URGENTLY calling all Scottish gender critical Mumsnetters

[Badgerthebodger]

Apologies for the essay below:

We desperately need you to contact your MSP re the bill which was passed today. There is a great explanation of the situation here from Dr Nic Williams of Fair Play for Women

In a nutshell, the Scottish government have now redefined the legal meaning of the word "woman". It has now been expanded to include:
"A person who has the protected characteristic of gender reassignment...if, and only if, the person is living as a woman, and is proposing to undergo, is undergoing, or has undergone a process, or part of a process, for the purpose of becoming female

They have passed this bill in anticipation of changes to gender recognition law in Scotland. That's the law that hasn't been passed, indeed the law which has only just concluded it's consultation period.

We urgently need people to write to their MSPs, or better still meet them, to register your protest against this bill and the lack of consultation. Even the Equality and Human Rights Commission have raised questions about the bill - they have been ignored.

Why should the Scottish government get to redefine the word woman without so much as a by our leave? Why do they think we should accept men as part of our sex class? Why do they constantly conflate sex with gender, mixing them up so nothing is clear anymore? Just exactly what happened in Scottish government to make them think the beliefs of a tiny minority should influence policy?

Please, please please please, make your voice heard. Write to your MSP, tell your friends to do the same, meet your MSP and tell them that you do not accept this. I can help with letters if anyone needs any pointers but the strongest way to object is to write a personal letter telling your MSP exactly what you think.

TL, DR: Please write to your MSP re today's bill to register your protest

[PlectrumElectrum]

How the hell do we unravel this? The link explains how it has happened but how do we challenge wording of a law that now has royal ascent? This is such an utter betrayal I can even articulate how furious I feel about this.

[ChattyLion]

A new bill, wtf? They haven’t even responded to the consultation yet.

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

Yeah i need a while to get past the scrawling 'how fucking dare you' in red crayon stage then I'll get it done.

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

@ChattyLion
Did you read the link in OP or try this mobile.twitter.com/Scottish_Women/status/976173475793653762

[SuitedandBooted]

It might be worth putting this in AIBU tomorrow. A thread discussing the Petition is getting a lot of attention - and some people following it must be in Scotland. Perhaps this could be added, or another started.

Probably a bit late to do it tonight

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

Need a thread in scotsnet too I would do it but I have the touch of death with threads

[tabulahrasa]

So in a bill designed to improve representation of women, they’ve redefined women to include men?....

[Isadora2007]

PLease do help create a draft letter for me. Pm or here.
My local msp is one of the 6 who actually approved the bill. It is terrifying.

[Amortentia]

I’m really alarmed at this. Action needs to be taken, I’m not sure MSPs have been exposed to the voices of women who are against this.

But, without wishing to freak anyone out I’m also equally alarmed at the number of recent tweets by police Scotland about hate crimes online. Women specific sexism/misogynistic is not included but transphobia is. Now, because of the recent thing with Posy I’m wondering if they are going to start taking action against anyone who is gender critical online. It seems that transphobia covers just about anything. I don’t want to put anyone off publicly being critical but I’m worried TRAs will be frantically complaining about everything a way to shut women up by scaring us of.

[Badgerthebodger]

Waddle don’t worry I won’t let you kill this one. I have a template letter if anybody wants one, plus I think it’s worth knowing that Scottish people have one constituency MSP and seven regional MSPs so as much as it is a tedious job it would be so helpful if you could contact all of them

[DonkeySkin]

female
adjective

1. of or denoting the sex that can bear offspring or produce eggs, distinguished biologically by the production of gametes (ova) which can be fertilized by male gametes.
   

"a herd of female deer"

I'm not Scottish but if I were I'd be reminding my MSP of the definition of 'female'; to ask whether sperm-producing animals can 'become' ova-producing animals, and if not, why is the law being rewritten to say that they can? Remind them that the law itself depends on objective definitions and that when you corrupt the language you corrupt the law.

Also relevant: the Collins English dictionary's 'synonymy note':

female is the basic term applied to members of the sex that is biologically distinguished from the male sex and is used of animals or plants as well as of human beings; , feminine is now the preferred term for references, other than those basically biological, to qualities thought to be characteristic of or suitable to women, as delicacy, gentleness, etc.;

Gender identity ideology deliberately and deceptively conflates 'female' (biological sex) with 'feminine' (sex roles). The law must not do the same if it is to retain any integrity.

[Badgerthebodger]

Re: the Rage

Honestly, this stinks. I’m appalled that Holyrood have changed the definition of woman without so much of a by our leave, and the fact that they have passed this bill in anticipation of changes to gender recognition legislation just makes me speechless with rage. The disdain is chilling. How dare they fabricate a sham of a consultation then smugly pass this bill before the consultation has been looked at

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Done.

Can't believe I'm having to write this shite.
ffs

[PlectrumElectrum]

Right, 1st thoughts - we need to get organised.

The petition on consulting women - there are 5 other signatures from my constituency so there's 4 other people who, if I can find a way to reach out to them, we can co-ordinate contacting MSPs/MPs/local councillors etc. Can others check their constituents on the petition & get numbers worked out?

We need to figure out how to unpick this. What can we do? Is there a way to legally challenged this? How the hell do we even get the right advice on this? Where to even start? What do we say in letters/emails to politicians about this?

[Badgerthebodger]

I am off to bed but promise to send a template letter out in the morning to anyone who wants it. PM me if you do.

[PlectrumElectrum]

I'll take your PM badger.

[Bejazzled]

I'll definitely take a pm @Badgerthebodger

[SpringNowPlease2018]

I'm not in Scotland so can't help

But this "living as a woman" thing again.....argh!!

[trickyboots]

I'd like a pm please too badger.

[Whinberry]

The SNP/Greens can't alter the equality act as that is Westminster legislation and still applies to Scotland.

The SNP always vote as a block - they get chucked out of the party if they don't . So once agreed as party policy you are scuppered, especially if the Greens agree. The SNP MSPs represent the party not the voters - it is not very democratic. Still good to write though.

[Mouthtrousersafrocknowandthen]

This is for another relatively minor piece of legislation, encouraging women's representation on public bodies. It's not so important in itself, but reveals the Scottish govt's thinking on the issue.

[extremesheeple]

Am in Scotland but have never contacted my MSP before so I'm not really sure what I should say!

PM would be great, i really want to do my part in this

[terryleather]

Count me in for a PM @Badgerthebodger
& Thank you

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

Pm here too please @Badgerthebodger
I promise to rant change it lots.
Will also get DH to send a different version.


You can find all your MSPs here
www.theyworkforyou.com

[hipsterumlaut]

Please PM me too - I can't do anything immediately on account of a looming work deadline but will get on it as soon as I can.