Irish Transgender Law

[JaneJeffer]

I've seen a lot of threads on MN worrying about the UK changing the law to allow self-identification of gender. I can understand the concerns but as we've had this for two years in Ireland and it doesn't seem to have caused any trouble I'm just wondering what everyone else thinks. Sorry to start yet another thread!

I was actually watching two transgender people MTF and FTM speaking on TV3 yesterday and they put their stories across very well and I didn't feel threatened by them at all.

What was the show on TV3 I'd like to watch it?

I only peaktransed in the past year and I am horrified that the whole are of self identification snuck in under the radar of marriage equality. To already have male persons competing in women's sport (internationally not aware of Ireland yet) really angers me.

I've seen a few trans articles on The Journal and most comments to date have been a bit "sure common sense says they're still a man.... that only happens in OTHER countries" so watching to see what will come out with the proposed review of gender identification in September of this year - proposal to reduce age of gender self identification to 16 I think

Ps: love the phonetic play on your user name

Thanks lazy. They were on Saturday AM. You should get it on 3player. I've seen the MTF on TV3 a couple of times before.

I wonder about it too. I think, mainly from reading here, that mysoginy in the UK is much more visible (eg cat calling/street harassment doesn't seem to be nearly such of a problem here -- or is that just me?) so I wonder if that plays a part in it? Like lazybaby, I've only recently peaked and been able to give voice to the concern I felt without being able to articulate it when the bill passed two years ago. I also think rad feminism isn't a thing here. I have looked at a couple of women's groups and they seem very lib fem.

I think a significant problem with trans issues is the activists, and we seem to have very few vocal ones here.

I didn't know about the review on September, thanks for the heads up to keep an eye out.

I tried to join a local Feminist group here but was disillusioned when I went there to be told "transwomen are women" ... all in the libfem "let's just all be friends" way...
Reading up on Irish feminist groups on Facebook also seem to be supporting TENI and trans agenda of our "sisters"....

Grrrr. I did follow NWCI and not seeing too much to raise my blood pressure but I'm not based in Dublin so limits my opportunity to link in at live events.

Any ideas on how we can mobilise (or even simply meet likeminded) radfems in Ireland???

I peak transed about a year ago and have had the same thoughts as you OP as to why there haven't been significant issues in Ireland.

As an outsider my best guess is that gender stereotypes are far less pronounced here than in the UK: girls seem to be far more involved in sports for example.

Combined with a lack of trans activism it appears that a more "common sense" approach is being taken but I guess it remains to be seen how it will pan out in long run.

lazy also interested in meeting radfems

Same here - the discussions on MN have really opened my eyes. I think it's only a matter of time before a TRA tries to abuse the self identification law here in Ireland.

I don't know if I could do any meetup's as I'm fairly rural, but I'd be interested in any online groups.