Can I remind everyone I started by tweeting why I support trans rights, that I still support trans rights, that I am trying to understand all the arguments & I am not taking sides. BUT I am taking sides against lies, distortions, intimidation & hate FROM WHEREVER IT COMES
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By invitation, Brian, not by right. It is WPUK's position that, fundamentally, gender identity is not a subject of discrimination - see for example their model motion that they want CLPs to pass which has this as point 1. Can you not see how damaging that is for trans people?
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As I say, I have made no comment yet about the group as a whole and as I have consistently said, I do not want to comment on the substantive issues until I have learned enough from all those who want to engage with me.
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Would it not, then, possibly be a good idea for you to remove & avoid tweets on this issue until such time as you feel able to discuss it in more depth? You have a significant public platform, and your wording and framing of tweets *matters*.
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You can see that many of us - your own party colleagues - are worried that your making interim statements on this without a clear view of the issues risks presenting a harmful distraction to Lib Dem efforts as a whole in this area. You have a responsibility to the party here.
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Please indicate what interim statements I have made on the substantive issues of trans rights or other's rights in connection with trans rights. There are none. The only things I have said are I support trans rights and condemn transphobia. If you want me to withdraw them, tough!
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You said of Women's Place UK that "they are as determined to protect trans rights as they are to protect their own rights" a matter of minutes ago. That is a substantive statement on their intentions which I'm aware that a number of trans Lib Dem members would deeply dispute.
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That's because I did not say what WPUK's intentions were. I said 2 people in the room, in a private meeting, who were representatives of WPUK, told me that is what *they* believed. They did not say it was WPUK policy.
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You hardly made that clear - and that's exactly my point. As someone in a senior position in our party, you have a leadership responsibility. Your words affect whether activists will feel welcome, or unsafe, in the Lib Dems.
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