GC Groups in Northern Ireland

Made my first correction of ‘gender’ to ‘sex’ on a school form this week. Was sorely tempted to write a note with my reasons why, but resisted. But, little acts of resistance. It all adds up.

I'm giving this a hopeful bump in view of the guidance issued to schools yesterday.

Another one who'll DM.

I'm back this evening from my hols so will sit down and start to answer the private messages.

Glad to see there are so many of us

Hey everyone, just wanted to give this thread a wee bump. It’s quite encouraging to see there are even a few GC voices in NI. Not that it feels overly ‘woke’ in my small town, rather that no one is talking about the issues full stop.

Hi, Belfast here too! Would love to have some like minded people to talk to about this. I have been broaching the subject with friends with varying responses but definitely some good discussion often.

This is from:
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993

Sanitary conveniences
20. —

(1) Suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences shall be provided at readily accessible places.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), sanitary conveniences shall not be suitable unless—

(a)the rooms containing them are sufficiently ventilated and lit;
(b)they and the rooms containing them are kept in a clean and orderly condition; and
(c)separate rooms containing conveniences are provided for men and women, except where and so far as each convenience is in a separate room the door of which is capable of being secured from inside.

(3) It shall be sufficient compliance with the requirement in paragraph (1) to provide sufficient sanitary conveniences in a workplace which is not a new workplace, a modification, an extension or a conversion and which, immediately before this regulation came into operation in respect of it, was subject to the provisions of the Factories Act (Northern Ireland) 1965 if sanitary conveniences are provided in accordance with the provisions of Part II of Schedule 1.

Very interesting, thank you Marbles.

You'll note that gender reassignment is not mentioned, although "men and women generally" is worryingly vague.

Yes, that is worryingly vague (well, actually, it's not at all! But in this brave new world it has somehow become vague). I wonder if these terms were ever defined, or if their meaning was so obvious that they never thought they'd need to.

What is the situation in NI with single-sex spaces, since the Equality Act 2010 doesn't apply there? Is there any other legislation which supports women-only services etc, or does it rely on goodwill?

There's Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998:

Section 75 (1)
In carrying out its functions relating to Northern Ireland a public authority is required to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity between:

• persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;

• men and women generally;

• persons with a disability and persons without;

• persons with dependants and persons without

You'll note that gender reassignment is not mentioned, although "men and women generally" is worryingly vague. It's possible that there are clarifications thorough case law or amendments.

As to legal provisions that specifically support single sex spaces - I would also love to know! It may be mentioned at a later point in Section 75. I intend to do some further reading.

Thank you, enjoy your holiday

Am not ignoring anyone please do dm and I'll answer when I get home as am on a family holiday and a forced internet break

Glad to see so many of you all though.

Pleased to see so many GC NIers! I used to live there.

What is the situation in NI with single-sex spaces, since the Equality Act 2010 doesn't apply there? Is there any other legislation which supports women-only services etc, or does it rely on goodwill?

Link to where the video will be, I hope www.facebook.com/amnestyni/videos/371616466889733/

This talk hosted by Amnesty International NI, Trans Rights are Human Rights, on tonight. Will be live-streamed m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2266287840133283&id=109850892443666

If anyone has got the info could you pm me please

Can I join the gang too please?

Can I pm too, I'm in the general Ards area, have been trying to tell as many people as I can, but I work for one of Stonewalls top 100 companies so I worry about raising my head above the parapet.

This is on tonight m.facebook.com/belfastpride/photos/a.210706942287173/2590882914269552/?type=3&theater

North Belfast here waves

I agree OP - there doesn't really seem to be much discussion about this in NI, but if you google "gender critical northern ireland" what you actually get back are websites discussing how to support trans individuals. This is great - they should be supported. But there is nothing at all about who else this directly effects. This is not a discussion that anyone seems to be having.

I have tried (although quietly - my place of work has recently updated the Equality section of the Handbook, but it doesn't seem to be very equal to me), and most people I have spoken to are dismissive. A friend of mine (a woman in her 50s) who has been with her female partner for a long time point blank refused to even entertain the idea of the Cotton Ceiling - her advise was that I get off the internet

But I have family who are lesbians, and this directly effects them. I have a daughter, mother and sisters and it directly effects them too.

Sorry - I came over all Spartacus!

I'm going you pm too if that's ok?
I'm in Ards.

I know someone in NI, can put you in touch.

I'm GC and from Belfast too

I'm GC and from the Belfast area. Just tentatively sticking my head above the parapet so you know there are more of us than you think!