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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

Response from my MP

29 replies

Tiggering · 06/07/2020 17:55

I wrote to my MP about my concerns about the removal of single sex spaces. I did not mention the article in the Times which makes me thing I got a copy-and-paste response. I’m disappointed that it doesn’t really say anything other than to dismiss the concerns. I’m tempted to write back.

Thank you for your e-mail.

I am afraid that there has been some misunderstanding on the part of the Times.

When Mrs May was Prime Minister a consultation was launched on the proposals to enable transgender people to change their birth certificate without a medical diagnosis. The 2018 consultation received more than 100,000 responses. The Government has not yet published its response. On 17 October 2019, Elizabeth Truss, Minister for Women and Equalities, said that the issue of the response to the consultation was very important and needed time for consideration.

There are no ‘laws’ in place regarding single sex lavatories or indeed changing rooms. It has been the custom to have them because many women and girls do not feel comfortable having men in such close proximity. Many shops and restaurants have unisex facilities already. Any establishment may choose to have single sex or unisex facilities and this will very much depend on the wishes of their clientele.

The stories in the media are speculation and should be taken as such. I understand that the Minister will announce the Government’s response to the consultation in late July.

Yours sincerely

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teawamutu · 06/07/2020 18:10

That's a bit worrying.

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Binterested · 06/07/2020 18:12

Almost every sentence in that letter is wrong.

What will you do?

PS, it's better than the response from my female Conservative MP. Eight weeks and still waiting for an answer...

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teawamutu · 06/07/2020 18:27

Hoping it doesn't signal a backtrack. What party is your MP, OP?

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AlwaysTawnyOwl · 06/07/2020 18:27

They sound as though they don't know what they're talking about.

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AlwaysTawnyOwl · 06/07/2020 18:28

I'd be tempted to write back.

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LardiLaLardiLi · 06/07/2020 18:32

I would write back. This answer reads like a dismissal. What party's MP you have?

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Evelefteden · 06/07/2020 18:33

Yes which party is your MP from?

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Deltoids1 · 06/07/2020 18:34

They don’t seem to be aware of the Equality Act and the single sex provision contain therein. I’d be tempted to write back using some of the information on the Fair Play for Women/Women’s Place website regarding the Equality Act.

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PurpleHoodie · 06/07/2020 18:43

There are no ‘laws’ in place regarding single sex lavatories or indeed changing rooms.

This is Billy Bullshit right there. There ARE laws regarding female only provision.

SEX - Female is a Protected Characteristic in UK Law. Equalities Act.

Religious Belief is a Protected Characteristic. Equalities Act.

Females XX + people (with no Y) as a Protected Class may bring a class action suit against opponents in UK Law.

(Lesbians for example in UK law are female only same sex attracted people).

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PurpleHoodie · 06/07/2020 18:44

What Deltoids said.

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transdimensional · 06/07/2020 18:52

Any establishment may choose to have single sex or unisex facilities and this will very much depend on the wishes of their clientele.
That's a lie for a start. The vast majority of establishments will make their own decision without consulting their clientele. Granted, some may be forced to backtrack if they try to convert to unisex and the backlash is strong enough. But still.

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Al1Langdownthecleghole · 06/07/2020 19:00

I had a wrongly C&P’d response to my concerns about the teaching materials for the new relationships curriculum from the autumn. A whole paragraph about why parents wouldn’t be able to withdraw children from the lessons. Except that I hadn’t mentioned withdrawing children from lessons.

Have replied and pointed out the C&P error and asked for a response to the question I did ask.

Please tell me you are not in NW Essex.

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PurpleHoodie · 06/07/2020 19:14

Are you on the correct thread Al1?

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Tiggering · 06/07/2020 19:27

I have a conservative MP. He’s an old white guy who voted against civil partnerships, he is anti abortion and has a terrible track record for absence or voting against human rights protections but he seems a bit more woke on trans issues.

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FantaOra · 06/07/2020 19:33

What waffle. I'm not surprised though, the communication when it does finally happen is going to unleash the hounds of hell! Properly looking forward to it.

It's not often that men get pushed back on but sometimes middle England is right.

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transdimensional · 06/07/2020 19:44

Others have said it before, but there are some of those who opposed gay rights who've now decided to support the TRA agenda because they incorrectly assume it means being on the right side of history.

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FantaOra · 06/07/2020 19:50

From my experience of a meeting with my older male, very successful and properly down to earth in a working class town, that elder men have absolutely no idea how to respond to this. They are torn between the acceptance versus limits dichotomy and are not able to call it.

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Tiggering · 06/07/2020 19:56

He’s not one to shy away from controversy or bow down to public opinion. He has a Tory safe seat and he has always been unashamedly happy to justify his terrible voting record in the past.

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Awning10 · 06/07/2020 20:03

I wrote to my MP and the response was a cut and paste that had also been sent out by other conservative MPs.

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Al1Langdownthecleghole · 06/07/2020 20:30

I wrote to my MP and the response was a cut and paste that had also been sent out by other conservative MPs.

Do you get the feeling that they send out a standard response to "women's concerns" regardless of whether they answer the question?

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rednsparkley · 06/07/2020 20:59

I've had no response from my female Labour MP as yet. She is spineless though so I am expecting either nothing or word salad nonsense

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Awning10 · 07/07/2020 06:59

The thought is that the cut and pastes are coming from the GEO (Government Equalities Office).... at least 5 letters, all the same reply but from different constituencies.

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rednsparkley · 18/07/2020 12:43

I've had a response from my MP - it was exactly what I expected from her. I intend to respond thanking her for confirming my opinion of her and the Labour Party and reiterating that I will never vote for her again. I also intend to spread the word in our constituency.

Here is what she sent - it is garbage from start to finish!

Thank you for contacting me about reform of the Gender Recognition Act (GRA).

I believe that reform of the GRA should be used to progress rights in this country.

I support calls for the Government to introduce a system of self-declaration for trans people. I also believe it is important that the Government does not interfere with protections under the Equality Act, which ensure that trans people are not wrongfully excluded from single-sex spaces.

As you will be aware, in July 2017, the Government committed to review the GRA to examine “options to streamline and demedicalise the gender recognition process.” The Government committed to consulting on reforming the GRA and launched its consultation in July 2018. This consultation closed in October 2018 and the Government is yet to officially respond.

I am concerned that delays in reforming the GRA have created a hostile environment for LGBT+ people.

I am committed to championing the rights of the trans community who often suffer some of the worst violence and hate crime. There is more we can do to ensure this country is inclusive to all people regardless of their gender identity.

I am aware concerns have been raised regarding reports over the Government’s plans to scrap proposals to allow people to change their legal gender by self-identifying. I am also aware that further concerns have been raised over reported proposals to set out new safeguards to protect female-only spaces.

This is a nuanced and fraught debate, one which I do not feel is appropriate to handle through social media or through the leaking of review recommendations.

It is very important we work closely with others in scrutinising the Government’s proposals once they are finally published. These discussions must be conducted on the basis of fact and respect.

I am determined to listen and understand the challenges facing the trans community to help deliver change and put the right policies in place to protect and respect everyone’s rights.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue. I will continue to monitor developments closely.

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ThePankhurstConnection · 18/07/2020 13:35

Don't just write back make an appointment to see them. It is clear they a) don't read the letters and b) haven't a clue what they are talking about. Go to see them, be prepared, take visual aids and evidence of statistics. They can't get away with dismissing a constituent's issues like that because they, themselves are apparently ignorant of the issue and the law.

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thehumanformerlyknownasfemale · 18/07/2020 13:48

I am also aware that further concerns have been raised over reported proposals to set out new safeguards to protect female-only spaces.

I would question the intentions of anyone who was "concerned" about protecting female-only spaces, especially given that children are likely to be present in them. (If I've interpreted that bit correctly?)

That whole response is just trans, trans, trans. Women who?

What a fucking joke.

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