GRA consultation is live. Let's get reading

Finally got it finished and submitted!

Surely the single sex ward remains single sex. Allowing non binary gender idenetity will not affect anything to do with sex because they are different

Yep. Lots of my responses were blah de blah.... because gender is not sex.

So helpful! Signed!

I've just completed it too. I found this guide very helpful.
fairplayforwomen.com/full_guide/#q3
I used my own words, and experiences in my response but checked the guide to check if there were any important points I hadn't thought of. (There were).

I've now submitted my response. I used all my own words although I did include all of the points for the questions on the FairPlayForWomen Guidance Many thanks to Dr Nic. et al for this.

I'm going to copy it to my MP who I know from previous discussion with his PA is against self id.

I don't think I managed to get all of the references I wanted into my response but I was aware that each of my answers was mammoth and I really went to town in the final question.

I feel a bit like I've done an exam and now I don't know whether I've passed . Although I'm relieved I have finally done it as it's been preying on my mind to submit it for a few weeks now.

Sex = biology. DNA. Immutable

=> transgender !=!changing sex
=> gender != sex

The questions state Allowing non binary gender identities would be difficult, gives examples of single sex wards..

Surely the single sex ward remains single sex. Allowing non binary gender idenetity will not affect anything to do with sex because they are different

Idiotic

Person: is there a lie in the document?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3298767-Fair-Play-For-Women-guidance-on-the-GRA-consultation

Placemarking. The whole thing seems pretty overwhelming. Thank you to all who are trying to unpick it. It's hard to respond to questions efectively when you disagree with the premise of the questions.

Just spent the morning filling this in. I hadn't read the thread(s) and just did it cold, putting in all my concerns. I didn't read the 'easy' version which sounds horrendous. Let's just hope someone actually reads it.

The more I try to understand, the more I am confused. If the starting point is trans women are women, then what is the point of the consultation?

Its a done deal, if that is the definition of a woman??

How do you enforce the exemptions allowed under the EA if someone's documentation states they are a sex different from that at birth?

Quite. I made this point on the questionaire thing, when they said (I think it was on the shared accommodation part) that service providers could basically ask to see a GRC. No they fucking can't, and its so disingenuous to say they can.

What happens next depends on the outcome of the consultation (and the wider political landscape)

The government will review the responses and then formally respond, setting out what they intend to do next (either legislate to make changes, or leave things as is, perhaps with some new non-statutory guidance).

If they decide to do something that requires legislation, the government will need to draft a bill and then bring it to Parliament. Most of Parliament's time is taken up with Brexit matters at the moment, so finding space on the work schedule could be tricky, especially if it's believed to be contentious (because the government doesn't have a majority, and will want to use their good will to get through stuff like Brexit rather than this). This is when MPs and the Lords will debate the provisions in detail and get to vote on them. So any actual change could be months and months and months away yet.

Yes, school holidays reduces the time for people to analyse and consider and consider the proposals, particularly groups that might want to meet to discuss them and organisations that might want to ask their membership for their views. I suspect that is why the consultation period is longer than the standard 12 weeks (though not sure that the extra three weeks really helps, given how busy the back to school period is for many)

But.... it is also through the school holidays, which end in August in Scotland and in September in England. That seriously reduces the opportunities to 1) make parents aware of the consultation 2) provide enough information so as to allow them to properly complete the consultation.

This issue is full of jargon and it takes considerable effort to understand all the issues.

I'm not disagreeing Oleanna, flippancy doesn't work in print. My MP has mastered the art of the metaphorical pat on the head, and " run along now dear, don't worry your little head about a thing, leave that to us manly Men who know best" approach.

What happens once the consultation is complete? Is a new Act written and then voted on etc?

recess was the time an MP returned to their constituency, theoretically more accessible to us lowly constituents..

Except it's also summer, when MPs take a (well deserved, in most cases) holiday and are less contactable. Same with journalists - and in any case, Brexit and World Cup is dominating the new coverage for the time being.

It's almost as if someone wanted it to be a bit under the radar....

Sisyphus I remember being taught that recess was the time an MP returned to their constituency, theoretically more accessible to us lowly constituents...

Does it seem right that this should start just at the close of the parliamentary session? Shouldn't it be active in a period when MPs can be contactable?

Just a reminder that we have 15 weeks to do this consultation - it doesn't close until 19th October.

Don't rush it. Read on here and elsewhere and take time to refine your arguments and make sure you make the points you think are important.

Did it , but probably not very thought out as I am so fucking angry that we have to spend our time on this nonsense. I think I covered quite a lot that has been discussed here. I wish I'd put something about the fact that we all have to undergo intrusive questions to gain acces to eg necessary benefits etc. So why should these special people be exempt from all that. I used sex in capitals a lot. Gave examples of where safeguarding is being ignored, and crime statistics skewed. Compared it to religion. We can tolerate others beliefs but it doesn't make them true and we can't be forced to believe a lie. Tried to suggest that the whole thing should be tightened up more and that not even as GRC should allow men access to womens and lesbians groups

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act-2004

Another clicky link and helpful bump

That's my bus reading sorted for the next couple of weeks.

I've printed it out so I can scribble in the margins.

We have 15 1/2 weeks:

3 July Consultation opens
(3 weeks)
24 July House rises
(summer recess - 6 weeks)
4 September House returns
(9 days)
13 September House rises
(conference - nearly 4 weeks)
9 October House returns
(10 days)
19 October Consultation closes 11pm

Something else that struck me, is that they have said they have not done any impact assessments and that they won't until they have decided what will happen