To ask about GRA

[HelmetHair1]

Hello all. Long-time lurker but first time poster. I know this isn't strictly an AIBU but I wanted to get people's views on GRA because I'm just filling out the consultation form now.

Like many people, I have some concerns about whether self-ID will enable men to access women's spaces with malicious intentions. I don't have any problem sharing a loo or changing room with a trans woman, but I don't want a man to be able to say 'I self ID as a woman so I should be allowed in' - that would seem obviously stupid and dangerous.

I've just seen that Q6 of the consultation doc asks whether it should be a requirement of self-ID that you make a statutory declaration that you intend to live as your acquired gender for the rest of your life. Knowingly lying when making a statutory declaration is a criminal offence punishable by up to two years in prison.

I didn't really understand the nuances of this so I did some research. Organisations like Stonewall support this being a requirement, so long as it's the only requirement (e.g. no need to provide details of medical treatments or evidence of having lived as your acquired gender for a specified period of time).

I am trying to decide whether this will be enough. I'm inclined to think that this would help solve the problem of men trying to abuse women's spaces - if you have to make a statutory declaration, and falsely doing so is a criminal offence, that will presumably deter people from pretending to be trans in order to be abusive? And it would stop people from claiming to be women or men as and when it suits them - they would have to make a lifelong commitment.

On the other hand, we don't know how seriously any breach of this rule would be taken so it's hard to assess how much of a deterrent it would be. And it wouldn't stop men pretending to be trans over the long term in order to be able to access women's spaces (although I don't know how likely this eventuality actually is?)

What are others' thoughts? Is this a sufficient safeguard? I'm leaning towards thinking that as long as there is a requirement for a statutory declaration I am happy for self-ID to pass, but I still have some niggling uncertainties. Would be interested in hearing others' opinions!

(Sorry this ended up being so long)

I don't think we currently have a really good definition of what woman means

You've got to be taking the piss with this. Do you think your dad might have given birth to you?

I just noticed something about this GRA debate (or lack of it).

I listened to Any Questions on Radio 4 yesterday and the GRA came up.
Claire Fox gave a great summary of the issues. The other 3 panellists all, more or less, did the 'there is a great deal of anger on both sides' blah blah and then the 'we need to have a calm and informed debate' bollocks, thereby TOTALLY avoiding giving an answer, giving their views, or making any comment on the proposed legal changes at all.
And then I realised that this happens ALL the time on radio 4, even on Women's Hour. Complete avoidance of the issue whilst giving a patronisiing calm down dear tone to anyone who wants to actually talk about it. GRRRRRRRRrrr.
Just wanted to make that point.

It is important to understand what Self ID is. It is NOT a pass into the ladies' for sexual predators. Instead, it enables trans people, men and women, to change their birth certificates without the need to go through lengthy, costly and often painful medical routines, as they do now.

This has got nothing to do with access to women's spaces. People don't need a birth certificate to enter those or be refused access.

I believe it is very important that transgender people can change their birth certificates by Self ID.