Janet Murray
@jan_murray • 43,539 subscribers
Freelance journalist | Writing on women, culture & public policy | Director @JournalismSEEN | Promoting accurate, impartial reporting on sex & gender
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Hideous transphobia, according to Big Brother viewers. What actually happens? Posh female housemate tells everyone her mum is a “trans ally”. And that the government is ‘obsessed with genitals.’ Male housemate asks, reasonably, what she would do about women who feel uncomfortable sharing intimate spaces with men who identify as women. Another female housemate pipes up that this would make her uncomfortable. Posh female housemate responds by lecturing everyone about kindness, inclusion and “community”. Posh male housemate nods along. Camp Scouse male housemate appears to be trying to work out which side of the argument he is supposed to be on. Gay male housemate doesn’t seem especially bothered. Another male housemate looks like he’s trying not to roll his eyes. And somehow the scandal is that somebody mentioned women might have boundaries.
Janet Murray193,989 Aufrufe • vor 17 Tagen
I've been sitting on the evidence for this Girlguiding story since March. Even then, it took months to persuade a mainstream publication to cover this aspect of the investigation. For an independent journalist, pursuing a story like this without the backing of a national newspaper's legal team carries obvious risks. But I persisted because I believe there is a strong public interest in asking whether organisations entrusted with the care of girls are putting safeguarding first. This investigation involved months of conversations, verification and painstaking work. Unsurprisingly, some people have suggested that concerns about these issues are exaggerated. That is why I'm sharing some of the publicly available material I found online. To be absolutely clear, there is no suggestion that this individual has done anything wrong. Indeed one could argue he has also been failed by a system that affirmed and accepted him as a Girlguiding leader and later appointed him to a 16-person advisory committee - apparently without sufficient scrutiny of his suitability for the role. The greater failure, however, was towards the girls and women who should never have been expected to accept males in a single-sex organisation. I hope this story helps explain why many women believe this debate has never simply been about being "kind". It is about safeguarding, boundaries and whose interests are prioritised. I'm grateful to everyone who helped bring this story to light, including women who spoke to me privately and helped with research. And Graham Linehan who reminded me how important it was to tell this story. And I do think we should ask why it was so difficult to secure national coverage of a story that many people would regard as being firmly in the public interest.
Janet Murray1,057,277 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten
If you’re doing the Great North Run tomorrow, do be aware there are no dedicated women’s toilets in the start area. According to guidance emailed to runners yesterday, men’s urinals will be provided in two areas. Women get holes in the ground to squat over - in one area - which can also be used by men. PEEQUAL open-air squat urinals are apparently “designed for women, trans women, AFAB and non-binary runners.” So men get dedicated men’s urinals. The 'women's urinals' can be used by both men and women. As the video shows, these so-called “women’s urinals” involve squatting over an open-air unit, with used sanitary products disposed of in a bag hanging from the side. Apparently PEEQUAL has proved popular at music festivals. But this isn’t Glastonbury. It’s a major running event involving thousands of women, of all ages - some of whom will be menstruating, changing sanitary protection or simply wanting privacy before a half marathon. Were any women consulted about this? Were they asked whether they were comfortable having no dedicated female-only toilet provision, while men were given their own urinals? #GreatNorthRun2026
Janet Murray244,075 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
I went along to the Girlguiding protest this afternoon against the “boy ban” which comes into force tomorrow following last year’s Supreme Court ruling. Having covered trans activism within Girlguiding for the Telegraph, it was slightly surreal seeing some of the activists in person. It was also possibly the first protest involving trans activists I’ve attended where nobody told me to f**k off. The event was very well organised: no abusive placards*, no swearing and everyone impeccably polite. There was face painting and colouring, bubbles and glitter. And then the singing. I mean, how many protests have you been to where women start singing what sounded like campfire songs in harmony? Only most seemed to include some variation of the refrain: “trans girls are girls”. I introduced myself as a journalist and asked whether anyone might be willing to speak to me. Initially, I thought someone might. Then I suspect word got around that I was THAT journalist. Things became a tiny bit more hostile - mostly people standing in front of my camera and waving flags. This was particularly noticeable when Petra Wenham spoke about how painful it was no longer to be able to belong to the Women’s Institute. Wenham is the male trans activist who famously appeared on the cover of the WI’s membership magazine. I stayed around afterwards hoping one of the Girlguiding activists might speak to me. Apparently not. Another freelance journalist seemed rather more welcome and was busy interviewing people. There is much more to say about what I saw and heard today, and I’ll do that in a longer piece. But I left with an overwhelming sense of sadness. More to follow. *Well maybe apart from this one?!
Janet Murray231,353 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
Listen to this gay man explain why gender identity ideology can undermine the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and straight people. He argues that nobody should be pressured to include people in their dating pool if they don't align with their sexual orientation. Nor should anyone be labelled homophobic, biphobic, transphobic - or anything else - simply for stating their sexual boundaries. He also explains how the steady expansion of gender identity categories can gradually erode social and safeguarding boundaries, shifting what people feel able to question or challenge. It wasn't so long ago that saying "trans women are women" or "women can have penises" would have been regarded as extraordinary. Today, those ideas are repeated by governments, public bodies and influential institutions. That's why language matters. It doesn't just describe reality. Over time, it shapes what society comes to accept. Which can, ultimately, be dangerous.
Janet Murray279,047 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
This gentleman says he will continue to use women’s single-sex spaces in public settings. Despite knowing it is lawful and legitimate for service providers to exclude him. Why? Because he believes he is entitled to be there. And because he thinks minimum-wage staff will eventually get tired of challenging men like him and simply look the other way. Women know this pattern. Some men don’t accept “no”. They keep pushing boundaries, believing that if they persist for long enough, women will eventually give in. They know how difficult it can be for women to be taken seriously. They know how uncomfortable it is to keep objecting. And they rely on eventually wearing women down. Women warned this would happen. If men were told that calling themselves women gave them access to female spaces, some would push those boundaries as far as they could. This video - and I’ve seen many like it - shows some are still trying to wear women down. Even after the law clarified that service providers can lawfully exclude men from women’s single-sex spaces, they are openly saying they’ll ignore those boundaries. But respecting women’s boundaries shouldn’t be optional.
Janet Murray272,621 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten
Gotta love “inclusive” comedy. Everyone laughs - even when you’re not funny.
Janet Murray198,020 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
A heterosexual young woman is asked why she wouldn’t date a trans man. Her reaction is painful to watch. Because what you’re really watching is someone trying to navigate the pressure - particularly on younger people - to deny biological reality, while also trying desperately not to offend anyone. And this is ‘inclusion’. Apparently.
Janet Murray322,012 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten
This woman - who was in the audience at the BAFTAs on Sunday evening - takes a fair and compassionate stance on the guest with Tourette's shouting a racial slur at two black actors. She provides important context: the audience had been briefed about John Davidson’s Tourette’s and his vocal tics had already been evident earlier in the evening. She also articulates something we don’t hear often enough. Words can cause discomfort. They can hurt. And they can do so for many reasons. But that alone does not make someone “wrong” or prove ill intent. Nor does it justify destroying someone’s reputation. Sometimes we have to hold two truths at once - that harm can be felt and that intent and context still matter. And sometimes we have to set aside our own feelings and consider the needs and vulnerabilities of others. A principle worth remembering in many areas of public life.
Janet Murray340,905 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten
After learning that an anonymous complainant had succeeded in getting my choir dropped from this year’s London Marathon over allegations of both homophobia and transphobia, Charlotte Cadden sent me this video of our soundcheck at the Great Manchester Run. Here we are, spreading hate by singing an ABBA song. 💃🕺 So much blatant homophobia. Right there. I am clearly a Dangerous Woman.
Janet Murray42,432 Aufrufe • vor 26 Tagen
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I’ve always liked Dr Amir Khan. I follow him on TikTok - he seems warm, kind, and clearly adores his mum (“Mama Khan”) - which is usually the sign of a decent guy. But his recent debate with Piers Morgan on ITV's Lorraine show left me cold - and genuinely concerned from a safeguarding perspective. Because Khan - a practising GP: - Says he “identifies” as male (rather than simply is male) - Dodges the question about whether trans women (i.e. biological males) should use women’s toilets - Claims men - not trans women - are the problem when it comes to male violence towards women (seemingly unaware that trans women *are* male) Women cannot know which males pose a risk. So the rule has to be simple: all males stay out of women’s spaces. Women know this. Piers Morgan knows this. Yet Khan - a highly trained medically trained professional - seems unable to grasp this basic common sense. Many women prefer female doctors - particularly for 'women's' issues - but sometimes that just isn’t possible. Which means trust matters even more. But how can women trust a male doctor who can’t clearly say what a woman is - and who appears to think women’s sex-based rights and spaces are less important than men's feelings. Honestly? I’d much rather see a male GP who wasn’t half as “nice” as Khan - but at least knew what a woman was.
Janet Murray417,873 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten
Former Green councillor Matthew Poulton speaking at the recent protests against Girlguiding’s ‘no boys’ policy. This is two minutes of a four minute speech. His microphone is held by what appears to be a guide leader - in uniform. Any parent watching this spectacle would surely think twice about enrolling a little girl or young woman in Girlguiding. Meanwhile the organisation allows this to continue.
Janet Murray239,537 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten
This was the speech I was blocked from seeing at today’s Girlguiding protest. The speaker was Petra Wenham - a man who identifies as a woman who appeared on the cover of the Women’s Institute magazine back in 2021, attracting controversy. Wenham, now in his 70s, told the crowd he’d known he was “different” from the age of four. He described the Supreme Court ruling and subsequent EHRC guidance as “transphobic”, and spoke about the distress of boys who had previously attended Rainbows and Brownies being told they could no longer remain with their friends. At no point did he address the reason for this - that they are biologically male and Girlguiding is, as the name suggests, an organisation for girls. At the end of the speech, he shared his associations with trans activist groups including Translucent and TSECT - Third Sector Against Transphobia - and invited people in the Ipswich area to contact him “through the Guiders”. He then called for Guiders, support groups and Pride organisations to work together: “Together we are one hell of a force.” I’ve added subtitles so you can read what was said. My own view was blocked within around 10–15 seconds. This was a public event. So I couldn’t help wondering why there was such concern about a journalist hearing what was being said.
Janet Murray61,483 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
Watch this smug political commentator get put in his place by GB News presenter Michelle Dewberry Who asked Samuel Sweek FOUR times whether it’s reasonable to expect women to get undressed “in front of a male”. Sweek visibly squirmed - unable to provide an answer - until finally telling Dewberry they would have to 'agree to disagree'. I mean what kind of numpty has to 'agree to disagree' on biological sex? 🫣
Janet Murray181,742 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten
So Katie Hopkins got booted out of a pub during an England match. A crowd of men were chanting “out, out, out” - like something from a medieval town square. I don’t know all the details and perhaps more information will emerge. But if she was simply minding her own business and watching the football, did she deserve to be thrown out because the landlord disagrees with her views? People often talk about bullying and intolerance. So who’s the bully here?
Janet Murray130,852 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
‘They just want the dignity of being confirmed in their sex … or their ‘adopted sex’, if you like.’ I wonder if this is the kind of person the BBC’s Nick Robinson had in mind when he made this comment during a recent BBC Radio 4 interview about the EHRC’s guidance on single-sex spaces. And I wonder whether he realises that, if people were entitled to have their ‘adopted sex’ recognised under equality law, women would be unable to exclude men like this from their changing rooms, toilets and even domestic violence refuges. I also wonder whether he would want that for his wife or daughter. Or feel it was ‘dignified.’
Janet Murray139,440 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
Man explains to women that being female is a ‘performance’.
Janet Murray73,911 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten