Forum Topic

False defence of Rainbow crossings: "Concerns Raised About Tarnished Rainbow Crossings"

"A local business owner with premises nearby said, “I’m 100% onboard with the message that these crossings are trying to convey but if they start to look shabby the gesture becomes counterproductive".The rest of the article is in the same vein. It appears that Stonewall are active in local media, attempting to counter the local outcry against the crossings, which are virtue-signalling by Hounslow Council and a terrible waste of money. The sooner the crossings disappear under dirt and/or are rubbed away the better. Remember that Stonewall is lying to the public and Government, and should be defunded: #Stonewallmustfall

Una-Jane Winfield ● 428d32 Comments

We'll agree to disagree, although I would like to challenge a couple of points you make.The biological fact that one is born male or female had nothing to do with the arguments against an equal age of consent and in support of Section 28 but, rather like the arguments of the Trans ideology, were based on untruths, principally that male homosexuality = paedophilia and therefore children needed protection from such predators. All of us who campaigned for equal rights largely achieved our objectives. The new threat comes from the Trans ideology which has everything to do with the diminishment of biological women (who are reduced to 'people who become pregnant') and the medicalization LGB teens & children, who are persuaded that their homosexuality = gender dysphoria and that they should transition. Cf. Rachel Cooke's review in today's Observer of 'Time to Think' by Hannah Barnes for an account of the horrors inflicted on young LGB kids. Lastly, I don't quite get your linking the LGB Alliance with the Tax Payers Alliance. The LGB Alliance is truly doing fantastic work - along with some very brave campaigners/journalists - in protecting lgb children and adults against an oppressive ideology. Personally, I'd be more than happy to see LGB removed from LGBTWXYZ+++ So, then, I guess you would have been outside parliament the night the vote on an equal age of consent was lost. Did you break any windows? Don't answer that...............

Stephen Edwards ● 422d

Well, Stephen I also took part in the fight against AIDS (https://www.youtube.com/@aids_archive) and marched, wrote etc against Section 28.  I even persuaded Mr. Nirj Deva MP of Chiswick to abstain instead of voting against and equal age of consent for gay men.  I disagree with you and most strongly against the so called LGB Alliance.  The LGB Alliance has about as much to do with LGB people as the Tax Payers Alliance has to do with tax payers - ie none.Your argument "denying biological facts" is exactly the same as the arguments used against removing Section 28 and in denying gay men an equal age of consent as well as may other hard fought freedoms / rights.What we have in the transexual argument is polarisation, divide and rule, an example of Liz Truss' 'disrupter in chief' ideology.  All for upsetting things but no clear inclusive plan to create something new or sustainable. Where people are put at potential risk then there must be protections.  When you break the law you lose certain rights and privileges such as where you are housed, if we are talking about prison.  Other than that I don't care how people identify themselves, it's not my concern. There are, according to the BBC report, 7,500 children who are being failed by the ideological positions on both sides - they are not getting any service at all to help guide them & their families through a very difficult period,  just as it was until recently for gay men and lesbians. Instead they are being sacrificed on the altar of those who stir up fear and dissent just for the fun of watching it happen.When all this is over, when we have all settled down to live together, what kind of world will we have created?

Martin Weaver ● 422d

Hear, hear, Stephen!

Elle Jones ● 422d

No, it honestly isn't Martin. I took part in so many protest meetings against Section 28, and did the same with Act Up in the fight against bigotry & ignorance about AIDS, etc. The Trans ideology is something totally different and, arguably, more homophobic (and more misogynistic) than anything advanced by Mrs T. And more dangerous because it's so pernicious. Stonewall was instrumental in achieving LGB rights back in the day but has now degenerated into an extremist organisation intent on denying biological facts and subverting everything it once represented. It's why I and almost everyone I know who backed Stonewall have transferred their financial support to the LGB Alliance.

Stephen Edwards ● 422d

It's a push back against this:

Martin Weaver ● 423d

I just don't understand all this emphasis on gender/sexual proclivities.  Who cares if someone is trans, gay, straight or whatever unless you are in a relationship with them, or in certain specific instances - and those are exactly the instances that the like of Sturgeon are determined to ignore - where it is uncomfortable or dangerous for women to be in juxtaposition in an area they could be taken advantage of by a biological man, trans or not. Otherwise just get on with being who you want to be.  Whether you prefer men, women, both or neither is no one's business except you and your partner(s).

Claire Moran ● 424d

Very good

Basil Finnis ● 424d

not cancelled by the world at all, her creations remains hugely popularbut JKR just created Harry Potter, didn't write the game, but I'm sure she'll get royalties for allowing her creation to be used. "Hogwarts Legacy peaked at 879,308 players on Steam on Sunday, behind only Cyberpunk 2077 for the most concurrents for a single player game. Also behind Elden Ring, if you want to consider that mostly single player."andThe Cormoran Strike titles have sold in shedloads since J K Rowling was unmasked as the pseudonymous author in summer 2013, and have spiked even further since the launch of the BBC TV series “Strike”, starring Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger in August 2017. The crime series has, in print, made the same switch the Harry Potter titles did circa 2001, and now the hardback edition sells more than the paperback. The Ink Black Heart’s predecessor, 2020’s Troubled Blood, is Galbraith’s bestseller in the format, on over 150,000 copies sold, around 25,000 copies more than its 2021 paperback.

James Roy ● 424d

I think poor JK Rowling was cancelled by the world - including those who had made a fortune starring in the Harry Potter films - after making this comment re 'people who menstruate' on Twitter - see belowTweethttps://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1269382518362509313?lang=en J.K. Rowling@jk_rowling‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud? Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate devex.comOpinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruateWhat implications does COVID-19 have on the global menstrual health and hygiene agenda? WASH and health experts explain.10:35 PM • Jun 6, 2020

Rae Lewis ● 425d

Michael Brown ● 425d

Is this the carpenter buffoon Brown? I get them mixed up.

Basil Finnis ● 425d

Shame about Sturgeon and all her woke and rainbow rubbish! 😂

Michael Brown ● 425d

'Una' greek for ugly? Ugly view, ugly you. Back to the 1950s for you

Tony Mansell ● 425d

Alastair - many thanks for posting that.

Chris Blackwell ● 426d

Trans rights are represented in the 'Rainbow Flag' or crossings in this instance. Stonewall has become the voice of trans rights; although 'rights' is a misnomer because it's more of an ideology, which argues that a biological male can self-identify as female & should legally be female. Or put another way that a woman can have a penis. It also believes that children can choose their biological sex, an idea it promotes in primary/secondary schools. It does this by conflating sex (a biological fact) and gender (a social construct). I would argue that the trans ideology is misogynistic and homophobic - I'm hardly alone in that. Cf. La Sturgeon's resignation after the James Graham debacle. So Stonewall = trans ideology = Rainbow Flag.

Stephen Edwards ● 426d

@Philippa Bond the only mention of Stonewall in the other thread seems to be Una's copy and paste of this original chain message, so I'm struggling to see the connection.

Paul Scullion ● 427d

Here in her own words, Chris.https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

Alastair Banton ● 427d

I have still yet to hear what JK Rowling actually said that offended people so much.

Chris Blackwell ● 427d

Yes, and my grand-children liking Harry Potter does not make them the devils incarnate as the anti J.K.Rowling brigade would have us believe.

James Roy ● 428d

@Paul Scullion  There is another thread on Rainbow Crossings.

Philippa Bond ● 428d

What is the connection between Stonewall and the new crossings? They are not mentioned in the articles on this site.

Paul Scullion ● 428d

I think it should be dug up and relocated at the Welsh Parliament where tampons are now offered for free in the gents toilets..

Michael Brown ● 428d

Let's hope it wears out soon, but people aren't walking over it but instead are risking life and limb, and crossing on the nice black bit, so we may have to rely on the bus tyres..

Michael Brown ● 428d

Wiesel words.  Yes, criticising Stonewall does not make you a homophobe.  Discussing the difference between biological sex and gender identity does not make you ‘transphobic’.  Thinking Brexit might not be a good idea does not make you an ‘enemy of the people’.  Objecting to aspects of Sharia law does not make you ‘islamophobic’.  I have met and respect Joan Smith and her opinions.  I have also read some of by Una-Jane’s postings over the years and I find them a lot more interesting and thoughtful than most.  More nuance, tolerance and understanding urgently needed here.

Alastair Banton ● 428d

Thanks for the information Julian.  I seem to have stumbled into something without realising it. 

Nora Watkins ● 428d

I didn't realise that there was such strong feeling again Stonewall, but using #Stonewallmustfall is a bit extreme isn't it?  And suggesting we should "defund Stonewall" for "lying" to the government.  I certainly don't mind seeing opinions,  but this post is a bit strong,  and yes feels like a conspiracy theory to me.

Nora Watkins ● 428d

> Although I agree the post is odd I'm not sure why there would be any grounds for reporting. Many women believe that Stonewall has been too aggressive in promoting trans rights over women's rights.Not to mention cancelling normal gay people's rights, on the basis that  biologically based sex preferences are 'anti-trans'. They are nothing of the sort. Stonewall today is a total embarrassment and in insult to its own origins. Major organisations that were infiltrated by them, including LSE, UCL, BBC, Channel 4, and the Dept of Business have cut all ties with them.

Thomas Beale ● 428d

It is probably better to avoid going down the rabbit hole of the controversies around these issues but, whatever Una's broader views, criticising Stonewall does not make you a homphobe. Many people in the LGB community have reservations about it and feminist writers such as Joan Smith have raised concerns.The can of worms that the council opened is that one set of people who see themselves at the vanguard of expanding rights and social justice would have been upset if the crossing had been just the colours of the rainbow just as another set, who would see themselves in similar terms, are upset because the colours of the Progressive Pride flag have been included.I hope the crossing stays as it was well-meaning and most people are unaware of the controversies over the choices of particular colours. However, it did occur to me on the very first day it opened, that it would get marked fairly quickly so consideration should be given to removing it if it starts to become unsightly.

Anita Blake ● 428d

I'm afraid Una has a history regarding transgender and transitioning and some of her thoughts are not great, to put it mildly Just put her full name in google search, She might tell you about her late husband or should I say, trans widow. I think Una will be back with her thoughts to transgender and transitioning. The only thing I will say is that once upon a time people said being gay was a mental illness. We have moved on from those times.

Julian Pavey ● 428d

Although I agree the post is odd I'm not sure why there would be any grounds for reporting. Many women believe that Stonewall has been too aggressive in promoting trans rights over women's rights. While it was unwise of the council to dip its toe into this particular controversy, both sides are raising points that need to be considered.

Felicity Caborn ● 428d

You seem to be saying that opinions different to your own shouldn't be expressed and, if they are, it is part of some broader conspiracy. I appreciate that the Progressive Pride element of the flag can raise concerns for some women and it would perhaps have been less controversial to have just used the rainbow colours. However, the article isn't justifying or attacking the crossing just reflecting concerns as to how it will stand the test of time. Take a look at the rainbow crossing outside Richmond Station to see how the paint can degrade over time.

Felicity Caborn ● 428d

What a strange post.  Does anyone know how to report it? Whatever people think about the crossings,  the rest of the post is a bit off for a local forum.

Nora Watkins ● 428d