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Original poster

Hive thread. Ways to take action - help please!

36 replies

DrummerWoman · 31/07/2017 19:35

Hello everyone! Fairly new here but finding the info and insights on the Gender Bill really fascinating and obviously very worrying. I hope you can signpost me or help me with action I can take. Petitions? Are there any standard type letters I can send to my local paper/MP? Is there a lobbying group I can support? I want a list of tasks I can do that will help prevent women's rights being trampled all over.
Freedom is in peril.

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NoMoreNotToday · 09/09/2017 13:43

piggyback question if you don't mind, is there a Twitter equivilant of the Facebook group? I don't &won't do fb for personal reasons but am interested

AveEldon · 07/09/2017 12:48

I also wrote to my MP - no reply yet

Rumandraisin1 · 31/08/2017 22:41

I emailed David Davies last week and received a response within a few days:

"Thank you very much indeed for your email. These are excellent points. I have absolutely no wish to cause upset to anyone in the LGBT community. I would like to find a way of expressing legitimate concerns about these proposals without causing anyone offence and I am going to meet some Women's Rights Campaigners to discuss this next month."

(In my email, I mentioned that many people in the LGBT community did not support this legislation and the negative impact of the current trans agenda on lesbian and gay people).

Nice to get a response and in particular one from someone who is actually listening to our concerns. I wrote to my own MP about a month ago and haven't had any response at all.

IndominusRex · 04/08/2017 08:04

Well done drummer! Great work!

hi6789 · 03/08/2017 23:34

Being brave= Just shared Mayday on my Facebook. Wonder how may friends I'm about to lose Sad. Hoping to raise awareness Smile

hi6789 · 03/08/2017 21:13

DrummerWoman hope it goes well, good luck and let us know what happens. I am not affiliated to any group/organisation but I am sure anyone else who is will get in contact with you.

Original poster
DrummerWoman · 03/08/2017 20:00

Thanks everyone it's great to have support. I feel like my sleepless nights on this issue are worth it.
Hi6789 - I'll do my utmost to get more local people involved (or at least identify who might feel the same). It's typical isn't it that we have to take quite considerable steps to protect our identity and tread carefully before being able to communicate our needs.
Are there any leaders of groups/orgs on here who could contact me? I know he is extremely keen to get an organised coherent support network to ensure that everyone has their rights, ideas and needs fully represented.

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Datun · 03/08/2017 19:44

DrummerWoman

I'm in Kent. But I can absolutely do London, if that helps.

hi6789 · 03/08/2017 18:48

I'm in the Midlands, if you can't get any one nearer to you let me know.

BetsyM00 · 03/08/2017 18:46

Yes, you'll need to take reinforcements. I am at the other end of the UK, so I nominate Datun Grin. Take lots of cake!

Original poster
DrummerWoman · 03/08/2017 17:25

He's asked me to attend a meeting with some of the people who disagreed. If others would like to attend that would be great. Should be an interesting discussion. I can bring cake!

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BetsyM00 · 03/08/2017 17:16

Thanks Drummer. I posted a link to his article on the facebook page of the MN action group yesterday.

It's good to see MPs taking this seriously and speaking out.

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Original poster
DrummerWoman · 03/08/2017 17:15

Here's the original article. I think getting bogged down with thoughts on genitalia isn't necesarily the best tack to begin conversations on... and I have mentioned this to him. When I spoke with him he was concerned that he felt that because he was a man he wasn't best placed to speak up for/on behalf of women. I said that anyone can be a feminist and actually men can be excellent advocates. He's quite a sensitive chap from what I can make out. Can't say I agree with him on every issue but then I could say the same about my partner and friends. That's what makes life interesting I guess.

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hi6789 · 03/08/2017 16:52

DrummerWoman thank you, I have just emailed him a copy of the email I sent to my MP.

Datun · 03/08/2017 15:28

DrummerWoman

Can you link to the article?

Original poster
DrummerWoman · 03/08/2017 14:20

Good news. My MP has recently published an article on this matter questioning the effects in the rights of women.
Coincidentally I emailed him yesterday with my own concerns and he replied straight away. He's VERY interested in speaking out for women's rights, meeting with anyone (whether in Monmouthshire or not) and representing the views of women in parliament. If you are part of a group I know he would be particularly interested to hear from you, but individuals too. He said he can't promise to answer every peice of correspondence but every one will matter.
I can see from the comments beneath the article that he's on the end of some fairly abusive stuff, and I know he's keen to keep the discussions moderate and cooperative. Please consider emailing him: contact details here:
Email: [email protected]
Thank you

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Ereshkigal · 03/08/2017 13:22

Am I right in thinking that the bill awaiting second reading has to start from scratch again due to the election? Whatever the situation I think we just need to be vigilant, and prepared to challenge.

DJBaggySmalls · 03/08/2017 10:39

If you need a quote you could use something like ''The rights of one group cant override another. Women are being pushed out of sports by trans women such as Lauren Hubbard and Fallon fox''.

Its a difficult one to argue against or take offence at.

IrenetheQuaint · 03/08/2017 08:45

It's better not to use template letters as they're much more likely to be ignored. Also useful to use data/real life examples as much as possible. I'm going to go through the submissions to the Women and Equalities Select Committee report and quote some of them.

There's no hurry, it may be best to wait until Parliament is back and the Bill is approaching its second reading stage. I'm hoping that Janice Turner's interview with Maria Miller and other comments by sensible people will begin to have a snowball effect over the next few months.

hi6789 · 02/08/2017 20:11

I think a distinction needs to be made between sex and gender. If I was you I would PM Datun , Thisisouting, BetsyM00 as they seem to have loads of information to hand and may have something you could use.

Original poster
DrummerWoman · 02/08/2017 19:29

Pressure is on to come up with a quote, I'm trying not to write an absolute essay! Anyone have a short paragraph they can post?!?!

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Original poster
DrummerWoman · 02/08/2017 19:01

My MP has emailed me back almost immediately asking me to give a quote to a local (but fairly big) newspaper as he also has concerns. That's great. He's also going to ring me too.
I've signed the petitions and read the articles (also took notes too).
I do think there's room for mediation and education. Both in terms of educating myself and the general public (many of my friends are utterly ignorant about this topic) about the terminology, legality and lifestyles and experiences of people on both sides of the debate. I've found a couple of the comments on the times article thread from trans folk quite interesting and helpful. I don't want to go to war about this because I ultimately just want every person to be treated with respect and I think a bit of empathy is a much less stressful way of going about things!!!

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Callmejudith · 02/08/2017 11:25

This is brilliant thank you. I peak-trans my husband and friends on holiday this week and want to do more.

Datun · 02/08/2017 08:09

I just wanted to add, there are some very well known feminists on the Facebook group.

It's organised and serious.