I have just cancelled my direct debit to Shelter; Ruth Hunt is their Vice Chair. I've written to tell them why:
"There are two reasons for this. The first is that I have been a support of Shelter for over ten years, and there are other causes I wish to support.
The second is that I am very unhappy with your choice of Vice Chair. Ruth Hunt has, in my opinion, managed to turn Stonewall into an organisation that actively seeks to harm women and particularly lesbians, and I cannot trust the organisational values of a charity that has her on its board."
@TheMostBeautifulDogInTheWorld
It is concerning to note that Shelter are misquoting key housing legislation, replacing sex with gender.
from thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/a3384418-Charities-using-sex-and-gender-interchangeably
"Someone on Twitter has made a very good point that there are rules (when it comes to social housing at least) regarding boys and girls sharing bedrooms at home"
It is also part of housing legislation. In assessing possible overcrowding:
Section 325 of the Housing Act 1985 provides that there is
overcrowding wherever there are so many people in a house that any
two or more of those persons, being ten or more years old, and of
opposite sexes, not being persons living together as husband and wife, must sleep in the same room.
For these purposes, children under ten may be disregarded and a room means any room normally used as either a bedroom or a living room. A kitchen can be a living room provided it is big enough to accommodate a bed.
When interpreting this definition, a local authority looks at how the
sleeping arrangements within the premises could be organised, rather than how they are organised.
Thus, a couple, with two children of opposite sexes and aged ten years or more, with two living rooms (e.g. bedrooms), may not be statutorily overcrowded because the couple could occupy separate rooms, with one each of the children (of the appropriate sex) .
There is no limit on the number of people of the same sex who can live in the same room under section 325 although there may be a
contravention of the space standard"
House of Commons BRIEFING PAPER
Number 1013, 21 September 2018
Overcrowded housing
(England)
It is noteworthy that Shelter's guidelines have substituted the word 'gender' for 'sex' contrary to the legislation which could have implications:
- Room standard
This method is called the room standard. It looks at the number and gender of people who sleep in the same room. Children under the age of 10 are not counted.
A room is considered anywhere you could sleep in, not just bedrooms. It could include a living room, study or dining room.
Your home is overcrowded by law if two people of different genders have no option but to sleep in the same room. This doesn't apply to couples."
england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/check_if_your_home_is_overcrowded_by_law
The reasons for the statuatory requirement of single sex space sleeping space for children over 10 years old should be obvious to all. This is Safeguarding and Child Protection.