[if you would like to add your name to this statement you can email solidarity.for.students@gmail.com or comment below]
We stand in solidarity with NUS LGBT+ Officer Fran Cowling and support their right to choose who they share a platform with according to their own values and beliefs. We believe fundamentally in the right to freedom of speech and association but that both of these carry with them the right to choose to neither speak nor associate with someone and Fran has every right to exercise those rights however they deem fit.
We are appalled at Peter Tatchell’s actions in dragging a dedicated, hard-working and passionate activist through an appalling media circus which has led to them receiving a torrent of vile abuse with no other apparent purpose than to salve his own ego.
We believe that whether Peter Tatchell feels he is racist or transphobic is ultimately irrelevant as none of us is best placed to be an objective judge of our own behaviour and Fran’s decision to listen to the voices of People of Colour and Trans people who have raised issues with his behaviour was the right decision for them to make and should be supported. Whilst also recognising that those opinions are not universal amongst People of Colour and Trans people, nor should there ever be expectation that they would be, because neither group is comprised of identical clones and where differing opinions exist the choice of who to side with remains with the individual.
Fran exercised their right to freedom of speech and association by declining an invitation, they in no way infringed on Peter Tatchell’s being invited to speak or attend the event on the 15th of February as is clearly evidenced by the fact that he both attended and spoke at the event. Equally, Peter Tatchell is not and has never been the subject of no-platform by any part of NUS.
We believe his claims that either of these things is the case to be deliberately misleading and gives the impression that the sole purpose of his actions has been to punish Fran for their, entirely justifiable, choice not to engage with him. In a person of his age and standing his actions seem childish in the extreme.
We offer Fran our support and solidarity and we stand in defence of their right to speak or associate (or not) with whoever they want without fear of bullying and victimisation.
Signed,
Charley Hasted – NUS LGBT+ Committee (FE Rep), Liberal Youth (Welfare and Access Co-Officer – Personal Capacity)
Sarah Noble – NUS LGBT+ Committee (Women’s Place), LGBT+ Liberal Democrats (Committee Member – Personal Capacity)
Marcus Connolly – NUS Wales LGBT+ Committee (Bi* Rep)
Aimee Challenor – Chair of LGBTIQ Greens
Tobias Wolf – Staffordshire University Students’ Union LGBT+ Network Chair
Noorulann Shahid – NUS LGBT+ Committee (Black Rep – Open place)
Rhiannon Llewellyn – NUS Disabled Students’ Campaign (FE Rep)
Anna Lee – NUS NEC, NUS Women’s Committee (Trans Rep)
Lauren Tapp
Poppy Hasted – Disability Rights Blogger
Elly Hadaway – Musician
Laura Lunn-Bates
Sasha Garwood
Lee-Anne Lawrance – LGBTIQ Greens Committee, South East Young Greens Co-Convenor, Chair and Environmental Officer at UCA Surrey Student Council
Molly Arthurs – Co-chair of Young Greens LGBTIQA and LGBTIQ Greens Campaigns Coordinator
Shelly Asquith – NUS VP for Welfare
Luke Allan – Sheffield Hallam Students’ Union LGBT+ Students Representative & NUS delegate
Nathan Windass – UBU (University of Bradford Students Union) LGBT+ Officer
Sarah Balgarnie – NUS Scotland LGBT+ Committee Member (FE Rep)
Tommy Snipe – NUS LGBT+ Committee (Open place)
Elizabeth ‘egg’ Goddard
Manishta Sunnia – E&D Coordinator for the Green Party
Mostafa Rajaai – NUS International Students’ Officer
Piers Talemacque – NUS VP for Society and Citizenship
Maddy Kirkman – NUS Disabled Students’ Officer
Alice Clark
Zach Brooks – Tennis player/ Level 2 LTA Tennis Coach
Sarah Brown
Rosie Ellingham- former LGBT rep at Bradford, LGBT youth worker
Andy Harmon – Campaigns Officer, MMU LGBT
Claire Brown
Lucy Morgan, Gender Equality Officer Newcastle
Arkady Rose – Artist
Carlus Hudson
Mahamid Ahmed – NUS Postgraduate Taught Representative
Ashley Reed – University of York Trans* Convener
Sorana Vieru – NUS VP for Higher Education
Shelly Harris – Diversity Officer, Marjon SU
Annie Cupit – LGBT Officer UoL SU
Liam D. – Trans and Bisexual Writer/Activist
Rachel O’Brien – Disabled Rep, UoB Women’s Association
C Beeson – Graduate, Royal Holloway University
Roz Kaveney
Robert Earp – Welfare Rep, UoR LGBT+
Susuana Amoah – NUS Women’s Officer
Elliott Reed – former LGBT Officer, UoN
Marc Long – LGBT+ committee, Heriot Watt Uni
Francis Myerscough – University of South Wales
Ruth Pearce
Lea Howard
Seonaid Deuchar – Honorary Life Member, University of Nottingham SU/ Ex-Comms Manager UoN Feminists
Lani Baird – SEC Member, NUS Scotland/ Queen Margaret University
Mark Newman
Sean Nicol
Jennifer Krase
Nathan Cox
Indigo Wilde – Oxford University
Connie Wilkinson – LGBT+ Officer, Bradford College SU
Elliot Folan – Chair of the UEA SU LGBT+ Caucus
Malia Bouattia – NUS Black Students Officer
Matt Broomfield – journalist, current City University student, former Oxford University student
Adam Ladley
Stuart Nayton
Amrit Singh – Freedom Without Fear Platform
Alison Phipps – Director of Gender Studies, Sussex University
James Motteram – Former Comms Manager UoN Feminists
Lily-Rose Lenton – Lay Student Counsellor, Northumbria Students Union
Lucas North – University of York Trans* Convenor, Goodricke College JCRC Officer
Jasper Williams – Bangor University transgender student representative
Catherine Kelly – OUSU LGBTQ Officer
Kevin O’Neill – Founder, Bears Against Bigotry (Personal Capacity)
Natalie James – Women’s Officer, UCLU
Krissie Pearse
J Smith – Equality Rep for Northumbria Students Union
Stef Newton
Fiona Wood – Disabled Student’s Chair, Staffordshire University
Morgan Hale – Trans Rep, NUS LGBT+ Committee
Kai Williams-Dowell, Equalities Officer for Sexuality, UoL LGBTQA+
Cameron North-Bates
Davide Bertelli – UPSU (Plymouth) VP International and Outreach
John Band – former LGBT officer, Merton (Oxford)
Chris Hubley – Artist/Activist
Afton Tock
ACT UP London
Felix O’Connor
Joanna Gower, Durham LGBT+ Association President
Tara Hewitt
Karen Aitchison
Heather Armstrong – NUS Scotland Disabled Students Officer
Dorian Stripe – Disabled Students Officer, University of Manchester Student’s Union
Jess Bradley – Action for Trans Health – Director
Loz Webb – Action for Trans Health – Director
Rohan Beck – Action for Trans Health Manchester
Seb Symons – Queer of the Unknown
Joanne Mason
João Florêncio
Helen Combie
Zelda Violet Star
Alice Bradnack
Lucy Curry – University of Exeter, Trans and LGBT+ NUS delegate, Liberation Officer, VP FemSoc
Wil Jarvis – Welfare and Diversities Officer of Exeter University Green Party Society
Rachael Melhuish – Cardiff University Student Union’s Women’s Officer & NUS Wales Women’s Committee
Jake John Ellis
I offer my support to Fran thinking of her. That man should not be given a platform to speak or be heard.
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Solidarity ! You have been representing all those people who cant stand up for themselves because they aren’t as strong as you! Do not let this man deter you from the great work you are doing and currently have done in the past for all the LGBT+ students out there. Making student life for everyone who defines as LGBT+ that bit easier!
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Solidarity for Fran ❤
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Sasha Garwood
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Please add my name!
Molly Arthurs, co-chair of Young Greens LGBTIQA and LGBTIQ Greens campaigns coordinator
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Please add me 🙂 – Elizabeth ‘egg’ Goddard
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Hi! I’m not a current student, but I’ve been appalled by this and would like to sign the statement as a former University of Nottingham Students’ Union LGBT Officer who worked closely with Fran.
Elliott Reed
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Tennis player/ Level 2 LTA Tennis Coach
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I feel terrible for what Fran has and still is going through. Please accept my sincere apologies and uttermost solidarity.
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Would love to be a signatory, thanks ❤
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Please add my name.
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Mahamid Ahmed – NUS Postgraduate Taught Representative
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I support Fran.
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I offer my support and my name to this statement
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Not a student anymore but solidarity all the same.
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I lived with Fran for several years, during their time as an activist for UoN LGBT network, seeing them flourish to the position they are at today. I’ve never met anyone more dedicated to furthering the positive work being done for LGBT+ people, and supportive of those who wish to learn more about them. This whole issue is thoroughly repulsive, and blatant bullying. Solidarity Fran, ❤
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Concur. Love and solidarity ❤
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me!
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Matt Broomfield- journalist, current City University student, former Oxford University student. absolute solidarity to Fran – history is on their side and I’m so sorry for what they’re going through atm.
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Adam Ladley: The mauling that Fran has got in the media has been so unfair. Please add me to the statement as well.
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Amrit Singh from Freedom Without Fear Platform has asked to be added 🙂
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Thanks very much for doing this – please add my name.
Alison Phipps, Director of Gender Studies, Sussex University
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sign me up please – James Motteram, Former Comms Manager UoN Feminists
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The notion that Peter Tatchell has been in any way silenced is clearly ludicrous. Please add me to this statement in full solidarity with Fran. Kevin O’Neill – Founder Bears Against Bigotry – personal capacity
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Please add my name – Natalie James, UCLU Women’s Officer.
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Wholeheartedly agree with this could you please add J Smith Equality Rep for Northumbria Students Union
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Would like to show my support by adding my name.
Davide Bertelli – UPSU (Plymouth) VP International and Outreach
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Agree completely with this – John Band, former LGBT officer – Merton (Oxford)
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Please add my name! Chris Hubley – Artist/Activist xx
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[…] Check out this statement of solidarity written by members of the NUS […]
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Solidarity with Fran!
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In support of Fran Best Wishes
ACT UP LONDON
Thousands of Aids Charity Money used by rich to gagg community into silence
COVER UP
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I support Fran
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Please add my name! Solidarity with Fran!
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And mine – Joanna Gower, Durham LGBT+ Association President
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This statement is based on two major inaccuracies.
I have never said that I was no-platformed. In fact, I said that I was NOT no-platformed.
Some journalists and commentators incorrectly said I was no-platformed. Please take that up with them. Don’t blame me for their inaccurate reporting.
I have consistently said that Fran has a right to NOT share a platform with me. I have never objected to her deciding to not speak along side me. I said it is her human right to NOT participate in meetings where I am present.
I would be grateful if you would please correct the statement to reflect the reality of what I have said.
MY sole objection is Fran’s false allegation of racism and transphobia. She declined my request to offer evidence. For nearly three weeks I emailed Fran politely seeking a private. amicable settlement. Fran ignored my friendly overtures.
Thank you.
Best wishes, Peter
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Peter,
You say that the accusation that you had been no platformed is a press inaccuracy, however, as you were the instigator of that press interest, unless you can evidence a timely effort by yourself to correct this inaccuracy, which you had the power to do as there is nothing preventing you from sending an email even if those responsible for the articles declined to change the text, it is our contention that you have at least tacitly encouraged and endorsed this viewpoint, and therefore without this evidence our original statement will stand unchanged.
Sarah, on behalf of the Solidarity Team
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[…] Full text here, shared here in solidarity. […]
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As a diversity consultant and Trans woman I offer my support Please add me as a supporter. Fran I know was standing up for those who dont have the privlege of Peter Tatchell’s media platform. The treatment they have recieved by Peter and others in the press has been a total disgrace and example of people using their privege to oppress others they find their views difficult to hear.
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100% behind Fran. You did not deserve this.
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I also stand in solidarity with Fran
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Please add my solidarity to this letter. Dorian Stripe, Disabled Students Officer, University of Manchester Student’s Union.
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Glad to stand in solidarity with Fran. Tatchell’s well supported bullying of Fran is inexcusable.
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Happy to have my name added. Absolutely horrified to see tatchell abuse his white cis male privilege and status as a minor celebrity to attack and get his supporters to bully and harass a young queer student simply for calling him out on his transphobia and islamophobia.
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I’d love to have my name added to this, thanks
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Alice Bradnack, sorry
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Solidarity!
Please add my name 🙂 Lucy Curry, University of Exeter, Trans and LGBT+ NUS delegate, Liberation Officer, VP FemSoc
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Throwing your toys out of the cot doesn’t always help Peter!
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I also stand in solidarity as Welfare and Diversities Officer of Exeter University Green Party Society
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