CALL FOR ACTION Women&Equalities committee calling for evidence on GRA reform - again?!?

mobile.twitter.com/LordLucasCD

Extremely useful insights on Ralph Lucas's Twitter

Given that at least 1 in 5 women suffers sexual assault or rape, almost always at the hands of males, I would say that a huge, huge proportion of women have completely pertinent and relevant personal feelings on the matters involved. I think you'd be hard put to find a woman who hasn't got relevant experience, tbh.

There's an article by Caroline Noakes in The Times

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/it-is-time-to-end-the-delays-over-trans-equality-cx2zsh0tw

that’s very useful to committees who want to understand how policy and law affects people on the ground.

This committee had reams of information about how this policy and law would affect women on the ground. The problem is not that they do not know.

Ireland Brexit. Just repeat the fucking exercise until you get the 'right' answer.

What the actual fuck??! A month after they finally gave a conclusion to the previous round of these exact questions?

This is like fighting fucking developers. They only have to win once, and every time women manage to keep their foot in the door they just start the process all over again. Are this bloody committee just planning to throw time and consultation about this until people being consulted get it right provide the desired answers? And please note: they got EVERYTHING they wanted from the reform EXCEPT the removal of sex based rights from women. That's it. That's all. That's the goal, let's be honest about this.

We said if this came up again, it would be time to refocus and compaign on repealing the GRA altogether. Don't amend the fucking thing, it's never going to satisfy those who want women obliterated and subordinated in law, it will always be this salami process of pushing the boundary over and over again, and it's been proven beyond all doubt that it's merely a vehicle for extremist misogyny and legal confusion. It's no longer needed, stop repurposing the thing and repeal it.

As someone who has experience working on these inquiries/consultations, I can offer some advice. Unless you have professional standing, it really is best to write from your own perspective and not try to write a legal/medical paper. Without demonstrable expertise in those areas, your thoughts are unlikely to be given much weight. You’re much better off writing about your feelings - that’s very useful to committees who want to understand how policy and law affects people on the ground.

I think it is an excellent opportunity to clarify sex and gender confusions. The lack of clarity does not serve anyone who understands the two to be separate and one extremely woolly no favours and leaves huge holes that make the job of courts and tribunals harder.
Before filling it in, I would welcome some legal thoughts as well as women, fpfw, ssa etc

Slightly off topic but I was just having a quick look through Hansard to see if I could find details on when this inquiry was decided and there was a debate on LBT women's healthcare in March

hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-03-10/debates/CD9E6213-BA77-469D-AABC-8308711DFF6B/LesbianBisexualAndTransWomen%E2%80%99SHealthInequalities?highlight=woman%20equalities#contribution-21E1AEFC-B63E-457D-A7B1-D7D2BE8593A2

In Hannah Bardell's fourth block of speech:

'Stonewall Scotland’s survey of LGBT people in Scotland found that half had experienced depression in the past year, including seven in 10 trans people, and that more than half of trans people have thought of taking their own life in the past year. Let us just reflect on that. Half of trans people have thought of taking their own life in the past year. So when we think about and reflect on the debate that is currently ongoing, we must look at that statistic and take it very, very seriously.

Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con)

The hon. Lady refers to half of trans people. Can she put a figure on that? I would like to know, because that is terribly sad.

Hannah Bardell

The statistic in the Stonewall Scotland report is 52%. That is specific to Scotland. I do not have the exact number, but I am very happy to get it and to share it with the hon. Gentleman. It is a significant number.

If the above is correct (and I'm afraid I am cynical), surely it reinforces more than ever that a large proportion of the trans community need access to psychological support to address this aspect? Also might this inquiry give a good opportunity for the Stonewall figures to be scrutinized and shown to be not statistically robust?

Yeah, it does make my heart sink a bit.

BUT now more people are aware of the issues, and we have more evidence of the inevitable problems. In schools, with children, prisons, healthcare, sport, etc.

Deadline Friday 27 November

We can use this as a time to push for repeal of the GRA, or at least lay out very, very clearly the issues with it.

Evidence, we have, bagfuls of it.

Okay, then.

[rolls up sleeves]

Oh FGS! I could understand if they were just asking things like how best to create a streamlined online process, what the fee should be - i.e. moving on from the outcome of the previous consultation.

But they're once again asking whether the requirement for a diagnosis should be removed (i.e. self ID), whether the spousal exit clause should be removed, whether the age limit should be lowered ...

It's like the MN cookies popup - you think you've said no to everything and it just asks you again.

Just when I thought I could have a break from constantly defending the Spousal Exit Clause

it's bloody relentless isn't it? Most oppressed ever my left foot

Fair play are on it, the networks are in place this time.

mobile.twitter.com/fairplaywomen/status/1321356317336969216

As the 'trans' kids point noted above please also note

We can’t publish submissions that mention ongoing legal cases – contact us if you are not sure what this means for you.

Keira and Mrs A due in a few weeks, in time for the deadline? And Single sex prisons is up today.

Be careful how you respond but I suppose it doesn't matter if the response isn't punished it would still be counted? This is so opaque.

Just when I thought I could have a break from constantly defending the Spousal Exit Clause.

Who has called for this?

I think this is a great opportunity. They were coming under pressure because the majority of responses in the previous consultation were pro self ID but they claimed it had been gamed.

What is important is that templates or pasted responses are avoided. They will be dismissed.

Are the provisions in the Equality Act for the provision of single-sex and separate-sex spaces and facilities in some circumstances clear and useable for service providers and service users? If not, is reform or further guidance needed?<

No they are not clear. public bodies, contracts, policies, guidelines misinterpret the guidelines.

YES reform is needed.

The single sex exemptions are not enough to protect women and girls.

We need single sex restrictions as well as exemptions; convicted sex offender restrictions. a lifetime ban for rapists from single sex spaces no matter how they identify.

The single sex exemptions are unclear. Ministers avoid clarifying them and pass the buck to service providers. it is unfair to expect frontline staff to interpret laws - they need guidelines.

Same old ground.

I think this is a slightly different re-run and I think they learned lessons from the last one where they were bombarded with troll type responses.

My guess is they think there isn't enough definition and there have been too many requests for repeal of the GRA that they want to take a good look at the whole thing again.

I'm happy with this because I think it will give the whole subject more credibility. Not saying it will work for us but I think the committee will have a clearer idea of what they want to get out of it.

If it does work in our favour, we will not be obliterated as a sex

I have a much better idea of how to answer the questions now.

Should the age limit at which people can apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) be lowered?

Isn't it 18? They really want to lock children into being trans before they are old enough to understand the consequences.

what is the missing noun? Must begin with a vowel?

overview?

omnishambles?

inexplicably obsessed with mens trans 'rights' ?