WRITE TO YOUR MP

Hi. I thought I'd share the response from my MP, as I found it quite encouraging - especially with all the rubbish that's been going on recently.

I think I overshared a bit in my letter to him, which I feel a bit awkward about now (he knows things about me that even my closest friends and family don't!) but I wanted to get over just how much this matters to me and why.

Some of his reply does sound like it's from a template, but other parts sound 'from the heart'. He signed with just his first name as well.

Thank you, some good ideas here, I think I will reply to my MP. This was her initial response to me—

• Thank you for contacting me about reform of the Gender Recognition Act (GRA).

I believe that reform of the GRA should be used to progress rights in this country. Before I was elected to parliament I was an employment rights lawyer for many years - I had clients who were trans and saw the intolerable levels of discrimination that they all too often faced in the workplace.

I have long called on the Government to introduce a system of self-declaration for trans people. I also believe it is important that the Government does not interfere with protections under the Equality Act, which ensure that trans people are not wrongfully excluded from single-sex spaces.

As you will be aware, in July 2017, the Government committed to review the GRA to examine “options to streamline and demedicalise the gender recognition process.” The Government committed to consulting on reforming the GRA and launched its consultation in July 2018. This consultation closed in October 2018 and the Government is yet to officially respond.

I am concerned that delays in reforming the GRA have created a hostile environment for LGBT+ people.

I am committed to championing the rights of the trans community who often suffer some of the worst violence and hate crime. There is more we can do to ensure this country is inclusive to all people regardless of their gender identity.

I am aware concerns have been raised regarding reports over the Government’s plans to scrap proposals to allow people to change their legal gender by self-identifying. I am also aware that further concerns have been raised over reported proposals to set out new safeguards to protect female-only spaces.

This is a nuanced and fraught debate, one which I do not feel is appropriate to handle through social media or through the leaking of review recommendations.

It is very important we work closely with others in scrutinising the Government’s proposals once they are finally published. These discussions must be conducted on the basis of fact and respect.

I am determined to listen and understand the challenges facing the trans community to help deliver change and put the right policies in place to protect and respect everyone’s rights.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue. I will continue to monitor developments closely.*

I he started a thread earlier about the response I got today which basically just linked me to a statement in a website which only really discussed what could be palmed off as someone elses responsibility ie the gra reform/liz truss etc and failed to address any points I made about allowing lobby groups to access schools, and the dismantling of safeguarding when it comes to gender identity issues. I have replied again asking him about whether there will be any kind of review into the distribution of inappropriate materials to children by external agencies when schools are outsourcing aspects of teaching, and asking again about the promised enquiry onto the 4000 percent increase in girls wanting to transition.

Am actually really appalled at the avoidance of answering the questions

No response yet from my MP who I emailed over a week ago. Hopefully Liz Truss (I cc'd her and the women and equalities committee) sees that there are people who want her to keep on even if they don't reply.

Sorry for the typos above. I'm on my phone and it's started happening since I installed a language pack that sits within my English language keyboard.

One thing to remember is that most of these responses may very well be written by assistants in the MP's office, so the replies may very well be influenced by their politics. If your MP is Labour, and you live in an area with a significant source of high SJW youth (like a university), you may be getting a momentum-infused response.

It's worth writing back and requesting a firm statement on what they do or do not support. If your MP says they fully support reforms to the GRA and self-id, do not end it there.

Ask them to clarify that they then support the abolition of single sex wards, prisons, abd psychiatric wings, and do not support the right for elderly women to request biologically female HCPs and carers for their intimate care needs. Point out the religious and cultural implications of this (I honestly believe it is possible one of the most racist and discriminatory policy suggestions I've come across in twenty five years of being involved in politics, as it essentially disenfrachises huge numbers of men and women, from across all ethnic, religious and cultural boundaries, from public space).

Say if you receive no response, you will presume they do support these measures and will inform other people in your family and community that this is the case.

It is time to play hardball.

I just got a really nice reply from my Conservative male mp. It was along the same lines as other Tory replies, but he also addressed some of my personal concerns in a very sympathetic manner and said he’d like to meet to talk about the issues in person, when appropriate.
I sent quite a ranty email to Kier Starmer yesterday - so be interesting to see if I get anything back from his office.
I’m thinking about sending one to LibDems later (now I’m on a roll) to tell them I’m voting Conservative next time. I’ve always voted LibDem
because I’m in an area where Labour have never had a chance, but am I right in thinking they support self ID too?

Letters/emails need to go sooner rather than later. Liz Truss to respond on GRA consultation before recess.
twitter.com/carolinenokes/status/1277619909611130882

My MP has gone AWOL since the beginning of lockdown. Or maybe she just sees my email address and ignores it.

I wrote to my MP last week, and CCd in the women and equalities committee. I've had no response so far.

I wrote to my Tory MP today and got a same-day reply.

I think some Tory MPs are working from a common template but I'll take that if the responses are like mine and say:

• the response to the consultation will be published this summer
• it is important for everyone’s views to be heard and listened to and that any reforms will ensure the protection of single-sex spaces
• a recognition of concerns about the impact of the legislation on children and a commitment to ensuring under 18s are protected from making decisions that are irreversible in the future.

Like others advised I tried to avoid making my email too long and went for some key messages:

• transgender people have their own needs and vulnerabilities to be safeguarded so they can lead their lives in dignity and safety, however this is about a conflict of rights
• self-ID means attracting all sorts
• agreement with what I read in the Sunday Times both about dropping self-ID and about reinforcing existing women's rights
• The Times (16 September 2018): "Official figures show the number of girls being given gender treatment has risen from 40 in 2009-10 to 1,806 in 2017-18." and the disappearing Mourdant inquiry
• NHS has done a U-turn on puberty blockers on the quiet and now say "Little is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria" and "irreversible changes"

Received a disappointing response from my (female, conservative) MP today. Very generic and non committal. Probably because she is basically lobby fodder and Dom hasn't told her what to think about this issue yet. But at least she can't say no-one has contacted her.

Thank you for contacting me again.

I am grateful to you for providing me with the details in your email and I appreciate that this is a sensitive issue for many.

Personally,I am not particularly strong minded either way on this.

It is of course worth noting that nothing has been confirmed at this stage,but I will push for clarity with the relevant ministers and pass on the concerns that you and many other constituents have.

I appreciate that your family may be facing difficulties at this time due to the crisis so if I can be of further assistance with any other matter, then please do not hesitate to contact me.

My MP is a quite woke female and I am not too sure how to approach her and if it's worth it? I live in a very multicultural area and the removal of single sex spaces is already having a big impact, but I don't know how receptive she would be. It's useful to see what kind of answers you are all getting.

@MrsSlocombesPussy I'm just wondering if your MP is Ben Bradley - and if you're the one who's peaked him. Interesting post on Twitter from him yesterday.

twitter.com/BBradley_Mans/status/1275882901612253184?s=19

Imperial College London wrote to Elizabeth Truss:
(twitter-link)
Somewhat measured but makes claims about how trans people are the most marginalized and so on. Please consider writing to Elizabeth Truss as well as your MP. (and to Imperial, for that matter).

Bland non committal reply from my MP too. It’s like he has come up with a generic reply suitable for either side of the debate, I am not impressed. He is newly elected too.

Had a bland non committal reply from my MP today.

Sadly my MP is seriously ill in hospital. I’ve written to Liz Truss twice now using her GEO address. No response but wasn’t expecting one. I said I was looking forward to an official statement to clarify the Government’s decision. I don’t like all the uncertainty around this issue. It’s dragged on for far too long.

To those of you who were not satisfied with your MP’s responses, did you reply to them? I’m at a loss as to what to do now

MrsSlocombesPussy

Send him a link to the new Transgender Trend report hot off the press today. It's a slam dunk.

www.transgendertrend.com/launch-rse-guide-schools/

We need to name these dingbats. They are a danger to themselves if they think like that.

My female Labour MP replied to me yesterday saying that she is fully committed to trans rights and opening up access to single sex spaces. She made no mention of women at all. I am so disappointed because I really admire her work otherwise

I got a reply from my MP today. He's a young Tory MP, newly elected in a marginal seat which regularly switches between Labour & Conservatives.
He recognises the need for single sex spaces- he doesn't want people with male anatomy in changing rooms and prisons. And he doesn't agree with self ID.
I know he his interested in education, so as a next step I might raise concerns about schools, and make sure he is aware of the letters that the Baroness has been writing.
I also emailed Liz Truss, showing my support.

I think if you clicked through from a share token you didn't need to.

It was fully open for a bit and then it said you had to register to see the page.