LGB VictoryRA apology to artist Jess de Wahls for removing her works for supposed ‘transphobia’. Gender woo woo crowd lost! Usually suspects now trying to cancel the Royal Academy(Lol, founded in 1768, good luck Ayden), with much anger over the Pride flag RA is using. Die mad, b!tches

submitted by Midcentury from (self.LGBDropTheT)

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[–]ArthnoldManacatsaman🇬🇧🌳🟦 17 insightful - 1 fun17 insightful - 0 fun18 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

This is ridiculous.

The Royal Academy clearly has no spine whatsoever and like so many other corporations they are thinking about their bottom line.

It would be one thing if they had stuck to their guns and doubled down on the narrative of transphobia, because then at least they would have stuck to a principle. But no, they bend the knee to one outrage mob and then bend the knee to the anti-outrage outrage mob.

In an interview de Wahls said she has been inundated with orders from elsewhere, clearly from supporters.

If I were here I'd tell them to stick their apology where the sun don't shine, and would encourage other artists to do the same.

[–]SuperGayIsOkay 17 insightful - 1 fun17 insightful - 0 fun18 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

I wouldn't be so quick to burn bridges. It's possible there's multiple groups of people in charge of the decision making at the Royal Academy and there was an intervention by the higher ups about what their correct position was. The initial cries of transphobia may have come from someone with the Royal Academy who had access to their social media accounts, but less authority in terms of decision making.

They fucked up, and admitted they fucked up. This is progress as far as I'm concerned, we're headed in the right direction.

[–]ArthnoldManacatsaman🇬🇧🌳🟦 5 insightful - 9 fun5 insightful - 8 fun6 insightful - 9 fun -  (4 children)

The internet is no place for such reasonable and considered comments!

[–]SuperGayIsOkay 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Hahahah.

Considering how strong the TQ+ lobby is right now in the field of arts, I'm pleasantly surprised by how quickly they smartened up and reversed course on this.

[–]millicentfawcett 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I suspect the reports that Jess was considering legal action focused their minds, especially in light of the Forstater judgement. Had Jess crowdfunded I think she would have raised the costs in a few hours.

[–]SuperGayIsOkay 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yes, I agree. Recent legal precedents almost certainly were a factor in swaying pressure to Jess de Wahls' favor here. This is a very positive sign.

[–]SuperGayIsOkay 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

More drama ensues. Their communication manager apparently put out a hastily deleted tweet signalling the apology is not sincere and essentially to cover their asses: https://twitter.com/LottieHistory/status/1407665112119451650

It's possible the communication manager is at odds with actual executives in charge of decision making at the Royal Academy and that's what caused this, or that the Royal Academy indeed doesn't give a fuck about de Wahls and is in legal damage control mode. Either way, this dude's an idiot and should never work as a comms manager for a company again, ever.

[–]Horror-SwordfishI don't get how flairs work 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

From the article:

“If an artist denied Jewish, black or gay people’s identity, most people would say that the Royal Academy would be right to remove their works from the gift shop. But when Jess denies trans people’s identity, she and other trans critics say that it’s her right to free speech and she should not be penalised. This smacks of double standards.”

Bullshit. "Most people" might say that it's right to remove those works in that case, but that wouldn't make it right. Can't we just let the market decide? If people think this person is so terrible, they can avoid buying her work. That doesn't give them the right to disallow any other person from buying her work.

[–]PatsyStoneMaverique 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

People don't deny that Jews and black people exist.

[–]Midcentury[S] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I don’t deny trans people exist. I just don’t think you can change sex. Obviously some people experience dysphoria, and that is a tragedy, but that doesn’t mean surgery or other medical interventions or completely upending our societies is the answer.

[–]TransspeciesUnicornI sexually identify as a mythical sparkly equine 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I mean, no one really denies that trans people exist, either. We just don't agree that TWAW/TMAM.

[–]Horror-SwordfishI don't get how flairs work 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I mean, yeah, but even if they did, I'd still say it's wrong to forcibly remove their works from being up for sale just because of that reason.

Obviously, a private company can do whatever they want and stock whatever they want in their shops, but just deciding to hurt this artist's livelihood over accusations is not right, regardless of what they're being accused of.

[–]Femaleisnthateful 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

What does it mean to 'deny [insert person here]'s identity? Pretty sure Rachel Dolezal's black identity was roundly denied. Here in Canada, the arts community is on a bender to challenge the identity of anyone who claims to be indigenous without a solid pedigree. Most 'identities' have clear definitions that establish a barrier to entry for those who don't meet the threshold. Why should 'gender' be any different? There's no double standard.

Besides, de Wahl is supportive of people's right to medically transition, or present themselves however they please. She (like JK Rowling, and Maya Forstater), is merely pointing out that 'identity' doesn't alter biological reality and that sex-based rights matter.