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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Islington Council slams 'botched' single sex spaces guidance

394 replies

IwantToRetire · 03/07/2025 20:14

The council argues that the new guidance, which suggests that staff should check a person’s sex at birth before granting access to single-sex services or spaces, is unworkable and risks breaching individuals’ privacy and exposing them to harassment.

"Expecting reception staff in a busy leisure centre or a domestic violence service to determine whether someone is trans, without subjecting them to harassment or breaching their right to privacy, is not practical.

"It risks legal confusion and a culture of suspicion.

"That’s why we have called for the EHRC to pause this botched process – properly listening to trans communities – rather than simply causing further confusion."

Full article at https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/25283099.islington-council-slams-botched-single-sex-spaces-guidance/

'Botched' single sex spaces rules 'risks harassment and discrimination'

Islington Council has strongly opposed new EHRC guidance on single-sex spaces, calling it unworkable and a risk to privacy, safety, and trans rights.

https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/25283099.islington-council-slams-botched-single-sex-spaces-guidance/

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RedToothBrush · 04/07/2025 05:54

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:29

Can you explain how? Because as trans woman my documents state F. Do I need to lift my skirt? Or is this based on the "we can always tell" that gets tons of cis women misgendered on the regular?

Let's draw one of those flow chart things verbally.

All my documents say F but I'm male. How do I prove my sex?

You have a GRC: Use it as proof

You don't have a GRC: Get one.

You don't want a GRC: It's not my fucking problem that self ID isn't law and you've changed all your documents to mislead people and to try and circumnavigate the law which anyone who does this knows full well. Change your documentation back. Or write to your MP about how life isn't fair, because this isn't the EHRC's fault.

Simples.

Annoyedone · 04/07/2025 05:50

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:29

Can you explain how? Because as trans woman my documents state F. Do I need to lift my skirt? Or is this based on the "we can always tell" that gets tons of cis women misgendered on the regular?

Ummm. People have eyes.

RedToothBrush · 04/07/2025 05:29

"I'm a transwoman. How do I prove my sex when all my documents say female when I go to the leisure centre. It's not fair MN / EHRC you are all mean"

By politely asking where suitable gender neutral changing facilities are. Or using the mens. And staying the right side of the law. Because your sex is relevant to this environment and it falls under privacy exceptions. If you have f on your documentation you have one of the GRC thingies right? You can use that to prove the f is misleading. How handy.

And if you don't, but you had all your documents changed anyway and thought that you should get special treatment and that you could force self ID by the backdoor which isn't law, tough titty. You've always known self id isn't law that's why there's been campaigns for it. Youve been trying to deliberately mislead and game the system when it comes to your legal status. You ARE the problem and why there's a need for efforts to protect privacy, dignity and safety on sex based lines. If that's not ok, you could change your documentation back to the correct letters and job done.

Cos oh, the law. How very dare it be an inconvenience to you and it protect women. How awful.

Any transwoman who actively understands the law, believes in equality and the importance of sex based rights and respect for women will automatically adjust their behaviour to fit with the law. Because it matters and has always mattered. Staff should be trained to handle this discreetly. Not difficult, I mean there's a whole industry on training staff to treat transpeople with respect isn't there.

Transwomen who wish to transgress and use women and demand validation instead of equality ARE the problem. They show a total lack of consideration and respect for women.

You can not change biological sex. Gender is not sex. Every trans person knows this even if they try to deny it. There have always been exceptions and situations where this is relevant in life, even to those with a shiny certificate.

No 'skirt hitching' necessary.

RedToothBrush · 04/07/2025 05:08

"Expecting reception staff in a busy leisure centre or a domestic violence service to deal with the distress and trauma of a woman having been in the changing room with a male is unacceptable. Members of staff who have failed to challenge this man, when they are obviously not female, are subjecting women and children to harassment, vouyerism and sexual abuse and breaching their right to privacy. It's irrelevant of whether they feel uncomfortable in safeguarding it's their duty of care and responsibility to other members of staff.

"Fail to do this risks the legal rights of women and a culture of suspicion resulting in women self excluding because they no longer feel safe.

Women still matter and everyone has a legal responsibility to ensure them have their privacy, dignity and safety. We are sorry this is an inconvenience and nuisance to Islington Borough Council, but they can fuck off to the far side of fuck with their whining.

The EHRC can only advise based on the law as it stands. If they have a problem with that, instead of whinging about the guidance they could take it up with their MPs.

That'll be the very helpful Jeremy Corbyn and Emily Thornberry who will be absolutely delighted to support them and resolve the matter by getting legislation through parliament that abolishes sex based rights as they are very influential and can get the necessary parliamentary votes. Ms Thornberry will be delighted to get this on the agenda for the Labour party as it's such a vote winner and independent Mr Corbyn would love to have a break from his other pet omnicause projects and take us back to no debate style politics and beat Labour with a stick about this.

Ah wait Islington Borough Council is a Labour council, so presumably have Labour council members who could raise this within the Labour party without seeking publicity. Hmm that's odd. Could it be that the party are ignoring them because they know what an amazing vote winner this is. So toys are flying out of prams because staff members are going to have to suck it up.

I have zero sympathy whatsoever. Staff need to get the fuck on with it and stop avoiding responsibility to women and children. It's everyone's responsibility in every walk of life to safeguard. That includes if you are on minimum wage, a volunteer or just stood around minding your own business. Being paid is irrelevant in this situation. So are their personal views. If they have issues with the public doing this, then normal rules apply to antisocial behaviour, barring those individuals who won't follow the rules and declare their sex when appropriate and taking legal action where required

Transpeople need to just follow the law. Problem solved. No one is in a difficult position if they understand and follow the law. Law breakers are the problem - the fact that this isn't being recognised IS the issue.

MistyGreenAndBlue · 04/07/2025 01:56

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:29

Can you explain how? Because as trans woman my documents state F. Do I need to lift my skirt? Or is this based on the "we can always tell" that gets tons of cis women misgendered on the regular?

It's irrelevant what your documents say. It's very simple really. You're not a woman. Stay out of the women's.
See? Easy peasy 😊

moto748e · 04/07/2025 01:24

It's often said, ah, but men could always barge into women's spaces, toilets, etc. Yes, they could, but it happened fairly rarely, and could often be forestalled, either by a bunch of women making a scene, or nearby men intervening. But now, the climate is quite different, TIMs see themselves as being invited into women's spaces. We all rely on civilised behaviour in a civilised society. These boundaries are being damaged.

usedtobeaylis · 04/07/2025 01:07

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:29

Can you explain how? Because as trans woman my documents state F. Do I need to lift my skirt? Or is this based on the "we can always tell" that gets tons of cis women misgendered on the regular?

As ever, expecting a single thing of any male person is apparently out of the question.

You don't care about women when you breach their clearly stated boundaries so let's not pretend you care about any 'misgendering'.

usedtobeaylis · 04/07/2025 01:06

IwantToRetire · 03/07/2025 20:14

The council argues that the new guidance, which suggests that staff should check a person’s sex at birth before granting access to single-sex services or spaces, is unworkable and risks breaching individuals’ privacy and exposing them to harassment.

"Expecting reception staff in a busy leisure centre or a domestic violence service to determine whether someone is trans, without subjecting them to harassment or breaching their right to privacy, is not practical.

"It risks legal confusion and a culture of suspicion.

"That’s why we have called for the EHRC to pause this botched process – properly listening to trans communities – rather than simply causing further confusion."

Full article at https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/25283099.islington-council-slams-botched-single-sex-spaces-guidance/

But they've been happy for all this to fall exactly on the shoulders of reception staff in the first place

DiscoBob · 04/07/2025 00:42

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:29

Can you explain how? Because as trans woman my documents state F. Do I need to lift my skirt? Or is this based on the "we can always tell" that gets tons of cis women misgendered on the regular?

Tons of bio women are accused of being male 'on the regular'?!

I've never ever met or heard of a woman saying they've been accused of being a bloke. Even extremely masculine presenting ones, or those with a double mastectomy and short hair.

And anyway, I'd rather be accused of being a man than have to share a single sex space with one.

If you are a bio male them you shouldn't go into female only spaces. It's not complicated.

MyAmpleSheep · 04/07/2025 00:36

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:29

Can you explain how? Because as trans woman my documents state F. Do I need to lift my skirt? Or is this based on the "we can always tell" that gets tons of cis women misgendered on the regular?

I think actually you should lift your skirt at the receptionist. He'll probably call the police. Fairly sure you won't be allowed entrance that day, or any other day.

Just stay out of the ladies'. it's really not complicated.

Bannedontherun · 04/07/2025 00:22

@AidaP agree with underthinker.

I posted elsewhere about enforcement. Used to run a women's refuge service. (for biological, by biological women type of service)

If in was still in that position i would most certainly have as part of the needs and risk assessment have a question about biological sex.

And if upon their presentation they were observably a biological male then i would refuse admission, offer them the complaints procedure which would require proof that i was mistaken. No genital inspection required.

As regards loos, which in truth require people like yourself to comply with the law, if i came across you there I would (all five foot nothing of me) challenge you.

You might want to believe that you and others “pass” as women i can assert that is never true.

My latest experience was Jeremy vine a few days ago. I was not even looking , i heard “that voice” that men who have either had voice training or shaved their vocal cords, but unmissable.

looked up to see “Stella” somebody or other clearly a very well groomed female impersonator, i looked him up and was correct.

Even those with vast resources can never fool.

So no hope for the average common or garden TIM.

Harassedevictee · 04/07/2025 00:08

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:29

Can you explain how? Because as trans woman my documents state F. Do I need to lift my skirt? Or is this based on the "we can always tell" that gets tons of cis women misgendered on the regular?

Think of it like smoking, it used to be accepted that people could smoke at their desk at work, on tube trains, trains, aeroplanes, pubs, theatres, cinemas etc. The law was changed but what made the difference was society decided it wasn’t acceptable. If someone lights a cigarette at work now people have the confidence to object.

For the last decade or so society has been misled about what the law actually meant in relation to GRCs and so women felt unable to object to TW in single sex spaces. The law has been clarified giving women the confidence to object to biological men in women’s single sex spaces.

The provision of unisex facilities, alongside single sex provision, will ensure everyone’s privacy and dignity is respected. Just like smoking, over time we will see society’s attitudes change. No need to “lift your skirt” just remember - Good men stay out so bad men stand out.

Underthinker · 03/07/2025 23:43

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:29

Can you explain how? Because as trans woman my documents state F. Do I need to lift my skirt? Or is this based on the "we can always tell" that gets tons of cis women misgendered on the regular?

The leisure centre would ask your sex, you'd lie, they wouldn't believe you, they'd ban you, you'd threaten to sue, they call your bluff, you talk to a solicitor who says you have no case, you drop it, you join another gym with gender neutral changing facilities, you continue to work on your backstroke and a bit of cardio, everyone lives happily ever after.

RareGoalsVerge · 03/07/2025 23:31

Igneococcus · 03/07/2025 21:20

I wasn't in the UK in the 90s, can someone who was confirm that section 28 made any mention of trans people?

Absolutely nothing to do with trans people.

Section 28 banned schools from telling young people that homosexuality is a valid sexual orientation and that there is no shame to being only attracted to members of the same sex. It caused huge damage in maximising the number of homosexual people who grew up confused, ashamed and afraid to come out of the closet.

No there was no mention of trans and no mention of bathrooms.

Nowadays it's the advocates of "transwomen are women" who want to prevent young people from being allowed to declare and accept their sexuality, because young lesbians are required to accept the male-bodied people who want to opt-in to lesbianism despite being heterosexual men. They are the true inheritors of section 28.

Bannedontherun · 03/07/2025 23:19

Cornishpotato · 03/07/2025 23:17

The obsession with stalking women's meetings reminded me.

Mother issues in my opinion

Cornishpotato · 03/07/2025 23:17

Bannedontherun · 03/07/2025 22:51

@AidaP Well i hope that the Ada who punched another human being is not you.

Do you always wear a skirt? Or just for special occasion's? asking for a friend….

The obsession with stalking women's meetings reminded me.

Enough4me · 03/07/2025 23:13

While AidaP is in the wrong, he's also a highly useful man, at this point in time, who fits in with the men who could help the tide crash down.

The majority of people are now bored with hearing about the cult. Even Pride has become twisted with T bending things towards male desires rather than fairness for homosexual people and so interest has dwindled. There's a risk that people could forget there are men who don't want women to have rights and who ignore the supreme court.

AidaP is actively happy to remind people of the issues, how stunning!

Grammarnut · 03/07/2025 23:09

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:29

Can you explain how? Because as trans woman my documents state F. Do I need to lift my skirt? Or is this based on the "we can always tell" that gets tons of cis women misgendered on the regular?

If transwomen who rarely to never 'pass' stayed out of our spaces and stopped pretending to be women, gender non-conforming women (I have never seen such a lady who I did not instantly know was a woman btw) would have no problem - we certainly had none before this Men's Rights group started invading our spaces.

SternJoyousBee · 03/07/2025 23:04

Cornishpotato · 03/07/2025 22:04

Men threatening to "lift their skirt".

A winning strategy.

It’s the trifecta, along with the peeing and moob protests. I gave no idea why we don’t want to share intimate spaces with these fragile folks

MyQuirkyTraybake · 03/07/2025 23:03

Coatsoff42 · 03/07/2025 21:00

As long as you are aware that a sizeable chunk of the female population are not comfortable with you in there, you are causing them stress and anxiety, and that it is against the law, then I guess it is between you and conscience how you act.

Few women are strong enough to challenge a man in an enclosed secluded space.

It’s very much a statement of your selfishness that you will act according to your own preferences and fuck over everyone else.

This. Male entitlement is off the charts.

LastTrainsEast · 03/07/2025 23:03

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:43

This feels like it needs a short history lesson.

Transgender people always existed, with varying level of recognition in the law depending on time and space, from annihilation to just another person. We managed to exist in either of those environments.

In UK, even in depth of section 28, we continued to exist and live in out transition just fine, the only variable is amount of harassment we have to endure that's endorsed by the law.

And you think that completely unenforceable law (under which it's impossible to prove that you are cis btw), with no punitive measures, is going to somehow make transgender people to decide "yep, you right, we will give in to the few loud transphobes and stop existing as ourselves?"

You live in lala land, not reality, if you think that.

And the law on top of everything is temporary, the reading you want of FWS puts us entirely in the same position which resulted in Goodwin, and creation of trans rights. Except now there is even more precedence in ECHR for us.

See ya in the loos that apparently bother you so much.

Even if we couldn't tell it just takes a cheek swab to show you're a man.

A faster test apparently would be to ask you to show some respect and common decency.

The law is quite enforceable and deliberate flouting of it will eventually lead to a stay in a prison with other men and a free entry on the sexual offenders registry.

The law is the 2010 Equality act and will not be changing any time soon. I know some of you think it's a new law but you have been misled.

We've seen the laughable claims made by GLP and that amazingly ill-informed letter by the 33 MPs (oh how we laughed)

Demands that the EHRC change the law have been entertaining as well as revealing of the depths of ignorance involved.

LastTrainsEast · 03/07/2025 22:53

AidaP · 03/07/2025 20:29

Can you explain how? Because as trans woman my documents state F. Do I need to lift my skirt? Or is this based on the "we can always tell" that gets tons of cis women misgendered on the regular?

Decent people obey the law. Is there something you want to tell us?

It's quite difficult to stop crimes like burglary and child abuse too, but we don't legalise then for that reason or praise people for getting away with it.

And yes we know about the 'passing' fantasy but people only went along with that for politeness. You can't use Photoshop in real time in public so unless it's a very bad light indeed and you keep very still it's going to be blindingly obvious.

Regardless if you or anyone you know do decide you're above the law once challenged you may provide a cheek swab (if there's any doubt at all) and then wait to find out the penalty.

I imagine the first offence will be quite minor but that would increase each time and would come with a free entry on the sexual offenders registry.

After all with the weak excuse of "but we're women really" gone forever it's back to men sneaking into the ladies and being convicted of voyeurism, indecent exposure and other sexual crimes.

Bannedontherun · 03/07/2025 22:51

@AidaP Well i hope that the Ada who punched another human being is not you.

Do you always wear a skirt? Or just for special occasion's? asking for a friend….

Fgfgfg · 03/07/2025 22:47

AidaP · 03/07/2025 21:10

That's from Goodwin vs United Kingdom 2002 my dear. The judgement you lot here make fun off, but not one person actually read.

When did you last read s.28? S.28 refers solely to homosexuality. There is nothing about gender, identity, transness, only sexuality.
A quote for you...
28 Prohibition on promoting homosexuality by teaching or by publishing material
(1)The following section shall be inserted after section 2 of the [1986 c. 10.] Local Government Act 1986 (prohibition of political publicity)—
“2AProhibition on promoting homosexuality by teaching or by publishing material
(1)A local authority shall not—
(a)intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality;
(b)promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.

SidewaysOtter · 03/07/2025 22:43

Justwrong68 · 03/07/2025 22:28

That’s not what section 28 was at all. I’m guessing you weren’t there and put your trust in chat got. Once again you’ve made it about you; fact is we’ve never wanted men in women’s spaces since the urinary leash.

Exactly. More force-teaming Hmm

Because as trans woman my documents state F.

@AidaP, as a transwoman you are a biological man. You have no right, legal or moral, to be in women's spaces. You are not wanted there and if you continue to try to access those spaces all you are doing is showing your very male entitlement.

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