Birth coach says only women can have babies, hounded out
Nov 5, 2019 2:02:20 GMT -5
Post by bloodbought on Nov 5, 2019 2:02:20 GMT -5
Birth coach is 'hounded out' of industry charity Doula UK after transgender activists branded her Facebook message claiming only women can have babies 'offensive'
Lynsey McCarthy Calvert, 45, resigned from her spokesperson role at Doula UK
Transgender rights activists triggered an investigation into the mother-of-four
Her 'offensive' Facebook post read: 'I am a woman: an adult human female'
Doula found that the post breached their equality and diversity guidelines
By STEPHEN ADAMS HEALTH CORRESPONDENT FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
PUBLISHED: 18:02 EST, 2 November 2019 | UPDATED: 13:04 EST, 3 November 2019
Lynsey McCarthy-Calvert, 45, was forced into stepping down as spokesperson for Doula UK for saying that only women birth children. A Doula is a trained non-medical companion to guide and help a woman as they give birth
A birth coach has been ‘ostracised’ by her professional organisation after transgender activists branded as offensive a Facebook post in which she said that only women can have babies.
Lynsey McCarthy-Calvert, 45, was forced to stand down as spokesperson for Doula UK and has since resigned altogether from the national organisation for birth coaches. Her exit comes after transgender rights activists triggered an investigation in which Doula UK concluded her message breached its equality and diversity guidelines.
They did not expel the mother- of-four, who has been a doula – who provide continuous support during pregnancy – for six years, but threatened to suspend her unless she deleted the post.
Mrs McCarthy-Calvert did so, but resigned believing Doula UK had ‘acquiesced’ to demands from a small number of activists and failed to stand up for women’s rights.
‘I am angry and sad,’ she said last night. ‘I was effectively ostracised for saying I am a woman and so are my clients.
‘I have been very disappointed by Doula UK’s response. The leadership are paralysed by not wanting to upset transgender rights activists. They have fallen over themselves to acquiesce to their demands.’ The controversy comes after a series of recent victories for transgender activists.
Flora margarine stopped advertising on Mumsnet after the website was accused of being transphobic for hosting a wide range of views on transgender issues. And the makers of Always sanitary towels removed the female ‘Venus’ symbol from packaging after complaints from trans men.
The Doula UK row started after Cancer Research UK dropped the word ‘women’ from its smear test campaign, instead saying screening was ‘relevant for everyone aged 25-64 with a cervix’.
Full story at link
Lynsey McCarthy Calvert, 45, resigned from her spokesperson role at Doula UK
Transgender rights activists triggered an investigation into the mother-of-four
Her 'offensive' Facebook post read: 'I am a woman: an adult human female'
Doula found that the post breached their equality and diversity guidelines
By STEPHEN ADAMS HEALTH CORRESPONDENT FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
PUBLISHED: 18:02 EST, 2 November 2019 | UPDATED: 13:04 EST, 3 November 2019
Lynsey McCarthy-Calvert, 45, was forced into stepping down as spokesperson for Doula UK for saying that only women birth children. A Doula is a trained non-medical companion to guide and help a woman as they give birth
A birth coach has been ‘ostracised’ by her professional organisation after transgender activists branded as offensive a Facebook post in which she said that only women can have babies.
Lynsey McCarthy-Calvert, 45, was forced to stand down as spokesperson for Doula UK and has since resigned altogether from the national organisation for birth coaches. Her exit comes after transgender rights activists triggered an investigation in which Doula UK concluded her message breached its equality and diversity guidelines.
They did not expel the mother- of-four, who has been a doula – who provide continuous support during pregnancy – for six years, but threatened to suspend her unless she deleted the post.
Mrs McCarthy-Calvert did so, but resigned believing Doula UK had ‘acquiesced’ to demands from a small number of activists and failed to stand up for women’s rights.
‘I am angry and sad,’ she said last night. ‘I was effectively ostracised for saying I am a woman and so are my clients.
‘I have been very disappointed by Doula UK’s response. The leadership are paralysed by not wanting to upset transgender rights activists. They have fallen over themselves to acquiesce to their demands.’ The controversy comes after a series of recent victories for transgender activists.
Flora margarine stopped advertising on Mumsnet after the website was accused of being transphobic for hosting a wide range of views on transgender issues. And the makers of Always sanitary towels removed the female ‘Venus’ symbol from packaging after complaints from trans men.
The Doula UK row started after Cancer Research UK dropped the word ‘women’ from its smear test campaign, instead saying screening was ‘relevant for everyone aged 25-64 with a cervix’.
Full story at link