This seems partly in response to controversies around anti-trans feminists booking Quaker meetinghouses for talks.
YFGM aims to be a welcoming and accessible space for people of all gender identities where people feel included and oppressive behaviour is not accepted. We recognise we have further work to do including some more immediate changes, and creating space to nurture deeper cultural changes within both YFGM and the wider Society of Friends.
http://yfgm.quaker.org.uk/docs/trans-and-non-binary-statement/
The Cancel Culture Problem with Quakers was baked into the cake of our faith by the trans-non-binary-statement of Young Friends General Meeting (YFGM) in 2019. Their Minute of February 2019, section (a) Trans and non-binary inclusion states:
“In particular, we note our disagreement with the [Quaker Life & CC] position that “the critique of transgender identities in the political sphere is not necessarily transphobic”.
The double negative here is unhelpful and confusing. In short, YFGM is saying that if anyone wants to talk about transgender identities, he/she will be transphobic if YFGM thinks so. This is a clear intent to shut down difference of opinion. And in the name of tolerance and inclusivity. What chutzpah!
Further, FYGM state at (b) YFGM Value Statement on Trans and non-binary inclusion that
“As Friends — both trans and cis, binary and non-binary — we affirm that there is no conflict between trans inclusion, feminism, and liberation from gender roles and stereotypes. We do not support the use of meeting houses to host events which claim otherwise, and we hope that Meetings will decide not to host these events in future.” (emphasis added)
In other words, YFGM was urging Quakers nationwide not to host events like the WPUK ones mentioned above.
It has been apparent to me for a few years that this conflict is largely (but not entirely) an inter-generational one, both in society as a whole and in Quakerdom. I believe that explains why the centres of Quaker power – Woodbrooke, BYM, Friends House – won’t really grapple with the conflict: we are an ageing Society; if we are to survive into the next generation, we need new, young members; we cannot afford to alienate them by saying transphobic things like men are not women.
Read more at https://roadlesstraveller.blogspot.com/2023/02/Quaker-Gender-War.html