No nationalist would back a proposal for Stormont to host cancelled women's event - MLA
No nationalist politician at Stormont would countersign a proposal to let a women’s rights event take place at Parliament Buildings, a unionist MLA has said.
The Women’s Rights Network (WRN) event was cancelled by the West Belfast Festival after an online campaign by transgender activists, prompting independent MLA Doug Beattie to attempt to secure the Assembly as an alternative venue.
He says there is an attempt by nationalists to “drive a wedge” in the women’s rights movement, which he says is neither “an orange and green issue nor a women only issue”.
Such events at the Assembly require signatories from both nationalist and unionist MLAs, but Mr Beattie says neither he nor WRN could persuade Sinn Fein or SDLP MLAs to lend their support.
Events with which parties may disagree are often backed by individual MLAs in order to ensure reciprocal approvals from across the Assembly chamber for other events, but that did not happen in this case.
The News Letter asked both Sinn Fein and the SDLP why they opposed the event taking place in Parliament Buildings. Neither responded.
Mr Beattie told the News Letter: “The issue of women’s rights are neither an orange and green issue nor a women only issue. It’s an issue of basic rights, safety, dignity and being heard.
“I’m glad the Women’s Rights Network event will go ahead in Belfast but disappointed that I couldn’t get a co-sponsor for it to be held in Stormont.
“It is clear some are trying to drive a wedge in the women’s rights movement. However the WRN NI have support from all sides of society; unionism, nationalism, loyalism and republicanism.
“It will be up to political parties to explain why they can’t support the Women’s Rights Network speaking up for women who make over 50% of our population in Northern Ireland and why they believe their rights are lesser than anyone else’s”.
Last week, WRN agreed with Féile an Phobail to hold their event at an “alternative venue”. It will take place at an undisclosed location in Belfast this morning (Tuesday).
Maya Forstater and Helen Joyce from Sex Matters were among those travelling across the UK and Ireland yesterday to attend.