*The feminists who did participate in the original GRA discussions were lied to.
We were told that it would only apply to a cohort of 5000 max.
As a result it would have no impact on the collection of statistical data.
We were told that it would only apply apply to people who were then thought of as transsexuals. It explicitly did not include males who like to present/dress in a stereotypical feminine manner either because they like the aesthetic or because it makes them feel sexy.
We were told that single sex services/spaces could be preserved and that even with a certificate someone could be excluded.
We were told that sports would be exempt, I think at the time every sporting body in the country applied for an exemption.
We were told that GRCS were needed so that a transperson could apply for passports and driver's licences and not risk outing themselves.
We were led to believe that intention to transition meant for males an intention to have their penis removed.
They lied and we were fools to believe them.*
The 2004 GRA was also debated and put into law in the days before social media. The reason there's been so much pushback this time round is because women are aware of what is happening and the implications of it. We see what happens when self-id is implemented in other countries without thought to the consequences for women: you get paedophiles like Jonathan Yaniv dragging bewildered small businesswomen in front of a kangaroo court for not wanting to wax his lady balls. We can see, track and archive the boundaries being erased and safeguarding being ignored left, right and centre. And we've been able to co-ordinate our resistance to it.
We didn't make a fuss in 2004 because we were lied to, and the lies were barely reported and commented on.