February 24th the Gender Identity (Protected Characteristic) Bill 2016-17

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Please share to protect the rights of children and young people: www.transgendertrend.com/gender-identity-rights-of-the-child/

it is mindbogglingly crazy that this is even considered. in addition to the issues already mentioned there is the issue of prisons.

also schools are already giving out forms asking children to identify their gender identity in some cases and parents who object to this nonsense being peddled onto their teenagers accused of being transphobic etc.

think it was blatchington mill school in hove i saw a newspaper article about (the forms) - in case anyone wants to fact check.

With a bit of C&P from the linked document, a couple of sentences lifted from DameDeDoubtance (I hope you don't mind!) and a few words of my own, I've put together a template for a letter to one's MP, if anyone wants to send something similar:

"Dear,

I am writing to ask you in the strongest terms not to support the above bill when it has its second reading in the near future (expected 24th February).

To enshrine gender identity in law would give any man legal status as a woman (or vice versa) based only on personal feelings, effectively establishing “gender identity” as the only legal distinction between men and women. “Gender identity” by definition, excludes and denies the existence of biological sex. The protected characteristic “sex” would therefore be replaced by “gender identity.”

This protected characteristic would also apply to children and adolescents whose identities are still immature, developing and highly susceptible to influence from adults. Its legal establishment would have serious implications for both parents and children as well as the safety of women and girls.

Sex-segregated facilities designed for the protection of women and girls would become segregated by gender identity. Everyone, including children, would be legally bound to believe the gender identity of anyone else, child or adult. A young girl who finds herself in a public changing-room with a naked adult male would be legally forced to call him a woman if he identifies as such. She would no longer have any recourse to legal protection from any man entering her private spaces, the law would demand that she protect his “identity”

Women will lose all rights to privacy, the right to compete with their own sex in sport, the right to be represented as they will legally be represented by biological males. This is so harmful to women and girls.

Please believe that my letter is not borne out of transphobia. I truly respect and support everyone's right to live an identity in which they feel comfortable, free from prejudice, harm or hate. I use the preferred name and personal pronouns with which someone chooses to introduce themselves. But I cannot, and will not accept that erosion of biological sex is necessary, logical, desirable or anything other than harmful to women, adolescents and children, and I ask again that you help to prevent serious, lasting harm being done to those most at risk from this flawed and damaging proposed law by opposing the Bill.

Yours sincerely,"

I fully agree with the principles of this thread, but am confused, are we talking about UK or Canadian law?

UK law Atenco - see below

services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/genderidentityprotectedcharacteristic.html

Thank you for that template Page

Thanks Page.

I presume it still includes the exemption for hereditary peers

If anyone is in any doubt or hastn't bloody bothered to read the OP, the gist of this is that there is a bill being read in Parliament which will lessen the rights of women and girls to safe space, and give a legal basis to warp the minds of already confused children. The message is: write to your MP and ask them to challenge this bill if you disagree with it.

Thanks for the great template PageNotFound

Prawn, is there a petition for the UK government? The one you've linked to refers to Canada (though it's heartening that there's similar resistance there, of course!).

Signing and bumping. This has terrifying implications

Thanks for the template Page, i'll be posting my letter off this afternoon.

Going to share the petition on FB now.

Am I being thick (probably) - I can't find a copy of the bill.

Prawn the petition you have linked to seems to be in Canada? Is there a similar one for the UK?

X post Germ, sorry

Thanks for the template Page.

I have just an email off to my mp, it's a shame he is SNP. I've also added a bit more in and asked his thoughts too.

Where are you all reading this though? How do you know what's in the bill? Could someone please link?

This Bill is going nowhere. It is low on the list and at 2.30 it will be blocked by any Member calling out Object - probably a Government Whip, because nothing as controversial as this passes except as a Government Bill.

What Ms Miller proposes is outrageous and when it pops up again will have to be resisted but Friday will be a damp squib.

Here's a link to the bill: services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/genderidentityprotectedcharacteristic.html

Oops, x-posted, way behind!

The Bill has not even been drafted and printed which suggests that Ms Miller is not pushing it on Friday. I think the text has to be available three days before the Second Reading.

Germaine Greer has been very vocally against it (that's how I'd heard about it).

She and others are automatically being branded as Transphobic and shouted down on the grounds that they are a 'bigot'.

Very dangerous times.

The bill isn't on that link Jelly - seriously what are you all reacting to? I can't find any info other than the title.

The second reading of Miller's Bill is this Friday, 24 Feb. Before then, the text of the bill itself should be published. All we have until then is a summary:

A Bill to make gender identity a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 in place of gender reassignment and to make associated provision for transgender and other persons; and for connected purposes.

The second reading is the first chance MPs have to debate the bill itself, however there was a related debate that coincided with the first reading. Those who think this is all too ridiculous to ever make it into law might want to read the transcript of that debate here and take note of the almost complete lack of opposing, or even questioning, views. Caroline Flint very bravely stuck her neck out but her concerns were poo-poo'd straight away.

The bill is inspired by the first report from the Women & Equalities Committee on Transgender Equality, which you can read here.

There's another good briefing on what's wrong with Miller's proposals here

Ah thanks Pencil - I'll read the debate now.

It has it's basis in this splendide: www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/news-parliament-2015/transgender-inquiry-report-published-15-16/