Helen Steel, one of the heroic McLibel Two and a Spycops abuse survivor, is being treated like shit by what appears to be a large section of the supposedly ‘anarchist community’, for want of a better term. They are offended by her having the temerity to try and protect women against bullying and intimidation by trans activists and their allies.
In solidarity with Helen, I am republishing below a statement she made about events that took place at the Anarchist Bookfair last weekend and I would urge that it is read by all those who consider themselves feminists as well as all skeptics.
Alternatively, you could continue to ring-fence trans ideology from skeptical inquiry and carry on like this. It’s up to you.
Edited to add: Here is a video of a moving talk Helen gave on 23 November 2017.
Statement on events at Anarchist Bookfair 2017 – By Helen Steel
“I was in the process of writing a longer article around the events at the Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday, but I am also trying to stay on top of the rest of my life while dealing with the horrendous bullying of people around me which is underway by some trans activists and allies. I have been traumatised by my experiences on Saturday and by events since, resulting in a lack of sleep and inability to concentrate. I wanted to complete the longer article, but as lies are being circulated by those who attacked me, I feel I have to put out a shorter statement now.
When I refer to trans activists in this statement I mean people who are activists on trans issues, I do not mean that all of them were trans, nor that they represent the views of all trans identifying people. For those who don’t know what TERF means, it is an acronym for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist, but whatever its origins it is currently used as a term of abuse to dehumanise women and so excuse violence and bullying against them.
I thank everyone who is taking a stand against bullying and I urge more people to stand in solidarity too. Those trans activists and allies who are carrying out the bullying can be defeated by growing numbers of people resisting that bullying. This will facilitate a proper space for the concerns of women and trans identifying people to be discussed.
