SEX MATTERS IN HEALTHCARE
Our first action is a postcard campaign in support of a BC nurse undergoing a BC College of Nurses and Midwives disciplinary hearing, which threatens her nursing license. The citation against her comes “...after complaints were made about an ‘I [heart] J.K. Rowling’ billboard she was involved in erecting…” (source: Newsweek) in an expression of solidarity with the author of the Harry Potter series, who has been threatened publicly for her stance defending women’s sex-based rights. To learn more about the case, listen to an October 2022 interview with Amy Hamm by feminist journalist, Julie Bindel.
The BC Nurses’ Union does not appear to have provided assistance to their member, nor to have advanced sex-based practice guidelines.
The Vancouver Lesbian Collective knows that sex matters in healthcare. We want nurses and other health professionals to recognize and act on this fact. We are observing and reporting on the (online) disciplinary hearing.
We also want all women to be able to defend sex-based rights without being bullied or threatened with losing their livelihood.
We too have experienced physical intimidation and threats first-hand for declaring basic realities: lesbians are same sex attracted women, men cannot become women or lesbians, and women-only and lesbian-only space are necessary to women’s safety and freedom.
We will not accept that bullying curtails public discussion on the importance of sex-based rights.
Amy Hamm Hearing Update
Amy Hamm’s “precedent-setting” hearing by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) wrapped up in the fall of 2023. We just found out that closing arguments will be made on March 18 and 19, 2024.
Not Your Average BC College of Nurses and Midwives’s Hearing
Amy’s hearing is about statements she made supporting women’s sex-based rights online and on social media, while identifying herself as a nurse or nurse educator. It isn’t a typical BC College of Nurses and Midwives hearing as:
It doesn’t involve patients or on the job conduct, the claimants are members of the public.
Rather than inside counsel or an external employment lawyer, queer activist lawyer barbara findlay represents the College.
Hearings usually range from 2-8 days, Amy’s hearing has gone on for 17 days.
Vancouver Lesbian Collective Observes Encroachment of Gender Identity Ideology
The Vancouver Lesbian Collective observed Amy’s hearing in the fall of 2023. Finally, Amy and her witnesses had a chance to take the stand and describe how gender identity ideology harms women. Amy did a great job standing up for women’s sex-based rights while being bullied by the College’s lawyer barbara findlay. Amy asserted that it’s not the responsibility of women to open up our spaces for biological males. She also stated that she’s entitled to fight for women’s sex-based rights.
The BC College of Nurses and Midwives Pushes Gender Identity Ideology
There were a number of hit pieces published by the CBC immediately prior and during the fall 2023 hearing (Oct 23rd, Oct 24th, Oct 25th, 2023). The timing and content makes us think that the College is attempting to sway public perspective through biased reporting. Additionally, the College’s lawyers declined to cross-examine Amy’s expert witnesses Dr. Kathleen Stock, British philosopher and lesbian hounded for her gender critical views, and Linda Blade, a Canadian activist on women’s sports, skewing the record so that fewer perspectives from women and feminists are on it.
An Important Matter for Women
Amy’s hearing aims to silence nurses, midwives and women across the province from speaking out about how gender identity ideology harms women. A prominent feminist lawyer referred to Amy’s hearing as part 2 of the Vancouver Rape Relief v. Nixon case (summary of the VRRWS win, written by their counsel, a chronological collection of the arguments and decisions at each phase of the lengthy case, provided by VRRWS). Gender identity ideology is new in Canadian law, and there hasn’t been a legal precedent set yet.
Sex remains a protected characteristic in BC and Canada, including in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Feminists fought for and won this equality gain for women, and we will not be silenced or allow the rollback of our rights. Biological sex is important to understand women’s inequality in many areas including healthcare and employment. Women-only spaces are required for our safety, privacy and political organizing.