Response to the statement from Birthrights
On Saturday 10th July 2021 I published a blog post about the online bullying and harassment I experienced in November 2020 and the role that the organisation Birthrights took at this time. My story was subsequently covered in the Sunday Times on 11th July 2021.
My hope was that Birthrights would publicly apologise to me and that this would improve the current climate of fear and silencing of women, particularly in the world of maternity. However, on 12th July 2021, they instead issued an inaccurate statement to which I would like to respond.
Before I start, I would like to be clear about language. When advocating for female reproductive rights, it’s important that we use sex based language. By sex based language I mean that when we use the word woman, for example, we are clear that we are using it in a sexed sense, and that we therefore mean female people.
In their statement, Birthrights falsely claim that I ‘disputed obstetric violence could happen to trans or non binary people’. This is an appalling misrepresentation, and suggests I have no respect for trans people or that I would not care if they were the victim of violence. It is not a claim I have ever made, or ever would make. Of course a trans or non binary person could experience violence or abuse or disrespect in their birth experience. But if it’s truly obstetric violence (rather than hate or discrimination grounded in their gender reassignment), it’s happening to them because they are having a baby and therefore biologically female. Obstetric violence is violence against women – and, just to repeat - by women I mean I people of the female sex.
Birthrights also claim that I have made ‘multiple posts’ on social media that ‘undermine trans people’s identity’ and ‘cause distress in the LGBTQ community’. This is completely false, I have not made such posts, and Birthrights have not given any evidence to substantiate this claim.
In their statement Birthrights also falsely claim that they contacted me privately after I made the comments on social media in November that obstetric violence is violence against women. In fact, their first response, during the first evening in which I was under attack from hundreds of defamatory posts on social media, was to create their own post about ‘Inclusion’. This post did not name me but it was explicitly clear to everyone involved that they were referring to me. This post effectively ‘rubber stamped’ the actions of a vicious group of bullies, legitimising their actions and making the situation much worse.
A few hours after the post they emailed me to say that they would no longer work with me. I have documented the chain of events in my original blog about this. Our communications comprised a total of 4 emails (2 each), which I have not published. My second email to them was the final of those four, they did not reply and I had no communication with them until recently, when I sent them a Subject Access Request (SAR). (A SAR is a request for any information held about you by an organisation, under the Data Protection Act)
It was only when I told them that I was thinking of going public with my story, that they did not apologise as I had hoped, but instead suggested I make a formal complaint. Prior to that, eight months had passed in which they did not contact me and showed no concern for my welfare whatsoever. In their statement they falsely claim that I ‘chose not to take the route’ of a complaint, when, in fact, I had told them that I was reflecting on whether or not to do so. I have emails to prove this and to show that they clearly stated that if I chose to make a complaint it would not affect my freedom to tell my story or publish our correspondence.
I have now received two further emails from Birthrights, the first on 12th July stating that the route of a formal complaint is no longer open to me because (we), “do not believe any complaint from you would be made in good faith and we consider our relationship with you at an end.” The second email, on 19th July, responds to my SAR, and states that they will no longer fulfil this request in regards any information pertaining to the events of November. They state that they have a legal right to withhold this information, because there is a risk that I may publish it and ‘subject their staff to abuse’.
This situation causes me great distress. Birthrights are an organisation I wholeheartedly support and their work is vital. But I cannot understand their behaviour in this matter. I made the SAR because I suspected that there were discussions behind the scenes that unfairly represented me, and that might perhaps explain why a highly regarded charity got involved in a social media bunfight and fired off ‘cancellation’ emails at 11pm at night. The fact that they are now refusing to fulfil my SAR suggests perhaps that my hunch was correct, and that they are now trying to cover up unprofessional or unkind behaviour. If they have nothing to hide, why would they withhold the data?
A simple apology and an acknowledgement that they went beyond their remit in November, would have been all that was required to end this situation, and also to give a message of true ‘inclusivity’ and show that they support everyone, even those with differing views or beliefs. Instead they have made a statement full of false claims that seem to seek to further smear my reputation. This has real life consequences with those in the birth industry feeling unable to recommend my books, but it goes beyond my livelihood - I have so far received two death threats. I am deeply disappointed and seeking legal advice.
You can read my original post here: