Times article - Greening delays plans to reform GRA

Now maybe Justine Greening will have a look at what GIRES and Mermaids are doing with their DfE funding! Promoting children taking off label drugs that will negatively impact on their bodies for ever. Breaking lesson one of safeguarding rules when telling adults that they can keep a child's disclosure about gender confusion confidential.
That will do for starters.

Maybe reading evidence from lesbians being forced to take male bodies or be called transphobic was enough to make her stop and think? You can't force someone to be sexually attracted to someone they aren't attracted to.

I imagine the reason they're concerned about LGB rights is because the gay lobby is quite vocal, and, having introduced gay marriage, they don't now want to be seen as the party that tramples on gay rights. Whereas they know most women won't make a fuss, and those who do can be dismissed as radical feminists.

WhoPutthecatout My MP wrote to her too, my concerns were a variety, women, lesbians, trans/gay and ASC children being steralised, people with disabilities like Dementia and LD who will be sought for hate crimes because they don't understand. I queried how the needs of each protection characteristic groups were being balanced.

Any shift in the right direction is good, but I notice it is the LBGT community she appears to be particularly concerned about, rather than women generally. Still a cross party group opposed to the proposals is good - they have been rather quiet though apart from David Davies.

On another thread I reported a response from my (Conservative) MP. He has forwarded my concerns to Greening and asked for a response, which he will forward to me. He put a handwritten PS on his letter saying he was concerned and would be watching developments closely. He has had a number of local people expressing concerns about it. So all good there.

I think it's good news. I think the government originally imagined this would be a nice, feel good piece of socially liberal legislation, like same sex marriage, that would give everyone a warm glow and attract the youth vote.

They've realised it's more complicated to that. I'm sure much of that is down to the fantastic efforts of Janice Turner, who was the first to raise it in the national press. Obviously it's since been taken up by others, the latest being Leo McKinstry in the Express (www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/leo-mckinstry/895046/transgender-madness-2017-year-insanity). I normally regard McKinstry as being a pretty nasty right-wing journalist, but there you go - the left have been very reluctant to stand up for women's rights, unfortunately. And obviously from the point of view of a Tory government, the last thing they want is to be deserted by their natural supporters.

The number of women who have written to their MP to raise this as an issue has also no doubt helped - so a pat on the back to everyone who has done this. Even if you had a pathetic fobbing off letter from your MP (as I did), they'll now be aware that it's an issue that constituents are worried about, and that will make them nervous.

*They

We need to shift the emphasis to protect people who don't conform to gender stereotypes, Then men who prefer dresses and make up can do so in peace, without feeling they are "failed men", and not bullied for it. Same goes for women. So that breast - binding in teenage girls is not celebrated as a good thing.

Yes, why are men especially, allowed to bully these people?

Labour, Guides and so forth are not following the EA, so they need advising their are acting illegally and asking to change the rules/guidelines back, that 99% of the population can sue them and now they know if a serious case review occurs in future from their guidance, questions will be asked as to why they did nothing to improve safeguarding etc. More fool them putting the horse before the cart, they should have waited for the law change.

We need to shift the emphasis to protect people who don't conform to gender stereotypes, Then men who prefer dresses and make up can do so in peace, without feeling they are "failed men", and not bullied for it. Same goes for women. So that breast - binding in teenage girls is not celebrated as a good thing.

Without wishing to piss on anyone's chips I do strongly suspect that regardless of any back pedalling now, it's gone to far to be able to take it all back.

Anywhere that has installed gender neutral facilities, allowed students To use whatever changing room they wish and all the girls who lost out to boys on sports teams are still no better off whatever happens now.

And some where they spend six hours a day five day a week or so activity they do once or twice a week for definate will have more impact on their lives than a public toilet or hospital ward they might never use.

Who is really going to stand up now and say " we are sorry kids we were wrong have your changing rooms back"

Everywhere is already acting as if it's law. Are Labour going to fire their woman's officer? No.

Giles that's exactly my concern.

So if it doesn't happen does that mean that all these schools and organisations like scouts and guides will go back and 're write their policies?

Right now it's pretty meaningless as the damage has already been done in preparations for this as far as children go.

Excellent christmas present
[santa]

That is truly a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Well done to everyone who has been active in getting information out there and spreading the word. I agree it's time to keep on keeping on. The Scottish consultation is crucial.

I was so relived to read that this morning. When I talk to my friends they have no idea this was happening and are shocked.

The thing that really boils my blood though is the situation in Education. I'd like to see those plans booted out.

Yes absolutely I will be redoubling my efforts in the New Year as clearly people are listening.

The headline was more optimistic than the article. But there is absolutely no doubt that there is power in writing to, talking to your democratically elected MP, because the penny has obviously been dropping. Many many thanks to everyone who has. I doubt Greening will ever use the words "so called feminists" again!

Wonderful a little early Christmas present for us all 🍾🥂🍾

Gender ID is already a protected characteristic, all a man has to do is announce he has begun the process.
However that conflicts with several other protected characteristics including religion and race. Either the Tories have to scrap the Equality Act altogether and lose various protected rights for 99% of the population, or they have to drop the GRA.

Justine Greening has realised she doesn't want to go down in history as the politician responsible for the worst step backwards for women's rights in hundreds of years.
Jolly good.

Thanks Kvinne

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/justine-greening-delays-divisive-plan-for-easy-gender-swaps-gm77qd9gn?shareToken=2da0986863c2fa014611bcd00b29a2d6

There are proposals to introduce similar legislation in Scotland and there is currently a consultation going on about that

I have wasted so many hours responding to Scottish Government consultations on my particular fields. The direction of travel the Scottish Government wants to go on is already at least 90% set long before a consultation paper is issued.

The Scottish Government is also determined to be as right on as possible about any issue. Some times this means it gets it right (the smoking ban; charging for carrier bags; banning animals in circuses and the current consultation on smacking children for example ) on other things it gets it horribly wrong.

[Fsmile]