My post today concerns the UK Battery Vehicle Society, or BVS.
As you may know I’ve been a member in the past and edited a few of their magazines. I was extensively involved with press and publicity for a few months, before work and personal life caused me to step down. However, in recent months things there have gotten out of hand and I would like to publicly disassociate myself from this group today, after the latest magazine fell through my door this morning.
After reading the opinion pages I have decided that I will no-longer want to be associated with them and threw the magazines directly in the bin. The editor published a one page article which included judgmental twaddle about the society secretary, who happens to be a happy, contented, well adjusted woman who happens to have two partners (and lives with them quite happily together). The language used to describe her and her lifestyle choice made my stomach churn. As a lesbian who has friends of all races, genders, sexualities (or not) and religious beliefs I was horrified.
I’ve rung up and canceled my membership, and I strongly urge anyone else who is a member to do the same.
To print such liable and to allow it to be sent to a membership list is more than slander. It is xenophobic bigotry.
I am shocked as a (now former) member of an organisation promoting forward thinking and green transport that such terrible views could be aired in public, or even thought.
Let me re-itterate.
I AM NO LONGER ATTACHED TO, OR AFFILIATED WITH, The Battery Vehicle Society.
I shall continue to promote electric vehicles and PHEV vehicles in my own way and of course, will remain to bore you here on my blog with tales of electric vehicle and PHEV fun. I would also like to point out that of course I know that most members of said society are wonderful tollerant people, but sometimes I feel drastic and dramatic gestures are needed to let the world know you won’t stand for this kind of crap.
That is all…
[Edit- Sunday evening]
After posting this quoted to the BVS forums, including a little bit extra as to how I can’t believe the society missed out the two most important electric vehicles at the 2008 Motorshow (the Tesla and the Lightning Lithium) from the magazine, my post was highly edited by one of the admins there. Replaced by a link to my blog. I’m furious. Shocking and sad…
At least on my own blog I can be unsensored, honest and fairly balanced - which I hope you think I am.
4 responses so far ↓
1 SaintMaryUK // Nov 22, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I totally understand your anger hun. As you know, I was qute stunned when I read the piece on page 25 myself, and have expressed some of my thoughts already in my own live journal.
Several people have advised me to sue the magazine Editor for defamation and libel. But I am not sure I want to go that far. I don’t want to do anything that will damage the society more than this already has. So, I will await a response from the Chair and Vice Chairs before deciding anything. Having said that, a written apology and retraction is an absolute minimum that is required I think.
It is a shame that the actions of our editor has lost the society your membership (and probably others). I am glad to say that his views do not represent the views of the society as a whole, and the majority of the committee seem to have no problem with me, or with people of whatever lifestyle.
It is my hope that people, rather than leaving the society over this, will speak out against the actions they disapprove of, rather than leaving, though I do understand why you have left.
Incidentally, the proof-reader of the magazine has told me that he was not given access to this bit of the magazine to proof-read prior to it going to the printers.
Mary
2 Nikki // Nov 23, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I actually reposted this post as a quote to the BVS forums as my final comment there. It was edited to exclude the whole post I made. I’m even more furious now. This is nothing more than censorship in the extreme.
Gah. You’re better out of it..
3 SaintMaryUK // Nov 25, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Just a brief update to let you know that I have received an apology and retraction from the Editor. And I have received an apology from the Chair on behalf of the Society. It is not my place to publish either of them here, but I believe a statement from the Society will be forthcoming soon.
The whole thing is so sad. I still believe wholeheartedly in the aims of the Society and its potential to spread the word about EVs. And I really hope that the Society can put this regrettable incident behind it and continue to go from strength to strength.
I understand your mileage may vary
Mary x
4 Arthur Embleton // Dec 18, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I am shocked to hear that the editor of a magazine devoted to supporting a minority means of transport (EVs), could take judgment against a member who doesn’t follow the ‘norm’ in other ways of life. How bizzarre!
Somehow I thought that those who are high up in the EV movement would be more open minded. I guess most are, but it sounds like some (or at least one) aren’t.
Besides, it has nothing to do with battery veichles.
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