GC views not valid because the majority are "bad actors"

Which part of a legal ruling about being 'worthy of respect in a democratic society' does he disagree with.

The creditentials and the authority and experience of the judge?
The 'worthy of respect bit'?
Or the free speech in a democratic society bit?

Just so we have a full picture of what a balloon your mate is.

I would like the concept of trans identity to cease to exist, because it is sexist and reifies harmful gender stereotypes.

Who do they always use this ridiculous "transphobes don't want trans people to exist" argument? What do they even mean by this?

Man here. Your male friend is an idiot. And 90%+ of the blokes I know would say the same.

Op my usual response is along the lines of:
Trans people do of course exist but they have not changed sex.

I believe it harms us all to compel people to behave as if they believe that trans people have changed sex. But it's particularly harmful to women, many of who rely on single sex spaces and services.

Then I end the conversation but some people have more patience than me.

So if it doesn't cause your friend an impairment due to distress, what do you mean by them "being trans"?

It’s the Ad hominem fallacy.

People who believe x are bad ergo x is wrong.

You can ask why he thinks that disagreeing with someones claims means that you don’t think they should exist - if he is an atheist then does he think that Christians and Muslims should not exist?

It's like saying that racists shouldn't exist. Doesn't mean you want them all to be exterminated or keel over and die or anything like that. Just means that it would be preferable if people didn't hold racist beliefs.

The point isn't whether it's a mental impairment or not.

It wasn't causing her problems carrying out day-to-day activities, so she isn't included in the protected characteristic of Disability. That's why the PC of Gender Reassignment is needed. Unless you think it should be legal to sack an employee simply because they are trans?

Surely one simple way to refute that is
"Well I'm happy for trans people to exist. So A clealy not everyone as I am proof, and B address my points in good faith and stop deflecting with something you've made up in your head which is a straw man."

Your name and expertise have re-woken the deep shame of 6-year old me who was not cast as an angel in the Nativity Play (far less Mary—the only roles for girls).

If being correctly-sexed is causing distress to your friend then it is a mental impairment.

I don't think that's necessarily true. This is from a UK solicitors' website:

https://landaulaw.co.uk/disability-discrimination/

"You have a disability if there is a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and adverse long- term effect on your day-to-day activities.

• The ‘impairment’ may be physical or mental, or both.
• The meaning of ‘substantial’ is more than minor or trivial, but it may fluctuate or change, and may not be present all of the time.
• ‘Long term’ means the effect of the impairment has last or is likely to last for at least 12 months.
• ‘Day-to-day activities’ include common things for most people like using a computer, writing, following a timetable, sitting down, standing up, driving and lifting."

Gender reassignment wouldn't always meet these conditions. My colleague's gender reassingment had no effect on her ability to carry out day-to-day activities.

What that stock response tends to mean is that you don't believe that TWAW; that you think they are still men/male. By you not accepting someone's own definition of themselves it means you don't believe 'they exist'.

When your sense of self is so dependent on others validating it, then you may well feel that you no longer exist if they don't do that, but that is an incredibly fragile ( and ultimately unhealthy and unstable) construct that cannot survive long when it comes into contact with observable and material reality.

Sex exists, it is real and measurable. 'Gender Identity' is constructed out of feelings, ideas and theory.

Really you need to have a philosophical discussion with him......if he can handle one.

If your friend has diagnosed gender dysphoria your friend would he covered under the PC for disability with no need for specific recognition.

Indeed. The same story again and again.

TRAs shouting death and rape threats: just a few bad actors among saints

Women saying everyone should be treated with dignity and respect while protecting the most vulnerable: the most evil bigots

There's no real point in answering this because it's an entirely irrational argument. Even if it were true that most gc women think trans people shouldn't exist (which it isn't, of course), that wouldn't make any difference to the rightness or wrongness of your argument about not wanting men in women's spaces.

I have a favourite quote from Sense and Sensibility after Elinor has had to listen to an idiot male ranting on about something: "Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the compliment of rational opposition."

Your friend doesn't deserve the compliment of rational opposition.

I think that's a bit harsh, to be honest. Without that protection, a man who had struggled with gender dysphoria for years (like a colleague of mine) and who had transitioned and just wanted to live quietly as a woman (as much as possible), could legally be sacked because of the transition.

Whether or not my colleague should have been allowed to use the women's toilets at the office would be a different issue (she worked at a different office so I rarely saw her and don't know which toilets she used). As long as there was toilet provision for her, that would have satisfied the Equality Act.

(I don't always use preferred pronouns, but I respect my colleague and the difficult journey she had, so I use her preferred pronouns.)

Another argument of this type which I’ve found useful in that it applies directly to many "trans allies": since a lot of racist misogynists support the Palestinians in the current Gaza conflict, does that mean any other Palestinian supporters must also be racist misogynists?

Thanks, yes I understand that gender reassignment is currently protected.

I don't think it should be.

Sorry I mis-typed, I meant to say: What does your friend mean when when he says GC people think that trans people "shouldn't exist"?

Sorry meant to quote @gummigwer

Ask him which side of the debate has shown violent behaviour or shouts death and rape threats?

Then ask if that's the side he wants to be on.

I suspect he'll say they are also "bad actors" and hand wave it away. These men always do.

I don't think it's been tested in court yet whether a belief in gender ideology is worthy of respect in a democratic society, and hence falls under the protected characteristic of Religion or Belief.

Someone who has actually "transitioned" is covered by the protected characteristic of Gender Reassignment. But that's only about protection from discrimination - it doesn't mean we have to believe that they have actually changed sex.

www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights