I know Bidisha’s already covered this, but I couldn’t let the all male line-up for Amnesty’s upcoming 50th anniversary Secret Policeman’s Ball pass without comment, especially in light of today’s report criticising the BBC’s Question Time and Mock the Week “for featuring “token women” on their panels.”
To grudgingly give them their due, at least Question Time and Mock the Week do feature some women, albeit women are grossly under-represented and tokenised on those and other panel shows. Amnesty on the other hand, “an international human rights organisation with more than three million supporters worldwide” (some of whom are no doubt women), doesn’t appear to have invited any women to take part in its “legendary” show.
So far the line up includes: Jon Stewart, Russell Brand, Stephen Colbert, Reggie Watts, Coldplay and Mumford and Sons, with Armstrong and Miller doing the voiceovers for the animated promotional campaign.
According to Andy Hackman of Amnesty International:
“This year’s Secret Policeman’s Ball brings together an incredible representation of the best comedians and musicians in the world. It’s humbling that they have given up their time to join us and champion the fundamental right to opinion and expression – and in doing so helping us connect with a new generation of supporters.
I hope comedy and music fans in the UK will help us in making it a bad night for dictators and a good night for free speech.”
Seriously? This event “brings together an incredible representation of the best comedians and musicians in the world” and yet there’s not a single woman amongst them? Then I honestly don’t see how it can “bring together an incredible representation of the best comedians and musicians in the world”: well, not unless you think women can’t be funny or make good music that is.
Never mind making it a “bad night for dictators and a good night for free speech”, it seems Amnesty’s intent on making its 50th anniversary Secret Policeman’s Ball another bad night for women and a bloody good night for the boy’s club.
Too Much To Say For Myself 
They could plausibly argue that it simply reflects the reality of the comedy scene right now, which is pretty much a boys’ club. But no high-profile female musicians? Oh fuck off.
Maybe the Coldplay singer’s wife will take time off from her cookbook-writing duties to come along and provide backing vocals. And tambourine. Because that’s what singers’ wives are *for*, isn’t it? 😦
Naw – it’s not sexism Amnesty International are engaged in – it’s misogyny. After all Amnesty International only accepts lie default human is male as evidenced by their latest misogynistic exploit. And no excuses are accepted because Amnesty could if they wish ensure that 50% of the ‘entertainment’ are women. Another reason why I cancelled my membership for Amnesty because I refuse to support this hypocritical women-hating organisation.
I cancelled my AI membership after the last incident of it equating human rights as only men’s rights. Gave the money to Womankind instead. I feel much better now, thanks.
I will consider membership of Amnesty International only when they stop using bloody chuggers. And the same goes for any charity that wants my money, stop demanding it with menaces. Anyway that aside, what do they actually do? It’s a valid question, at least Oxfam give people cows or whatever.But they just seem to say how terrible human rights abuses are, which kind of draws a ‘you don’t say’ response from moi.
Perhaps it would be best for all womn to stay away from this event, and cancel membership in AI. I never hear of massive numbers of women supported by the male = human gang anyway!