A West Cork musician says she has faced calls for her work to be boycotted after making a social media post in support of the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of a woman. In April, the UK’s highest court ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, in the context of the Equality Act 2010.
That month, Irish singer Molly O’Mahoney made a post about “sex and gender issues” on her public Instagram page. The singer, a former member of the art-folk group Mongoose, said in the post that “biological sex has always existed,” adding that trans-identified males are “not women.” In the post, she also criticised Ireland’s Gender Recognition Act – saying that the law can be “exploited” in that a convicted sex offender could, upon being charged, apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate and gain legal status as a woman.
Taking to X this week, the singer-songwriter, whose debut solo album was previously featured in The Irish Times, said that she has since been subjected to an “intense internet pile-on and online harassment.” O’Mahoney says she has been “quietly cancelled from the Irish music scene” since the post, dropped from bills she was due to play, and that offers of gigs have all but dried up.
“It is my quietest summer of music work in over a decade, in fact; quieter than the covid years, even,” the musician wrote on Monday. However, since declaring her support for the UK ruling, she has also received backing from a range of high-profile supporters.
In April, the Ballydehob singer posted what she said was an “anomaly post about sex and gender issues” on her public Instagram page.
In a series of photos, she shared the text: “I don’t usually weigh in on political issues online. But this is a matter that is very close to my heart, and one that I’ve put a significant amount of time into trying to understand over the past few years. In light of the landmark Supreme Court Ruling in the UK, declaring unequivocally that woman means biological woman, it feels like the moment to speak about it and add a counter-narrative to the online echo chamber I exist in.”
“If you choose to read on, I ask you to consider that having my opinions on this topic that run counter to popular opinion, does not mean they are coming from a hateful place; that you engage with the content of what I’m saying instead of jumping to conclusions about my character. But I know I can’t control that. Alas, here goes anyway.”
In the post, the singer spoke about the Gender Recognition Act, claiming that the law “can be exploited.”
“Here’s something you might not know – Gender Recognition Certificates are really easily acquired in this country. You just apply for one, no questions asked. It’s easier than getting a passport. Anybody can do this and henceforth, their preferred gender is legally recognised. To be clear, what that means in practice is that any biological male can apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate, and this renders him legally a woman. And vice versa,” O’Mahoney wrote.
“Whilst this provision was created to accommodate trans-indentified folk under The Gender Recognition Act of 2015, the reality of how this law can be exploited, is that a convicted sex offender can, upon being charged, apply for a GRC, gain legal status as a woman, and demand to be housed in a women’s prison. Indeed that is happening right now. Google ‘Barbie Kardashian’ if you want an insight. So you see, it is a pathway for predatory men (not trans people), to exploit to their advantage.
“When you hear talk of ‘protecting women’s spaces,’ it is the likes of prisons and rape crisis centres that are most high-stakes where male violence against women are concerned; places that house women who are especially vulnerable. It is a direct threat to the safety of these women if anyone who wields a GRC can gain access, not because trans people are a threat to women, but because violent sexual predators are a threat to women. And, as I’ve explained, predators can easily work the system to gain access to these spaces. Biological sex, therefore, has to be the determinant of whether you qualify to access these women-only spaces. There is no other way to keep male predators out.”
In the lengthy statement, she concluded: “Biological sex has always existed, it matters, and it’s not going anywhere. It will never stop being an important consideration for the vast majority of people everywhere, and it does nobody good to pretend that it will.
“Trans-identified males are human beings – worthy of dignity, protection and the freedom to express themselves however the hell they want. They are not, however, women.”
In an update on Monday, the singer wrote: “On April 22nd, I made an instagram post in support of the UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of ‘woman’. It was met with an intense internet pile-on and online harassment. I lost hundreds of followers within days, and individuals publicly called for my work to be boycotted.
“Since then I have experienced the chilling effects of being quietly cancelled from the Irish music scene that I’ve been a part of for 13 years. I’ve been dropped from bills I was due to play, and offers of gigs have all but dried up. It is my quietest summer of music work in over a decade, in fact; quieter than the covid years, even.
“This comes at a time when I’m trying to finish and release my second record – a costly endeavour, as any independent musician knows. It is a challenge, at the best of times, to find the resources to keep making music, let alone make a living as an artist in this country. Suffice to say, it all feels a whole lot harder now.
“The feeling that there is nowhere to turn is particularly pernicious. I have very little confidence that any of the institutions and gatekeepers of the industry will have my back. All are beholden to a culture which dictates that those who don’t toe the line must be ousted.
‘PEOPLE ARE TERRIFIED’
“I know I am just one of many women (& men) in the public eye who have been punished for trying to speak in defence of women’s rights against the prevailing tide of gender ideology.
“The myriad messages of private support I have received since April tells me two things – that my views are widely sympathised with in Ireland, and that people are terrified to proclaim it.
“Is it not the remit of artists to speak what’s true for them? How can creativity flourish if we are all expected to be a monolith of sameness where our beliefs are concerned?
“I want to see an end to the vice grip that tyrannical woke liberalism has on the arts and on free speech. And an end to cancel culture. If there are artists out there who resonate, I dare you to sound the alarm with me. The culture is not going to change until there is enough of us calling for it.”
Author John Boyne, who previously criticised TV writer Graham Linehan over his stance on trans issues, but later issued a public apology, saying: “You were right, I was wrong,” offered his support to the singer.
“This is absolutely outrageous and this nonsense has to stop,” he said in a lengthy statement.
“I support everyone who’s bullied and harassed for defending women’s and children’s rights so #IStandWithMollyOMahony.”
Retired tennis pro Martina Navratilova responded, “That’s some nasty stuff.”
“It really is. This is a musician who simply wants to live her life, pursue her art, and express her support for women and children. That we live in a time when another woman wants her to lose her livelihood for doing so is insane,” Boyne replied.
Molly O’Mahoney, responding on Tuesday wrote: “I’m so bowled over by the support here” in response to Mr Boyne’s words.
Gaels For Fair Play, an organisation made up of grassroots players, coaches, volunteers and parents who say they are seeking fairness for women and girls in Gaelic Games, also expressed their support.
“To the elected reps and LGFA officials who raised their eyebrows when we said the majority of our members stay anonymous out of fear for their jobs; this is what happened recently when an Irish woman voiced her belief that women should have single-sex spaces. There is so much fear.”
Similarly, the gender-critical organisation, The Countess, said: “Cancellation culture is sick and is just bullying by another name. Molly has freedom of conscience and expression. It is not acceptable for anyone to destroy her career because of her beliefs. Woman is an adult human female and no one can change sex.”
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