The Royal Academy has apologized and reversed their decision regarding Jess. I am honestly stunned by the outcome and I have all of you to thank for sticking with this when it seemed impossible. Please keep an eye on things to ensure she is fully supported moving forward.
August 11, 2021
Final supporters
The Royal Academy of Arts have issued a statement on their Instagram stories, saying that they have removed merchandise designed by artist Jess De Wahls from their gift shop after receiving complaints about her "transphobic views".
Jess De Wahls is known for her intricate, colourful embroidery, often centred around the theme of feminism and women's rights. I have followed Jess and her career over social media for a long time, and I can safely say that I have never witnessed her say anything remotely hateful or transphobic. In fact, she has many friends and followers who are trans.
What, then, could have prompted such a claim? Well, Jess De Wahls supports the notion that sex i.e. male and female, is a material reality and has a bearing on civil rights, particularly those of women, whose single sex provisions are rapidly disappearing in order to appear 'inclusive'. While the motives behind such schemes may appear noble, removing single sex exemptions has huge implications for women in prisons, rape shelters and even in public life.
In the UK, sex is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act and the European Human Rights Commission.
On the 11th June, in a case brought forward by Maya Forstater who was dismissed from her job for tweeting that biological sex is real and that humans cannot change their sex, a High Court Judge ruled that 'Gender Critical' views are protected under the EA. Therefore, discriminating against anyone on the grounds of such views is unlawful.
It appears, then, that the RA is in breach of the High Court ruling, putting themselves at risk of legal proceedings. We the undersigned, however, would much prefer to keep things amicable and simply request:
1) Jess De Wahls' work be reinstated immediately
2) the RA issue a public apology, having wrongly maligned the artist's character.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
June 18, 2021
June 18, 2021
I am honestly overwhelmed by the response to this post. I never imagined that so many people would care about this fairness issue. This momentum belongs entirely to you and your willingness to speak up.
June 18, 2021
I started this because I felt something was fundamentally wrong, but I never imagined so many people would resonate with this concern. It is overwhelming to see that I am not alone in questioning these events. Your involvement proves that these conversations are far more important than I originally realized.
Reached 100 supporters
June 17, 2021
June 16, 2021
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many people have stood up for this cause. We are getting very near to the one thousand mark and this momentum belongs entirely to the people reading this. If you can help us reach that milestone today it would prove that people are truly paying attention.
325 Comments
The RA is (allegedly) an ART institution. Either the artist has merit in their work or they don't. Political beliefs have no place in your institution. Shame on you for you abject cowardice in bowing to the woke mob and potentially destroying a woman's career.
Jess's comments reflect the known and widely understood facts around the dimorphism of human sex. This is not hateful and to cave in to extremists in this way is unacceptable. Jess is owed reinstatement and a public apology.
The High Court found that gender critical views are worthy of respect in a democratic society. Does the Royal Academy of Arts not want a democratic society? Does the RA not believe artists should have freedom of expression, but rather draw only between rigid lines?
Jess deWahls is not "transphobic". She has publicly declared support for trans people, but does not believe in gender ideology. Her beliefs are protected in law. A cowardly, contemptible, ill-informed move from the RA. I will be cancelling my membership.
The RA is supposed to be impartial and show all works... Art is subjective. If we start with this artist, why not have a clear out of all and any mysoginistic work/artists too... (Oh, but then 50% + of the academy would have empty walls!)
Jess de Wahls' 'Rainbow' article is an intelligent and lucid analysis of the situation, which is given added weight due to her having come originally from East Germany, so she understands the danger of a split-level society, as far as voicing opinions is concerned. Total support, Jess!
Extraordinary that you refuse to stock someone's work because they expressed a belief that humans cannot change sex. Since when did the Royal Academy start believing in their right to police other people's speech?
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The Royal Academy has apologized and reversed their decision regarding Jess. I am honestly stunned by the outcome and I have all of you to thank for sticking with this when it seemed impossible. Please keep an eye on things to ensure she is fully supported moving forward.
August 11, 2021
Final supporters
The Royal Academy of Arts have issued a statement on their Instagram stories, saying that they have removed merchandise designed by artist Jess De Wahls from their gift shop after receiving complaints about her "transphobic views".
Jess De Wahls is known for her intricate, colourful embroidery, often centred around the theme of feminism and women's rights. I have followed Jess and her career over social media for a long time, and I can safely say that I have never witnessed her say anything remotely hateful or transphobic. In fact, she has many friends and followers who are trans.
What, then, could have prompted such a claim? Well, Jess De Wahls supports the notion that sex i.e. male and female, is a material reality and has a bearing on civil rights, particularly those of women, whose single sex provisions are rapidly disappearing in order to appear 'inclusive'. While the motives behind such schemes may appear noble, removing single sex exemptions has huge implications for women in prisons, rape shelters and even in public life.
In the UK, sex is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act and the European Human Rights Commission.
On the 11th June, in a case brought forward by Maya Forstater who was dismissed from her job for tweeting that biological sex is real and that humans cannot change their sex, a High Court Judge ruled that 'Gender Critical' views are protected under the EA. Therefore, discriminating against anyone on the grounds of such views is unlawful.
It appears, then, that the RA is in breach of the High Court ruling, putting themselves at risk of legal proceedings. We the undersigned, however, would much prefer to keep things amicable and simply request:
1) Jess De Wahls' work be reinstated immediately
2) the RA issue a public apology, having wrongly maligned the artist's character.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
June 18, 2021
June 18, 2021
I am honestly overwhelmed by the response to this post. I never imagined that so many people would care about this fairness issue. This momentum belongs entirely to you and your willingness to speak up.
June 18, 2021
I started this because I felt something was fundamentally wrong, but I never imagined so many people would resonate with this concern. It is overwhelming to see that I am not alone in questioning these events. Your involvement proves that these conversations are far more important than I originally realized.
Reached 100 supporters
June 17, 2021
June 16, 2021
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many people have stood up for this cause. We are getting very near to the one thousand mark and this momentum belongs entirely to the people reading this. If you can help us reach that milestone today it would prove that people are truly paying attention.
325 Comments
This is harassment and bullying from the Royal Academy pure and simple - a breach of its official regulations as a UK-registered & UK-based Charity. The Charity Commission must now investigate as her views on gender are protected.
The RA is (allegedly) an ART institution. Either the artist has merit in their work or they don't. Political beliefs have no place in your institution. Shame on you for you abject cowardice in bowing to the woke mob and potentially destroying a woman's career.
Jess's comments reflect the known and widely understood facts around the dimorphism of human sex. This is not hateful and to cave in to extremists in this way is unacceptable. Jess is owed reinstatement and a public apology.
The High Court found that gender critical views are worthy of respect in a democratic society. Does the Royal Academy of Arts not want a democratic society? Does the RA not believe artists should have freedom of expression, but rather draw only between rigid lines?
Jess deWahls is not "transphobic". She has publicly declared support for trans people, but does not believe in gender ideology. Her beliefs are protected in law. A cowardly, contemptible, ill-informed move from the RA. I will be cancelling my membership.
The RA is supposed to be impartial and show all works... Art is subjective. If we start with this artist, why not have a clear out of all and any mysoginistic work/artists too... (Oh, but then 50% + of the academy would have empty walls!)
Jess de Wahls' 'Rainbow' article is an intelligent and lucid analysis of the situation, which is given added weight due to her having come originally from East Germany, so she understands the danger of a split-level society, as far as voicing opinions is concerned. Total support, Jess!
Extraordinary that you refuse to stock someone's work because they expressed a belief that humans cannot change sex. Since when did the Royal Academy start believing in their right to police other people's speech?
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This is harassment and bullying from the Royal Academy pure and simple - a breach of its official regulations as a UK-registered & UK-based Charity. The Charity Commission must now investigate as her views on gender are protected.