Trans guidelines for schools in Scotland

Being
Good Morning Scotland on BBC Radio Scotland, about 8.15 (I think)

Does anyone know which radio programme was discussing this?

I've emailed my MSP too, will see ignoring I get any response.
Trying to decide whether to contact the school (primary school), it's probably more relevant for secondary but who knows

Surely the huge majority of parents (especially parents of girls) would have issues with this if they knew about it. How on earth is it being kept so quiet and apparently being decided that its nothing to do with the parents if silly school policies put their children at risk?!

I have actually just emailed DSDs school and asked about this stuff. No doubt will get 'date protection' 'warble warble' 'trans-inclusive' etc back from them. I only asked what their policy is regarding sex segregation. I don't think thats unreasonable, but we shall see.

DSD informs me that 3 of her friends are transboys now (all came out in the past few months), but that the transboys don't want to use the boys loos and stuff anyway as they don't feel safe there. Which I fully understand. She doesn't think there are any transgirls in the school, but only really knows people in her own year so there might be. I specifically asked her about loos and stuff actually and she says she has seen boys in there a few times but they always get chucked out.

Yeah. I might spoil my ballot paper too. I've considered writing to my MSP but he's as thick as shit in numerous ways so I feel it is pointless.

I agree that spoiling the ballot paper is a big deal. I have never missed voting, even local elections. I'm furious that I am completely alienated politically because of this, but I will not vote for a party that support this madness

I'm also in Scotland, I have a 13 year old daughter who just had her first period and she would probably rather stay at home than going to school knowing there might be a male person in the girls' bathrooms while she is dealing with san pro.
I doubt our local MSP would even read past the subject titel of any email on this subject I would send.

Great letter, thanks Betsy

But I definitely draw the line at Tommy . And he would support all this anyway

It's not just SNP though Assigned. According the bbc link I posted about Sturgeon's statement "Labour, the Conservatives, Lib Dems and Scottish Greens also back greater rights and support for LGBTI people."

I've always voted, but no party now represents my view so I'm considering spoiling my ballot paper at the next election. For me, that's a big deal.

Bring back Tommy Sheridan!

MSP letter:

I am writing to you about my concerns regarding Nicola Sturgeon’s recent pledge to reform devolved legislation for gender recognition to ‘bring it in line with international best practice’ allowing transgender individuals to change their sex on their birth certificate to reflect their gender status, inclusive of 16-17 year olds, and younger children (with parental permission).(1) The Government’s Programme for Scotland 2017-2018 (p113) announces a consultation on reforming gender recognition legislation.(2)

These proposed legal changes have enormous ramifications for women and girls. Sex is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. However, if any man can self-declare as a woman (without any medical, surgical or even presentation changes), then we cannot identify women as differentiated from men and the biological category of sex becomes legally meaningless, as do the legal rights and protections afforded to it.

This whole area is fraught with misunderstanding and conflation of terms. Gender is often used as a synonym with biological sex (see the GRA 2004 whereby a person can legally change gender but then be issued with a new birth certificate recording their new sex).

According to the Equality & Human Right Commission sex refers to biological and physiological characteristics, with male or female recorded on a person’s birth certificate ie. it’s a material reality. And gender refers to the masculine and feminine stereotypes that are socially constructed eg. boys are tough and suited to technical jobs whereas girls are gentle and suited to caring roles.

Transgender people often define gender identity as an innate feeling of being a man or a woman ie. it’s a subjective feeling. (Non-binary transgender people may also define it as a fluid feeling of being a man or a woman, both, or neither, and may change from day-to-day).

Currently, we separate some facilities and services on the basis of sex to ensure privacy, dignity and safety, and in the case of women’s sport, fairness. If the proposed gender identity laws are enacted and separation is by gender identity rather than sex then any sports team, leadership position, or opportunity for women could be filled entirely by biological men who identify as women, and women would have no way to legally claim sex-based discrimination. No discrimination could be considered to be taking place.

Given that 80-95% of trans-identified males still retain a fully functioning penis(3) and the same criminal and violent behaviour patterns as men(4), it is clear that problems will arise in situations where women and girls are vulnerable. In the US, states that have adopted similar laws have seen violent crime against women in safe spaces double(5), not just from trans-identified men but from sex offenders and paedophiles taking advantage of increased access to women and girls in bathrooms and changing rooms.

I could talk all day about the problems transgender ideology is already causing in the UK, including:

• Rapists and violent trans-identified males in women’s prisons (Martin Ponting(6) who was isolated after sexually harassing female inmates, Paris Green(7) who was twice removed from women’s prisons for having sex with inmates, and Andrew Burns(8) who was deemed too dangerous to attend Alloa court and of whom female wardens have involved their union after refusing to conduct strip searches);

• Trans-identified male athletes winning women’s competitions (Fallon Fox(9) a martial arts fighter who seriously injured a female opponent, weightlifter Laurel Hubbard(10) who set new world records which are unattainable for women, and Andraya Yearwood(11) a US sprinter who has won two girls state titles - without even undergoing any hormonal treatment);

• Trans-identified males in female refuges (Christopher Hambrook(12) who sexually assaulted 2 women in a women’s shelter, and Danielle Muscato(13) whose completed transition includes a beard and business suit, and who tweeted from a women’s shelter “Some women have penises. If you’re bothered by this, you can suck my dick.”);

• Distortion of crime statistics (for example, the average number of women convicted of possession of an indecent photo of a child = 1.3 per year(14), yet three trans-identified males were convicted of this crime last year - Alice Smith(15), Nat Bird(16) and Nicola Florida(17). This more than doubles the crime rate by ‘women’ last year.);

• Loss of meaningful statistics such as the pay gap, educational markers, living standards, medical and scientific research. Given that many of these are included as areas to improve on in the The Government’s Programme for Scotland 2017-2018(2) (eg. p35 pay gap, p80 participation in STEM subjects, p113 representation on public boards) these tasks will become invisible and unachievable. Combine this with the potential loss of the question of sex in the 2021 Census(18) and we will not even know how many women are living in this country;

• Mixed-sex hospital wards, although abolished (for now) in Scotland, continue to cause misery in England with patients concerned about humiliation and loss of dignity, with trusts fined £250 for every breach;(19)

• The affirmation only policy by NHS clinics and therapists(20) which prohibits exploration of any underlying issues of gender confusion in children, such as sexual orientation, depression, anxiety or autism. Puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones are prescribed off-label with no long-term studies on potential harm. Children as young as 10 are given these chemotherapy drugs when they cannot possibly give informed consent to loss of fertility, a fulfilling sex life, or becoming life-long medical patients.

However, my primary issue is that transgender ideology is unscientific: we are conflating sex and gender and creating laws as though human beings can change sex when we simply cannot; XX or XY chromosomes are written into every cell in our bodies. What are we teaching our children? There are primary school children who have been led to believe they can choose their sex, and if they like playing with dolls it means they are a girl, and trucks means they are a boy. This is regressive and contradicts current educational equality policy on challenging gender stereotypes.

Teaching materials are already in schools which explain to girls that if they speak up about feeling uncomfortable with trans-identifying boys in their changing rooms then they are committing a hate crime(22). In the current climate of sexual harassment claims in Hollywood, the UK and Scottish Governments and #MeToo, this removal of girl's consent, privacy and sexual boundaries is alarming.

Despite everything written above, I understand that transgender people suffer discrimination and deserve legal protection against harassment and abuse. However, the proposed legal changes ride roughshod over existing sex based protections and endangers women and children.

It is important that this matter is debated and a more equitable solution found. I hope you will speak up for women during consultation and in parliament. I would also appreciate if you could explain how any devolved legislation would integrate with, the perhaps differing, UK legislation such as the Sex Discrimination Act, Gender Recognition Act and the Equality Act.

Legally changing the definition of women is such an important issue so I have emailed this letter to my constituency MSP as well as all the regional MSPs.

Yours sincerely

References:

(1)...www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/01/nicola-sturgeon-gender-recognition-law-trans-people-scotland-snp-lgbti

(2)...www.gov.scot/Resource/0052/00524214.pdf

(3)...Written evidence submitted by GIRES to Transgender Equality Enquiry, 2015
www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/transgender-equality/publications/

(4)...journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0016885

(5)...womanmeanssomething.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Gender-Legislation-Increases-Harm.pdf

(6)...www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4856268/Transgender-rapist-moved-women-jail-segregated.html

(7)...www.thesun.co.uk/news/2792998/pre-op-transgender-killer-moved-back-mens-wing-sex-female-inmates/

(8)...www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/court-put-lockdown-dangerous-dirty-11081394

(9)...gendertrender.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/fallon-fox-why-hormones-dont-make-a-woman/

(10)..www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/21/laurel-hubbard-transgender-athlete-crushes-female-/

(11)..www.courant.com/sports/high-schools/hc-hs-cromwell-track-andraya-yearwood-0407-20170406-story.html

(12)..archive.is/1OrPQ

(13)..Screenshot: see attached image

(14)..Criminal Justice Statistics Outcomes by Offence Tool, average over 10 years from 2006 to 2015
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/614418/cjs-outcomes-by-offence-tool-2016.xlsx

(15)..www.eadt.co.uk/news/judge-criticises-lack-of-specific-treatment-for-women-who-download-child-porn-after-ardleigh-woman-20-is-found-with-1-200-indecent-images-1-4733506

(16)..metro.co.uk/2017/09/07/transgender-student-takes-own-life-after-being-caught-with-child-pornography-6909895/

(17)..www.thesun.co.uk/news/2239469/transgender-paedo-jailed-for-raping-boys-and-girls-is-caught-trying-to-develop-indecent-images-of-one-of-her-victims-after-being-released/

(18)..www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/no-sex-please-this-is-the-census-sswntgs5z

(19)..www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/17/tripling-patients-forced-treated-mixed-sex-wards/

(20)..www.transgendertrend.com/children-left-unprotected-by-new-memorandum-of-understanding-on-conversion-therapy/

(21)..www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/15569221.Growing_number_of_children_are_receiving_treatment_for_concerns_over_gender_identity/

(22)..www.transgendertrend.com/cps-schools-project-the-erasure-of-sex-and-the-silencing-of-girls/

I'm in Scotland too :(

Nicola Sturgeon's pre-election pledge to transform transgender laws is here. It includes anyone 16+ to be able to easily change their birth certificate, and also

I wonder how these guidelines will be accepted in faith schools. There are many Catholic schools in Scotland and a few Jewish schools. I can't imagine they would be in board with this.

Also, re Scottish politics, it's also interesting that the Independence YES campaign has a lot of Celtic supporters (who are 'traditionally' Catholic). So will they turn against the SNP on this basis? A lot of Celtic supporters like to think of themselves as 'Progressive', have been pro-Palestinian etc, so it's a difficult one to call. But the Church of Scotland is also quite traditional and fuck only knows what the Wee Frees will make of it

There was a discussion on Radio Scotland this morning about a @ScotGov Consultation on enabling GNC on self declaration with no medical intervention. I can't find it online. Does anyone know about it?

I wrote to my MSP three times. Eventually got a bs reply saying nothing except how great the SNP are on equality issues and enclosing some leaflets about trans rights. Hate to be negative but I think tbat particular route is a waste of time. Especially since so much is already happening. I agree that we should do something though but what could make enough of an impact without a danger to ourselves.

"Boy says he would 'more comfortable' on the school trip sleeping with the girls - that's his right"

Wouldn't they all?

I'm so glad that none of this nonsense was around when I was a teen girl. I can think of 5-6 boys who would take advantage of this to grope and terrorise us girls on school trips.

Ha! Yes:

Dorset guidelines for instance:

Generic Risk Assessments.doc

Under safeguarding for residential trips:

Risk Before Control Measures: Injury, death, abduction, abuse
Persons At Risk: Pupils and Staff
Control Measures: Separate male and female sleeping accommodation
Residual Risk Rating: Low

So, if they are changing to gender separated sleeping accommodation, how does that change the residual risk rating.

Now I'm not saying force the transboy to sleep in with the girls necessarily, but separate accommodation would seem to me to be better from a risk control perspective than putting the transboy (ie female) in a dorm with the boys.

And norahnamechange I agree that it might be possible to unite people around protecting the dignity and safety of all children.

The thing that gets me is the possibility of such huge changes being made without informing parents. That an ideology is being pushed as fact. At least with religion parents are aware and can usually choose a secular school if they wish.

And, most of all, the lack of evidence involved. It's astounding. No evidence that unquestioning affirmation is beneficial for trans identifying kids. No evidence that such changes won't undermine the safety and dignity of girls (half of the school population!!) Plenty of evidence to suggest that this guidance might be detrimental their wellbeing.

I honestly can't think of a good comparison. This seems unprecedented.

Jesus Christ, I've never been more pleased to be out of the UK at the moment - especially since I have one young emo son who could probably be persuaded of many things, and another who loves everything pink and sparkly (and lego ninjago and hulk and bad guys...)

Could someone get a risk assessment from a previous school trip regarding accommodation - surely there is, somewhere, a piece of paper talking about how they are dealing with sex-segregated sleeping arrangements? (given my child minder had a folder of risk assessments covering everything from the mud kitchen to the scooters, I feel schools must have this stuff)

Once you have that, you can ask how following this new trans legislation affects the risks from this previous risk assessment, how it is going to change, and why those risks are now presumably negated for a girl who wants to sleep with the boys or a boy who wants to sleep with the girls.

Datun that's a very good point about social contagion.

Yes. I don't think we've seen anything yet in terms of social contagion. This year 1 trans identifying person in the schola, next year several, tge follow year 10+ in every school...? At least the faster it spreads the faster it might be addressed. Maybe young people themselves will address the insanity and create a backlash through social media. Maybe I'm being too optimistic

My DC's school has a female identifying as trans and the school have literally put the flags out ( rainbow flags and lanyards everywhere DD says) DD sees the person and says they feel sorry for them and like they just want to fade into the background. She acknowledges the attention could be excrutiating this person. Incidentally this person has opted out of PE and to use teacher's facilities. I won't know if the school gave them the opportunity to do otherwise.

If similar guidance as the Scottish guidance makes it to my DC's school, I will send them the link to Stephanie Arie-Davies' statement recently made in parliament ( or was it HoC)

Someone on another site made a good point.

As the guidelines will effectively make trans people more important than anyone else, the social contagion is going catch on pretty quickly.

I would hope that no one is obliged to follow it. I’ve not had a chance to read it through, just scrolled to the page about legislation and they’re being creative in their interpretations.

Problem is that Local Authorities have given it their backing so state schools may be compelled by them to abide by it. Private schools presumably will have more freedom to file it in the recycling bin.

Bunny registering will not detare men wanting to pose as trans to abuse women. Registering will give them backing to go into female spaces without challenge