Jenny Reilly
Back in 2023 I commenced a project to celebrate some of the women in the UK who have stood up for women’s sex-based rights. I was inspired by the banners created by women’s suffrage campaigners and decided to produce textile art in celebration of these women.
Joan McAlpine
Whilst an SNP MSP, Joan McAlpine queried Scottish Census guidance that allowed males to be counted as females in Census returns.Her queries resulted in her being labelled TERF, transphobe, wanker of the week, trash and worse.When she attended a founding meeting of the LGB Alliance, an organisation set up to promote the rights of lesbians, bisexuals and gay men, a photo from the event was circulated amongst many in her party with her image circled in red.This led to further bullying with many young misogynistic members of the SNP putting the red circle in their twitter names and threatening violence towards her.After the SNP introduced a discriminatory equality mechanism Joan lost her MSP seat.Joan now works as a journalist and is a project director of the Robert Burns Ellisland Farm and Museum.
The central image is based on The birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli.
Johann Lamont
In 2020, the Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) bill reached the Scottish Parliament. The purpose of the bill was to improve access to healthcare services for victims of rape and sexual assault.Despite victims recommending that the word gender was changed to sex in relation to medical examiners, so that victims could be confident they’d receive care from a same sex examiner if requested, the Scottish Government ignored this, andRape Crisis Scotland backed the Government.During this period, many women were being vilified for the belief that sex mattered – that it was important and immutable.Johann Lamont, Labour MSP, proposed an amendment to the bill – For the word ‘gender’ substitute ‘sex’.Despite facing a backlash from those within the Parliament and outwith, backing from Scottish Women, via a social media and letter writing campaign, helped to ensure that her amendment passed and the Forensic Medical Service Act became law.
The central image is based on a painting of Joan of Arc by an unknown artist.
Joanna Cherry
In April 2019, Joanna Cherry KC MP signed a letter, along with 14 other senior SNP politicians, calling for the Scottish Government not to rush into legislating on gender reform and warning that doing so could change the definition of what it means to be male and female.In the same month, as a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights at Westminster, she raised the issue of online abuse and silencing of gender critical women on Twitter/X.Since speaking up for sex based rights, particularly the rights of Lesbians, Joanna has faced continued abuse, threats of rape and violence, and had to employ additional security measures. She has received very little support from members within her Party, and in February 2021 she was sacked from the SNP front bench and wrongly branded ‘transphobic’ for criticising the Hate Crime legislation going through the Scottish Parliament.Many of the Scottish public were fearful that the hate crime bill would inhibit free speech and debate, particularly around the subject of sex and gender.Despite punishment, unfair treatment and threats, Joanna continued to stand up for women in Parliament.Joanna lost her seat as an MP in 2024. She continues her work as a trustee of LGB Alliance and a KC.
The central image is from the painting Truth Revealing the Artifice of Painting by Ginevra Cantofoli.
Maya Forstater
Maya Forstater lost her job after asserting on social media that biological sex is real, immutable and important and that transgender women are not women. She lost her initial tribunal against her employer, with Judge James Tayler deeming her beliefs “not worthy of respect in a democratic society”.
Her loss lead to author JK Rowling tweeting the sentiment
“Dress however you please, Call yourself whatever you like, Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IstandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill”
Maya challenged this ruling and the Employment Appeal Tribunal found her beliefs, and those of many men and women, were Worthy Of Respect In A Democratic Society (WORIADS) and a protected philosophical belief. She went on to win her employment tribunal and became a founding member of the human rights charity Sex Matters. Despite being harassed online & offline (including a mob of activists gathering outside a pub she was drinking in) & being ignored by many human rights lawyers, Maya continues to advocate for the importance of recognising that sex is real and immutable.
The central image is based on the painting Lady With A Fan by Gustav Klimt.
Bev Jackson and Kate Harris
Kate Harris and Bev Jackson founded LGB ALLIANCE in 2019. It emerged due to concerns among LGB activists that transgender rights advocacy was overshadowing and conflicting with issues specific to same-sex attraction.
As soon as LGB Alliance’s formation was announced the group and its founders were threatened, defamed and referred to as a hate group. Despite these challenges, LGB Alliance was registered as a charity in 2021.
Subsequent to this registration, the charity Mermaids, which claims to support transgender children, challenged the Charity Commission’s decision. This was the first ever instance of one charity trying to strip another of its charitable status. The tribunal saw supporters and members of both charities give evidence and submit to cross examination.
In July 2023 the tribunal ruled that Mermaids did not have standing to challenge the registration of LGB Alliance.
The ruling was celebrated by LGB Alliance as a victory, for retaining their charitable status and open debate, as the tribunal was one of the few places where the No Debate mantra of LGBT charities and representatives could not be applied.
LGB Alliance has gone from strength to strength.
The central image is based on an embroidered panel by Margaret Macdonald Makintosh.