source - http://sisyphe.org/article.php3?id_article=5098 -
Open letter to rabble.ca - Support Meghan Murphy suffered a misogynist campaign by the sex industry lobby
11 mai 2015
par
To : The Editors, Publishers, Founders and Editorial Board – rabble.ca
– To add your signature, send email with your full name, organization, city, province and country at this address : lastwaver@gmail.com.
We, the undersigned, wish to express our deep dissatisfaction with rabble’s response* to the recent attacks on Meghan Murphy.
In past weeks, Meghan Murphy has become the target of a vicious and focused attack that we believe is aimed not only at her—as the most visible voice of a set of feminist principles with which we broadly agree—but at women in general and feminists specifically.
This attack—sparked by an article at Playboy magazine and a petition inspired by the Men’s Rights Movement and women who are known for their promotion of the sex industry—focuses nominally on a brief piece written by Murphy in response to nude photos published of a trans woman named Laverne Cox. Her piece criticized the notion that the publication of highly sexualized, pornographic photographs of a woman or trans woman is “empowering.” We see no fair basis upon which the piece can be characterized as “transphobic.” Moreover, the definition of “transphobia” is, like its partner in discourse, “whorephobia,” a subject of debate. For those of us who still adhere to democratic standards and principles of fair journalism, it is disturbing to see critique converted to “phobia/personal attack” resulting in an end to rational discussion.
Given that there is no reasonable argument that Murphy’s article discriminates against or is disrespectful to trans people, it is our belief that the breadth and vitriol of the attack on her and the ideas she articulates is rooted in a broader attempt to marginalize and inevitably silence women and feminists who agree with her political views—and ours.
As evidenced by her work at Feminist Current and at rabble, Murphy has taken a principled, feminist position in opposition to the institutionalization of women’s oppression and exploitation through prostitution and in support of the goal of the abolition of prostitution beginning with the criminalization of the men in charge of the prostitution industry—pimps and traffickers—and the consumers of women’s bodies—johns.
There has been, and is, deep division across many constituencies with respect to this issue, accompanied by a concerted effort from the sex industry and those on the sex industry bandwagon—often including women—to attack, smear, stalk, harass and threaten any woman—or man—who threatens the flow of cash streaming from women’s backs into the pockets of exploiters. In our view rabble has consistently supported, published and given wide berth to these voices at the expense of reasoned argument, debate and discussion, rather than articulate a principled stand on the issue.
The one ray of light at rabble on feminist issues and prostitution is Meghan Murphy. Unlike many in the pro-prostitution, anti-feminist, and transactivist movements, Murphy depends on analysis and reasoned argument in articles she has written at Feminist Current and rabble. Her detractors have failed to actually engage with the arguments Murphy makes. Instead they favour vicious, personal attacks and astroturfing. These attacks now threaten her employment and career, not only at rabble, but elsewhere.
As women and feminists who depend on Murphy’s integrity as a journalist and her ability to think and write analytically and lucidly, this is of deep concern to us. We support her and we vehemently oppose the effort to silence her public voice.
But the issue goes beyond Murphy herself to the principles of journalism, democracy and the valorization of public speech for a wide variety of otherwise marginalized voices. It is obvious that we live in difficult political times wherein there is deep polarization across many political divides and within oppressed communities with respect to political and “cultural” issues. While it may not be possible for rabble to take a principled position on each and every issue, we, your readers, demand that at the very least you provide an environment wherein reasoned discussion is encouraged and ad hominem attack is not tolerated.
Many of the blog and opinion pieces you have sponsored have not met that basic expectation. Personal attack against certain voices appears to be encouraged, thus legitimizing the kind of vicious campaign levelled against Meghan Murphy and her supporters. By not taking a firm stand and making a clear statement in support of Murphy’s journalism, published in your own digital pages and appreciated by a broad spectrum of women, feminists, and male supporters of feminist principles, you are implicated in the current witch hunt. rabble thus harms not only Meghan Murphy both personally and professionally, but also stifles public discussion of complex and difficult issues that are simply not covered adequately in mainstream media.
We believe that rabble has a responsibility to affirm its commitment to giving the voices of the largest class of oppressed humanity—women, and most especially Indigenous women, women of colour and women living in poverty —a hearing and a public forum for principled debate. We would like to see a new statement that acknowledges that rabble accepts its responsibility to act with professional and political integrity in the treatment of its staff, its writers, and the national and global feminist movement.
Yours truly,
* Rabble.ca, May 5, 2015.
– To add your signature, send email with your full name, city, province and country at this address : lastwaver@gmail.com.
– Version française http://sisyphe.org/spip.php?article5097.
– Others versions here.ORGANIZATIONS :
Feministas of Canada S.A.N.T.A.S. (Uruguay – Argentina – Spain) Mujeres de AgrupaciÛn Lucretia Barredes (Uruguay) Lunas Lesbianas Feministas (Mexico) The Störenfriedas, German Blogger Group Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter WoLF ( Women’s Liberation Front) Deep Green Resistance ROSE (Remember our Sisters Everywhere) CATWA (Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Australia) CLES (Concertation des luttes contre l’exploitation sexuelle) LAWC (London Abused Women’s Centre), London, ON Women Fight Back, Vancouver Island, BC Newfoundland and Labrador Feminists and Allies The Resist Collective, Vancouver, BC NorMAC (Nordic Model in Australia Coalition) Collective Shout Australia Persons Against Non-State Torture EVE (formerly Exploited Voices now Educating) Sisyphe.org Le collectif d’aide aux femmes exploitées sexuellement, Le CAFES CATW-Asia Pacific.
INDIVIDUALS :
Alena Nikole, WoLF Alexandra Pelletier, Montreal, Quebec Ali Bee, Norwich, UK Amanda Thornhill, Parrish, FL, USA Ana Popovic, Montréal, QC, community organiser Andrea Stumpf, Vancouver, BC Angie Conroy, Cambodia Anna Fisher, London, UK. Anna Hoheide, Blogger Anne Pyterek, Crestone, Colorado Anne-Marie Bilodeau, avocate retraitée, Montréal, QC Aoife Emily Hart, Vancouver, BC Betty Qi, Stouffville, ON Bo Novak, Bath, England Bonhomme Fannie,Montauban, FRANCE Brigitte Tucker, Australia Carol Hanisch, Ellenville, NY, USA Caroline Laplante, animatrice en art collectif, Québec Caroline Werner, LISA Wiesbaden, DIE LINKE (german left party) Cassaundra Blythe, Havelock, ON Catherine Weiss, Melbourne, Australia Cathryn Atkinson, Squamish, BC Celia A. Nord, Chase, BC Chantale Caron, directrice générale, Centre de prévention du suicide Pierre-de-Saurel, Québec Cheryl Lynn Bergen BSW, RSW, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Chloe Gustella, Melbourne, Australia Chris Cherry, Writer and Former Communications Director, SC Democratic Women’s Council Chris Hedges, Journalist, Princeton, NJ, USA Chris McDowell, Vancouver, BC for ROSE (Remember Our Sisters Everywhere) Christine Boyle, Q.C., Professor Emeritus, Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia Claire Young, Professor Emerita, Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia Colette Price Swietnicki, New York City, NY, USA Colleen Fuller, Vancouver, BC Colleen Glynn, Richmond, BC Coralie Allison, Director, Collective Shout Australia Coralie Pittman, Melbourne, Australia – Collective Shout D. Klaric, Toronto, ON Danielle Cormier, Vancouver, BC Danielle de Ronde, Ottawa, ON Daphne Gilbert, Associate Professor – University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, B.A. (Hon.)(Manitoba), LLB (Manitoba), LL.M. (Yale), Of the Bar of Ontario Derrick Jensen, Crescent City, CA, USA – Deep Green Resistance Diana Boston Diana Salles, Emoryville, CA Diane Matte and Concertation des luttes contre l’exploitation sexuelle Didier Bois, abolitionnist activist, Paris, France Dominique Bernier Dr Meagan Tyler, Feminist Academic, Melbourne, Australia Dr. Erin Graham, Vancouver, BC Dr. Helen Pringle. Senior lecturer U.N.S.W (University of New South Wales) Dr. Julian Vigo, London, UK Drew Walker, London, ON Elaine Audet, directrice des Éditions Sisyphe, Montréal Elaine Grisé, MA in Sexology, Women’s Centre Coordinator, Montréal, QC Elizabeth Ann Calhoun, Grandview, MO, USA Elizabeth Fleetwood, Australia Elizabeth Hungerford, Maynard, MA, USA Elizabeth Pickett, Founder- Feministas of Canada Elizabeth Sheehy, FRSC, Shirley Greenberg Chair for Women and the Legal Profession, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law Emanuel Marcos Abinzano, Cordoba, Argentina Emily Bagnald, WoLF, occupied Mi’kma’ki (aka Nova Scotia, Canada) Emily Pascall Emma Anstruther, Cambridge, MA USA Emma Walker, London, ON Erin D. Jackson, Albuquerque, NM, USA Ernesto Aguilar, Houston, TX, USA Estella Muzito, Kampala, Uganda Estrella Sicardi, Montevideo, Uruguay Fathia Hizam, ancienne membre du bureau directeur de l’Association Tunisienne des Femmes démocrates Florencia Negreira, Canelones, Uruguay Françoise Pelletier, feminist, M.A. Art-thérapie, Mental health counselor, Maison alternative de développement humain inc, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC Frank Austin, Atlanta, GA, USA Gail Dines, Professor and founder, Stop Porn Culture, Boston, MA, USA Hanna Dahlberg, Blogger, Die Stˆerenfriedas, Germany Hélène Morin Hilla Kerner, Vancouver, BC Inge Kleine, Munich, Germany (Abolition 2014) Isla MacGregor, NorMAC, Australia J. Renee Bernard, Farmer City, IL, USA Jacqueline Gullion, Vancouver, BC Jaqueline Sephora Andrews, Seattle, WA, USA Jan Watson- South Coast Environment Group WA Janet Hacker, Victoria, BC Janet Suarez, Canleones, Uruguay Janice Latisha Betts, Manti, Manabi, Ecuador Janine-Heather Goodrum, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia Jean Enriquez, Executive Dir, CATW-Asia Pacific. Jeanne Sarson, Truro, NS Jenifer Walker, London, ON Jennifer White, London, ON Jess Martin Dueck, Exploited Voices’ Allies (EVA) Jewelles Smith, Artist, BC Johanna te Boekhorst, Chilliwack, BC Johanne Heppell, translator, Plaisance, Québec Johanne St-Amour, Québec Jonah Mix, Deep Green Resistance, Crescent City, CA Judith M‰rz, Blogger, Germany Julie Bindel, Author, Journalist, Feminist Campaigner, UK Karina Ansolhabere, Montevideo, Uruguay Katarina Vidovic, Croatia, EU Kate Graham, Edinburgh, Scotland Kathleen Barry, Ph.D., Sociologist and Professor Emerita Kathy Miriam, Santa Fe, NM, USA Kathy Scarbrough, E. Brunswick, NJ, USAKim Pate, Sallows Chair in Human Rights – Faculty of Law, University of Saskatchewan and Executive Director – Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) Komal Gilani, Austin, Texas Krista Sawchuk, London, ONKylee Nixon, Edmonton Supporters of Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, Edmonton, AB.Laurel Long, MD, USALeah Harwood, Toronto, ONLee Lakeman, Vancouver, BCLeslie Gildart, Boston, MA Laurel Long, Maryland, USA Lierre Keith, California, USA, co-founder – WoLF Lily Munroe Linda MacDonald, Person Against Non-State Torture, Truro, NS Lira Laluz, Montevideo, Uruguay Lisa J. Whelan, London, UK Lise Bouvet, Ressources Prostitution, Paris, France Liz Waterhouse, ShoutOut Australia, Western Australia Lorna Garano, El Cerrito, CA, USA Lori Jean Meyer Khan, Houston, TX Luke Bourke, Melbourne, Australia Lynda Davies, Former Frontline Worker – VAW, Ottawa, ON Madeline Beckett, St. Louis, MI, USA Maggie Jihan, Knox, ME, USA Manuela Schon, LISA Wiesbaden, DIE LINKE, Member of City Parliament, Wiesbaden, Germany Margaret McCarroll, London, ON Marie Hume, Mannum, South Australia Marie-Andrée Boivin, militante pour les droits des sourds et des femmes, maîtrise en communications – profil média expérimental, UQAM, Montréal, Québec Marie-Pier Lauzon, Québec Marina de Carneri, Roverto, Trento, Italy Marion Wallace, Memphis, TN, USA Martin Dufresne, Editor/translator/activist, Montréal, Qc Martine Roucole, FRANCE, Militante Osez le Féminisme Mary-Ann Stephenson, Coventry, UK Mary Ceallaigh, Tucson, AZ, USA (WoLF member) Mary Lou Jones, London, ON Mary Moylan, St. John’s, NL Mathew Gustella, Melbourne, Australia Matthew B. Ezzell, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, USA Matthew Holloway, Australia Max Dashu, Suppressed Histories Archives, CA, USA Max Wilbert and Deep Green Resistance Seattle Maya Shlayen, feminist activist & journalism student Megan Bourke, Melbourne, Australia Megan Walker, London Abused Women’s Centre, London, ON Michelle Hurtibise, London, ON Michelle Lyn Jones, Winchendon, MA – Deep Green Resistance Micheline Carrier, éditrice de Sisyphe.org, Montréal, Québec Miep Rowan O’Brien, Carlsbad, NM, USA (WoLF member) Miranda Yardley, Essex, United Kingdom Mira Sigel, Feminist Blogger, Germany Monica Moore, Melbourne, Australia Monique Carbonell, Lilburn, GA, USA Morris Dalla Costa, Journalist, London, ON Myrian Machain, Sydney, Australia N. Fraser, Guelph, ON Naida Pintul, Heidelberg, Germany Nancy J. Meyer, Hyattsville, MD, USA Natacha Rault, Geneva – Switzerland – economist Nicholas James, Ottawa, ON Nicole Jameson, Collective Shout, Adelaide, Australia Orla Hegarty, BMath, MASc, WoLF member, Newfoundland & Labrador Feminists and Allies Otilia Puiggros, PhD Candidate, Université du Québec en Outaouais Owen Lloyd, Deep Green Resistance, Port Orford, OR Patricia Antuna, Montevideo, Uruguay Patricia Karina Vergara Sanchez, DF, Mexico Paul Lavergne, MACP, The Turning Point Counselling, Peterborough, ON Paula Schmidt, Vernon, BC Paulette C.Turcotte, Victoria, BC Pei-Ju Wang, Ottawa, ON Pete Newbon, Walthamstow, London, Greater London, UK Peter Maxwell, Melbourne, Australia Rachel Goodine, Victoria, BC Rebecca Huntington, Lansing, MI, USA Rebecca Thornhill, Ottawa, ON Rebecca Whisnant, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Director of Women’s and Gender Studies, the University of Dayton, OH, USA Reece K. Sellin, Fort Saskatchewan, AB Rhéa Jean, PhD Philosophy, Université Laval, Université de Sherbrooke, founding member of La CLES Robert Jensen, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA Rose Sullivan, Québec, Le collectif d’aide aux femmes exploitées sexuellement, Le CAFES S.C. Gillett, Toronto, ON Samantha Berg, journalist, co-founder – WoLF Sanda Rogers, Ottawa, ON Sara Lynn, Bracebridge, ON Sarah Forrester, London, ON Shanie Roy, Montréal, QC Shannen Bethune, Mount Waverley, Melbourne, Australia Sheila Jeffreys, Professor, University of Melbourne, Australia Sheila McIntyre, Ottawa, ON Shelagh Day, CM, VAncouver, BC Simone Andrea, Fremantle, Australia Simone Watson, Director NorMAC, Australia Solveig Senft, Terre des Femmes, Germany Sophia Chaudhary Spider Redgold, The Feminine Byte, Sydney, NSW, Australia Sue Breeze, Windsor, ON Susan Barley, Australia Susan Boyd, Vancouver, BC Susan Hyatt, UT, USA Suzan Attwood, Snellville, GA, USA Sylvia Black, co-founder WoLF, Atlanta, GA, USA Tamara Gorin, poet and front line anti-poverty and housing worker, Vancouver BC Tatjana Cherifi, LISA Wiesbaden, Germany Teagan Westendorf, Melbourne, Australia Terre Spencer, Peachtree Corner, GA, USA Terri Moore, Johannesburg, South Africa Thistle Pettersen, Madison, WI, USA Tracie Warden Denga, Pacific Grove, California Trish Oliver, Beaver Hall Artist, Toronto, ON and co-founder – WoLF(Women’s Liberation Front) Trisha Baptie, Vancouver BC and EVE (formerly Exploited Voices now Educating) Trisha Wilson-Singer, Mississauga, ON Ulla Wojciechowski, translator, Oberhausen, Gemany Veronica Penfold, Windsor, ON Victoria Humak, Atlanta, GA, USA (WoLF member) Wendy Lewis, London, ON Whitney Austin, Atlanta, GA, USA Wynell Austin, Atlanta, GA, USA Yolande Clarke, Queenstown, NB
– To add your signature, send email with your full name, organization, city, province and country at this address : lastwaver@gmail.com.
On Sisyphe, May 11, 2015