Lynsey McCarthy-Calvert, 45, a birth coach in the U.K., said something so unthinkable that she has been “hounded out” of a charitable organization: she said that only women can have babies.

Yes, McCarthy-Calvert actually said that. The transgender outrage was swift. Doula UK, which provides support for baby bearers during pregnancy, investigated McCarthy-Calvert and threatened suspension unless she deleted the offending tweet.

McCarthy-Calvert resigned, saying that the organization had given into pressure from a small group of activists instead of standing up for women’s rights. The Daily Mail reports:

‘I am angry and sad,’ she said last night. ‘I was effectively ostracised for saying I am a woman and so are my clients.

‘I have been very disappointed by Doula UK’s response. The leadership are paralysed by not wanting to upset transgender rights activists. They have fallen over themselves to acquiesce to their demands.’ The controversy comes after a series of recent victories for transgender activists.

Flora margarine stopped advertising on Mumsnet after the website was accused of being transphobic for hosting a wide range of views on transgender issues. And the makers of Always sanitary towels removed the female ‘Venus’ symbol from packaging after complaints from trans men.

The Doula UK row started after Cancer Research UK dropped the word ‘women’ from its smear test campaign, instead saying screening was ‘relevant for everyone aged 25-64 with a cervix’.

In response, Mrs McCarthy-Calvert posted a photograph on Facebook of a negligee-clad woman somersaulting underwater, with the wording: ‘I am not a “cervix owner” I am not a “menstruator” I am not a “feeling”. I am not defined by wearing a dress and lipstick. I am a woman: an adult human female.’

Spiked journalist Patrick West (son of two of my favorite scribes, the late Richard West and Catholic journo Mary Kenny) picked up on the McCarthy-Calvert controversy and drew an interesting parallel:

Less sinisterly, but just as ludicrously, the next day it was reported that the singleton actress Emma Watson had told Vogue magazine: ‘I never believed the whole “I’m happy single” spiel. It took me a long time but I’m very happy. I call it being self-partnered.’

If the first case illustrates how intolerant and authoritarian the genderfluid movement has become in its war against reality, the second case illustrates how those who subscribe to the fantasy that one can be one’s own partner have become so narcissistic.

Presumably people who utter these nonsensical neologisms do so to demonstrate how they are greater, wiser and purer than you and me. For ‘self-partner’, instead read ‘singleton’, ‘spinster’ or ‘onanist’.

Meanwhile, Doula UK is sticking by its decision:

A spokesperson added: ‘We are proud to say that we seek to listen to the lived experience of marginalised groups and make changes – including changes to the language we use – if we believe it is necessary to make the Doula UK community more welcoming and supportive.’

But it is not more welcoming and supportive to McCarthy-Calvert.