Government response to the petition...

Those who stood in the way of racial equality now look like racist bigots.
Those who stood in the way of women's rights now look like misogynists.
Those who stood in the way of LGB rights now look like homophobes.

Terrible comparison. We are not standing in the way of trans rights. We are standing up for women's rights. It is a positive position - not a negative one.

Me too!

Absolutely me too.

Yes I will too. It was on my boycott list. I've been going to Debs.

Oh good well make sure you scream really loudly if you see a trans woman in there.

A Debenhams spokesperson said: ‘We are sorry for any distress caused to the customer. Debenhams changing rooms are not gender specific.

I posted a while back how the latest ministerial response to my letters re the GRA had gone further than earlier ones in acknowledging the problems amendments would produce. This GEO response goes even further - so a step in the right direction.

However, I am very wary of proposals that use phrases such as "case by case" "proportionate" etc. as they are subjective (a bit like reasonable doubt) and if it stands like that I can see the lawyers lining up on both sides of the debate.

We need a legal definition of the words woman/female that does not include trans. Nothing less will enable women to challenge trans people who seek validation by entering women's spaces. The loopholes are still there.

On another note, in a PM conversation with a journalist whose ear is firmly to the ground he believes letters have produced a shift in opinion, that we should continue that campaign and that Labour should be targeted as he spots some room for shift there too.

I do however, remain sceptical myself.

additional comment from:
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-transgender-woman-left-tears-12652629

"Debenhams have said they are investigating the incident at their store in Glasgow.
Jay left Debenhams and went to nearby House of Fraser and said she was “treated like a princess”.

A Debenhams spokesperson said: “We are sorry for any distress caused to the customer. Debenhams changing rooms are not gender specific.

"We are currently investigating the incident.”

The Debs thing should be in AIBU.

So Debenhams customer service to support the first member of staff then?
So much for living as a woman - has a male name. and a penis

I've also boycotted M&S totally, even their food court. I will not spend money in a store that won't protect me.

M&S live chat was easy to use
They cant help but are feeding back...

Debenhams
It sounded like the staff were sympathetic downstairs and were likley to help.

They must have all gone back upstairs to the women's changing rooms...

'use the gents' is unusual language.

It sounds like more may have gone on than reported.

Well done Debs assistant. Women don't want penis' in our spaces.

Well, good on that shop assistant.

What woman wants to share a space with Jay? Jay will be physically stronger and taller than most of us, and has not got a good control of themselves. I hope Debenhams and other stores ban Jay from using sex segregated spaces for the safety of female staff and customers.

Why didn't Jay start a campaign for trans facilities like women and people with disabilities did?

Even my friends Mum is boycotting M&S at the moment over their sex discrimination policy against women.

He threw the dress at her?

I hope Debenhams phone the police!

Pratchet possible challenge to Debenham's policy reported today.

Fairplay for Women's fact checker page link is here:

fairplayforwomen.com/fact-checker/

They have a lot of detailed resources on the site.

Yes I will too. It was on my boycott list. I've been going to Debs.

OneHourTwentyFourMinutes wow!
I will thank M&S with both a return of my custom and return their good name with all I know, if they return to the old sex segregation policy.
Me too!

Wow that's terrific hour 🙌🏻🙌🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Article in today's Metro:
(extract)

"A transgender woman said she was left devastated this week after being turned away from female changing rooms and told to ‘use the gents’. Jay Campbell visited the Debenhams store in Glasgow in a bid to find a dress for her friend’s wedding.

However, as she went to try it on she claims she was stopped from entering the cubicle – and told to head downstairs to the men’s section. The 25-year-old from Carluke, Lanarkshire, added that she walked to the male section ‘crying in shock’ after the exchange. She has been living as a woman for the last two years, and taking female hormones since the start of the year....

‘I asked the assistant if the changing room was open and she said, “Yes”. When I went to use it, she stopped me and told me I had to use the gents on the first floor. ‘I told her I was transgender and she still insisted I used the gents. When I got there, the two women were the complete opposite – they were kind and helpful. They asked what was wrong and I told them.

‘They were shocked and told me I should have been allowed to use the changing room up there. They also told me they had been trained in how to deal with these situations. I won’t be spending a single penny in there again.’ Posting about the incident on Facebook, Jay added: ‘I was so upset and sick of having to explain myself. ‘I was about to spend a fair bit of money on the outfit but after being treated like a freak I threw the dress at her.’"

metro.co.uk/2018/06/06/transgender-woman-told-use-male-changing-rooms-try-dress-debenhams-7609048/

There's quite a bit that has been going on with Primark. They were found guilty of discrimination and harrassment (I think) against one of their employees.

There was the challenge against the Coventry store (though lodged by a student from Oxford Uni who was part of LGBT+) a trans woman was asked for id. She had some. The issue was she felt discriminated against.

There was another challenge in East Anglia (I think) a transwoman was shown to another changing room (not the general women's)

There's issues being raised about Pride merchandising / Stonewall / Primark. Issues around ethics of suppliers as well as corporate sponsorship. There was twatter chatter a couple of weeks ago

Sorry dont have specifics....

Primark is significant.

I am not a TopShop customer, so I suggest one of their customers consider the situation with them.

I also suggest as many as possible contact M&S to raise feminist concers, as I am sure Trans activist lurkers will be contacting them.

I will thank M&S with both a return of my custom and return their good name with all I know, if they return to the old sex segregation policy.