Whatever happened to Happy Valley?
Monday, 24 April 2023
Update: As one correspondent to the HebWeb has written, "Anyone reading the thread would be struck by the depth of feeling unleashed, yet always in a restrained, well-articulated way. What you've got is an assembly of serious people making serious points. Compare the civility of Hebweb with almost any Twitter or Facebook discussion thread."
Yet, almost unbelievably, we were faced with the threat of legal action if we did not take down or redact Dave Boardman's article and the subsequent discussion.
The choice was to fight the person complaining in court, involving valuable time, resources and considerable stress or to take a step backwards.
The HebWeb believes that nothing Dave Boardman has said, nor the correspondents to the HebWeb Forum, is illegal. Personal attacks and harrassment would just not be tolerated on these pages. This thread has seen an interesting, articulate, sometimes passionate, debate about issues very relevant to our community.
It is outrageous that he and his family, having done so much for our community, should feel compelled to move away. What a loss for us all.
English PEN campaigns to defend the right to free speech and the promotion of literature in the UK.
It campaigns against SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) which are "lawsuits initiated by powerful individuals, with the intent of shutting down acts of public participation, such as public interest journalism, peaceful protest or boycotts, advocacy, whistleblowing, NGOs and academic comments."
PEN argues that "SLAPPs are a serious threat to democracy as they impede the exercise of freedom of expression, assembly and association."
Whatever happened to Happy Valley?
Friday, 14 April 2023
The following is a piece, written by Dave Boardman for the HebWeb, asking what has happened to tolerance in Hebden Bridge.
It saddens me to say that Hebden Bridge is becoming the home of intolerance – and the local Labour Party is leading the way.
When we came to the town in 1999 it was a haven of tolerance, home to an interesting variety of people, attitudes and lifestyles. We'd lived in Oldham and our lesbian friends suffered horrible abuse from their neighbours. It was a joy to see women holding hands in the street here and no-one gave it a second thought. Buddhists, hippies, gay people (mostly women then), anarchists and various others felt at home. A tradition of supporting women's rights was a natural part of the community culture.
But now…
Viv and I spent autumn travelling Europe and North America and got to Australia at the beginning of December in time for summer. Our Adventures in Retirement podcast is available on Spotify and other podcast platforms, and may be accessed from their web page.
Our adventures were cut short when our younger daughter Daisy was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and we flew home immediately. She's had a major operation and thanks to the NHS she appears to be cancer free.
Toxic storm of intolerance
However, we didn't realise we were also flying into a toxic storm of intolerance regarding our other daughter Cathy.
After being targeted by some students, bullied and threatened with violence, the college she worked at, BIMM Institute Manchester, sacked her, rather than taking action against fee paying students. That's neoliberal education for you.
Unfair dismissal and discrimination
She is taking BIMM to an industrial tribunal – an expensive process – and has a Crowd Justice page to help fund her legal costs. Read about her appeal here: Support Lecturers and Respect Students.
Support event forced to cancel
A group of women organised a private event in Todmorden as a women-only disco to help with her appeal. When we got back to what used to be lovely Hebden Bridge we discovered that a campaign was in place to have the event cancelled – which it was I won't name the venue Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id
It seems that some people don't think women should be allowed to invite other women to a private event. Rather foolishly, someone had put it up on Facebook, so it became known. Those who were against it Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Oh, how I miss the days when people would be willing to discuss issues.
We were shocked that such intolerance should be taking pace in our once lovely town, ironically known to the world as part of 'Happy Valley'. We were further shocked Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque
Councillor refuses to discuss the issue
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Accused of 'harrassment' and 'libel'.
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.Blocked from "contacting my own representative'
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Intolerance tied to refusal to take responsibility is a disgrace.
Dave Boardman Quizmaster
Over the last 20 or so years I had helped the Labour Party in the area raise funds by organising and presenting quiz nights at the Trades Club (this is nothing to do with the Trades by the way), so I contacted people in the Labour Party who I liaised with over the quiz nights.
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Career ruined
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Whatever the outcome of the tribunal Cathy is unlikely to get a job in higher education again, so her career is ruined anyway. Her 'sin' can be largely summed up by saying there is a difference between natal women and others.
Anyone who has ever used the terms 'cis women' and 'transwomen' has also identified a difference but how many of them have lost their careers for doing so?
Kathleen Stock at Sussex University, journalists EJ Rosetta, Hadley Freeman, Suzanne Moore, civil servant Maya Forstater and at the Arts Council Denise Fahmy have all been targeted by people who claim to be support LGBTQIA+ rights, when they are behaving appallingly to women, feminists, lesbians and, quite frankly, anyone who has a slightly different viewpoint to theirs or who wants to discuss and debate rather than close down issues.
EJ Rosetta was commissioned to write about JK Rowling's alleged transphobia. After three months of research she hadn't found any overtly transphobic comments. She hasn't worked for Pink News since. JK Rowling transphobic? See JK Rowling transphobic? How I went from spreading this false narrative to seeing right through it by EJ Rosetta
Let me make it clear that I don't believe I have ever discriminated against anyone who has been through or is going though transition from one sex to another. In fact I admire their commitment to what they feel is necessary. My argument here is not in opposing to their decisions, it is in opposition to intolerance about discussion and varying views.
I have had a good relationship with Happy Valley Pride and have no problems with that organisation. I believe in full clothing rights and it is appalling if a man in a frock feels uncomfortable in public spaces. I have stood next to men who lift up their skirts to use the urinal – and good for them.
Women's space and rules
But I don't know why is it always women's spaces and rules that have to change whether it is in the showers, toilets, sports, prisons or women's section of the Labour Party. Women have fought long and hard for rights that some people think can be taken over by others.
Allowing men to say, 'I'm a woman now' undermines everything women have fought for, yet women are made to suffer. Statistics about how badly women are treated become meaningless when anyone can be part of them. For supporting women's rights as I always have done, I am now called transphobic - a tactic that is used to intimidate and shut down debate.
It does no favours to anyone, including transfolk. To anyone who wants to stop debate and discussion I say that I am not being intimidated out of speaking up. When the police came to my house, I told them that if they think, a lad from Liverpool is going to be intimidated by a couple of Yorkshire coppers then they haven't been taking notice for the last 34 years. There is a huge difference between being intimidated and being pissed off.
Intolerance of women and women's rights is becoming a core part of our once lovely community. Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque Our civic leaders are destroying what we once had. I no longer raise funds via quiz nights for the Labour Party.
Since this started many women in the valley – some in the Labour Party which is still home to some good people - have congratulated me for defending my daughter. Many women have said they are scared to speak up these days for fear of intimidation and being targeted like Cathy and the others have been, even fear for their jobs and livelihood. I have been shocked by how many. I am not a spokesman for the women of the valley but since my daughter has been targeted I have increasing empathy for their situation.
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Perhaps before you vote you should ask candidates if they support this intolerance. Cllrs Sarah Courtney and Richard Needham did ask me how we could resolve this issue. Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam voluptatum quibusdam itaque suscipit provident veritatis rem quod laudantium laborum a. Asperiores suscipit fugiat autem eum quaerat.
Et odio earum quos vero illo fugit velit quasi ut distinctio numquam accusamus quidem quia. Error et sint non quidem repellat itaque id deserunt et quisquam nesciunt et eos mollitia aspernatur. Sint veniam
The safe haven of Hebden Bridge no longer exists. Now, when I see two women holding hands I think: "I hope they don't say out loud that women's sports should just be for women" in case they get targeted too. Tolerance, discussion and acceptance of others feels so last millennium.
We loved our time in Hebden Bridge but when the town's civic leaders treat our family with contempt then it's time to try another town … Our house is up for sale.
Dave Boardman
Links
HebWeb Forum discussion of this article
Crowd-funding page: Support Lecturers and Respect Students
We try to make sure that information on the Hebden Bridge Web is correct, but if you are aware of any errors or omissions, please email us.
If you have comments on HebWeb News or Features please make a contribution to our Discussion Forum