Ta daaa! We’ve reached peak no-platforming. Bristol Feminist Society has disinvited feminist writer Sarah Ditum from a panel on Women in Journalism, not on account of anything concrete, but on account of someone somewhere (but we’re not sure who or where or why, so please don’t ask!) accusing her of transphobia. The organization claimed “unforeseen circumstances,” but emails were leaked to Ditum providing evidence that the decision had been made due to this (unfounded) accusation. Behold, the new witch trials.
Too perfect. No-platformed by @TWSSMagazine (Bristol uni femsoc mag) because they won't have anyone "accused of transphobia" on a panel.
— Sarah Ditum (@sarahditum) December 3, 2015
TWSS's Statement regarding rescinding Sarah Ditum from one of our events: pic.twitter.com/GboV4H373m
— That's What She Said (@TWSSMagazine) December 3, 2015
https://twitter.com/CCriadoPerez/status/672474211592613890
So apparently @TWSSMagazine are no platforming Sarah Ditum for being transphobic, but she isn't transphobic. pic.twitter.com/psFSFSFy9O
— (((Robbie Travers))) (@RobbieTravers) December 3, 2015
@TWSSMagazine @BristolFemSoc banning people for *thought crime* while trying to absolve yourself of responsibility. How repugnant.
— Mu Guiying (@mu_guiying) December 3, 2015
Why is it always Libfems that do all the no-platforming?
Not very liberal is it?— Helen Saxby (@helensaxby11) December 3, 2015
.@BristolFemSoc you can rest assured that Sarah is not as censorious as you are, and so won't do anything about you libelling her?
— Becca Reilly-Cooper (@boodleoops) December 3, 2015
.@TWSSMagazine you might want to relay this to @BristolFemSoc who are merrily RTing people calling her a bigot.
— Becca Reilly-Cooper (@boodleoops) December 3, 2015
@TWSSMagazine You're not saying Sarah's a bigot, but you no platformed her because some people said she's a bigot? How utterly disingenuous.
— (((Claire))) (@ClaireShrugged) December 3, 2015
https://twitter.com/K_IngalaSmith/status/672503976248627201
https://twitter.com/SpokesGay/status/672508109299056640
This statement makes you sound every bit as ignorant and vacuously self-important as your decision already indicated @TWSSMagazine
— No Anodyne (@NoAnodyne) December 3, 2015
Extra PS: Tonight @BristolFemSoc has also no-platformed @sarahditum over her views on gender. Not a great time to be an outspoken woman.
— Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) December 3, 2015
Sarah Ditum is one of the best young political writers in this country. I'm sorry to hear she's been no-platformed by the Bristol U FemSoc.
— Chris Brooke (@chrisbrooke) December 3, 2015
https://twitter.com/TransingTrans/status/672474837181419520
Hand in your feminist card, Bristol “Feminist” Society. You’ve been accused of hot, woman-hating, garbage.
*Update: Fellow panelist, Sian Norris, has pulled out in protest.