The last lot of us defeated right wing homophobia, this generation will defeat left wing homophobia. Both of them call us Queers and neither cares very much if we are insulted. Both practice conversion therapy, one by prayer, the other by gender. Both do homophobic violence,… — Dennis Noel Kavanagh (@Jebadoo2) April 1, 2024 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js…

Well then: Rishi Sunak has backed JK Rowling after she challenged Scottish police to use the SNP’s new hate crime laws to arrest her for her views on transgender issues. The Harry Potter author had said she was looking forward to being arrested after describing a series of transgender women as men on the day…

“What's the wound to lesbianism, if the category of women is expanded to include transwomen? What’s the wound?” 😡 🤯 Judith Butler needs help w/a question@my_real_name @akabeth10 @Alisonellis27 @KnotsReeta @Docstockk @Aja02537920@LesbianOwl33 @formerleftwingr @HeidiBrionesq pic.twitter.com/2WwkOQgfaS — WomenAreReal (@WomenAreReals) April 1, 2024 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js The "wound", as everyone knows but she pretends not to, is that men can't…

As noted in the Telegraph, JK Rowling has been busy tweeting (Xing?): JK Rowling has challenged Scotland’s police to arrest her under the SNP’s new hate crime laws after stating that a series of high-profile trans women are men. The Harry Potter author, who lives in Edinburgh, tweeted: “Freedom of speech and belief are at…

Iain Macwhirter in the Times on Scotland's new Hate Crime Act: [M]ake no mistake, the Hate Crime Act is a new law. It creates for the first time a standalone crime of “stirring up hatred” against people with the protected characteristics of, among other things “transgender identity”. What constitutes “stirring up” is never made clear.…

John Collier, November 1942. "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (vicinity). Westland coal mine. 'Mantrip' going into a drift mine." [Photo: Shorpy/John Collier for the Office of War Information]

From the National Organisation for Women – "the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the United States".  Repeat after us: Weaponizing womenhood against other women is white supremacist patriarchy at work. Making people believe there isn't enough space for trans women in sports is white supremacist patriarchy at work. https://t.co/SacFuIgpPd — National NOW (@NationalNOW)…

More from the extensive Café Royal Books catalogue. This time we're in Lancashire, with Dragan Novaković: [Photos © Cafe Royal Books/Dragan Novaković]

Arty Morty – The Hole Where Gay Rights Used to Be: Comparing yesterday’s gay rights movement to today’s trans rights movement is like comparing Jaws to Jaws 2: the first was an unprecedented phenomenon, a masterpiece, and a blockbuster. The second is a cheap knockoff greedily churned out to exploit the market the first one created. […] Progressives…

An interesting article in today's Sunday Times from Dominic Lawson, who comes to his late father Nigel's defence after the man's record as chancellor was trashed by Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves in her recent Mais lecture (here). Reeves, though, extolled one figure above all, who was associated with that period: the Cambridge economist Joan…