a teachers' Facebook group, happenings arounds kids and women's rights in NZ, and a little about the murky legal waters that transactivists and gender ideologues might be treading.
The full piece and the video is here:
Let Women Speak
In case you missed it there was an excellent LWS event yesterday and they made the now usual trip to Speakers’ Corner. My wife and I are working out which is the next LWS event we will attend. We’ll let you know.
Terf Island Discs
Thanks to an excellent suggestion from Tenaciously Terfin, we are pausing Endpieces for the time being and giving Tenaciously and Liz a well earned rest from their hard work. So welcome to Terf Island Discs. Please let us have four of your favourite songs or pieces of music and provide a link if possible. They need to be reasonably short. We can’t expect to have readers listening to the whole of Tchaikovsky's piano concerto in B flat minor, albeit it is magnificent. Obviously, the choices don’t actually have to be from Terf Island - anywhere in the world! We will feature one piece of music in each general update. Thanks to all those readers who have already sent in their choices.
Please send in your choices via the comments section at this link: https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/terf-island-discs
Next up!
Chosen by: Clemence Dane.
‘I Am Woman’ by Helen Reddy.
#BeMorePorcupine
#TerfIsTheNewPunk
#AdultHumanFemale
#LetWomenSpeak
#LGB✂️TQ
#JoinFreeSpeechUnion
#LeaveKidsAlone
#StandWithSandiePeggie
#NeverSurrender
#NeverForget
#TruthWillTriumph
#WeWillWin
Great update, thanks Dusty. So many tribunals at the moment! I’m thankful for all these brave people; courage calls to courage, as the suffrage motto goes.
A heads up, dear readers, that Mr Menno has a new video this evening at 21.00 GMT namely an interview with Linzi Smith about her victory against Northumbria Police.
See some of you in the chat I hope 😊
Dusty
NB May be doing a one off tonight about the extremely worrying Online Safety Act.