Petition: Update the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex

[Sidaway]

Petition to clear up some confusion in the Equality Act as it currently stands:

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243

I’m surprised this isn’t at 100000 already.

NeedAHoliday2021 · Today 07:57
I’m surprised this isn’t at 100000 already.

Maybe by the end of today it will reach the three quarters mark at 75,000 but nothing should be taken for granted.

If you look at the petition map on the petition link website it becomes clear that Scotland now realised what’s at stake but the rest of the U.K. are still unaware or confused, unsurprisingly.

To sign the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex,
⬇️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243

I’ve signed and shared. However, what a shock, not one single person on my FaceBook has signed and shared. Funny how so many of them will express their views in private but won’t do it publicly. We’re all being silenced by a minority who have got very loud voices. I’m actually quite annoyed as I had a very long chat with one of my oldest friends the other day about just this and she’s constantly on FB, did she sign this…er nope. Anyway, rant over.

74,321 signatures this early afternoon. I hope it gets to 75,000 by midnight.

To sign the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex,
⬇️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243

@WigglyGlowWorm tell your friends that as it's a Government petition it's completely anonymous.

Thanks, I’ll do that. I’m going to sound about 13 now but it’s a bit disheartening to not get a single like or comment when you have been chatting about these things 😢

@WigglyGlowWorm

WigglyGlowWorm · Today 15:00

^IcakethereforeIam · Today 14:37
@WigglyGlowWorm tell your friends that as it's a Government petition it's completely anonymous.^

Thanks, I’ll do that. I’m going to sound about 13 now but it’s a bit disheartening to not get a single like or comment when you have been chatting about these things 😢

Very disheartening. Look at the petition map though to see how clueless people are who aren’t in Scotland. Even there it is the North Western part that seems the most aware oddly!

I am going to try my DH today. He, I suspect, harbours feelings of fascination, plus ‘be kind’ and have solidarity with poor men who find themselves in this position, even though he has been willing to do some listening to me too.

Would anyone who has not yet dared face the possible result of asking someone close to them to sign like to join me?
👇
To sign the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex,
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243

I was a parent-teacher representative for both my children for most of the 12 years of their schooling so I have class e-mailing lists, I did a lot of NHS campaigning, plus other local campaigning, etc. so I have an e-mail address book of 2,000 - 3,000 addresses. I have spent the last 2 weeks selecting personal addresses, i.e. all those who are not in large companies, not work e-mail addresses, etc and I have sent them an e-mail explaining what the petition is about, and asking them to sign. Yes, I have had a few replies saying "how transphobic!", but I have replied back saying "Not a bit of it. Transphobic is meaningless, because no one can define what "trans" means in a scientific way, in contrast with sex". Please spend some time telling people directly by e-mail why we must protect single-sex spaces for women, children and gays. I don't do Facebook. I do Twitter: AT STRanswidows If anyone wants to contact me.

@Scientistranswidow thank you

Scientistranswidow · Today 16:17
What a great thing ⬆️ you have done!
🧬🔬🥼🥳

To sign the petition
⬇️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243

To sign the petition to update the Equality Act to make clear the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ means biological sex
⬇️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243

The government have responded to a rival petition, “Commit to not amending the Equality Act's definition of sex”:

“This Government believes in individual liberty. There are processes with appropriate checks to allow for those who wish to legally change their gender. Changes to the Equality Act are not necessary.

The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination, harassment and victimisation across a number of grounds, including sex. We are committed to upholding Britain’s long-standing record of protecting the rights of individuals against unlawful discrimination.

The Government is also committed to maintaining the safeguards that allow organisations to provide single-sex services. It is important that the principle of being able to operate spaces reserved for women and girls is maintained, in line with the Equality Act. Government is committed to tackling harassment and abusive behaviours by all individuals, and ensuring single-sex spaces are safe for those using them.

The Act makes it clear that providers have the right to restrict use of spaces on the basis of sex and gender reassignment where this is justified.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published guidance on the existing legislation which provides much needed clarity to those offering single-sex spaces.

Finally, this Government believes in the principle of individual liberty and in the humanity and dignity of every person. There are processes in place, with the right checks and balances, to allow for those who wish to legally change their gender to do so. We have listened to the responses in the Gender Recognition Act consultation and have taken steps to modernise the way that individuals can apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate as a result, reducing the cost and moving the process online. Everyone that decides to transition, deserves our respect, support and compassion.”

Cabinet Office

Signed

Signed.

Cattenberg · Today 00:41
Thank you for posting that government response to the rival petition, “Commit to not amending the Equality Act's definition of sex”:

It looks in that answer that they are just saying the definition as it is will stand.

From the point of view of our petition, if they take that line, it will be disappointing. It needs to be clearly defined that “sex” means biological sex.

To update the Equality Act to make clear that the protected characteristic “sex” is biological sex,
⬇️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243

The Government's response
Under the Equality Act 2010, providers are already able to restrict the use of spaces/services on the basis of sex and/or gender reassignment where justified. Further clarification is not necessary.
The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination, harassment and victimisation across a number of grounds, including sex. We are committed to upholding Britain’s long-standing record of protecting the rights of individuals against unlawful discrimination.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have published guidance on the existing legislation which provides much needed clarity to those offering single-sex spaces. It does not change the legal position or the law.
As the guidance makes clear, it is entirely acceptable for providers of single-sex services to take account of the biological sex of their service users. Where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, the Equality Act 2010 is clear that service providers can exclude, modify or limit access for transgender people, even where they have a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). This includes where a service provider has concerns that the presence of individuals who are biologically male could prevent them from meeting their aims, such as in the example below, included in the guidance:
“A group counselling session is provided for female victims of sexual assault. The organisers do not allow trans women to attend as they judge that the clients who attend the group session are likely to be traumatised by the presence of a person who is biologically male.”
It is important that providers of single-sex services are clear that biological sex can be taken into consideration when providing services.
The Government is committed to maintaining the safeguards that allow organisations to provide single-sex spaces. It is important that the principle of being able to operate spaces reserved for women and girls is maintained. Government is committed to tackling harassment and abusive behaviours by all individuals, and ensuring single-sex spaces are safe for those using them.
The response to this petition was provided by the Cabinet Office.
• Read the Government's response to this petition onlinee_.
Minister for Women and Equalities apologises for late response
The Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch MP, has apologised for the delay in responding to this petition. The minister said:
The delay was caused by exceptional factors including waiting for the conclusion of a directly relevant case being heard by the Court of Appeal in Scotland on this issue. We took the view that it would be helpful to the petitioners if we could respond in full knowledge of the Court’s ruling on this matter.
• Read the Minister's letter apologising for the late response to this petitionn_.

They are basically saying that we're already covered and the dick needs to stay the fuck out of our spaces!

However stores like monsoon etc will always buckle under the pressure of hateful online mob and welcome them in?

Wtf do we do?

Signed and shared 🤞🏻

SheSeemsToHaveAnInvisibleTouch · Today 07:41
They are basically saying that we're already covered and the dick needs to stay the fuck out of our spaces!

However stores like monsoon etc will always buckle under the pressure of hateful online mob and welcome them in?

Wtf do we do?

Sign the petition to try to persuade the U.K. Government to actually make clear that the ‘sex’ written in the Equality Act really does mean biological sex and never, ever, under any circumstances is it an identity or a certificate, like the OED App, or the NHS, or a certain judge, or most rape crisis centres, some hospitals, or GP records, or many captured school resources say it is
⬇️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243

Signed 75,881.

Petition to update the Equality Act to make clear that the characteristic ‘sex’ written in the Equality Act is biological sex,
To sign and share,
⬇️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243
76,678 Signatures at the moment. We need 100,000 at least to persuade Parliament to hold debate.

76,940
Nearly 77,000 signatures
From Sex Matters:

If you are a signatory to the petition you will have received the government’s initial response.

It is over six weeks late and answers a different question from the one we are asking. It focuses on the operation of single-sex services. Our petition does not specifically mention single-sex spaces or services but concerns the definition of sex in the Equality Act.

We have published a response to the government setting out ten reasons why we think that the definition of sex in the Equality Act means sex. We are not asking the government to change the law but to clarify it.

Last night the petition topped 75,000 signatures. The government's disappointing response shows why we need to have the debate in parliament.

With the petition now three-quarters of the way to the big total, we are sure it will get there with your help. Please share our response on social media and with your friends and ask two more people to sign the petition. If everyone who opens this email does that we could get to 100,000 signatures in no time at all.

10 Reasons why sex means sex in
The Equality Act
1
Everyone is entitled to protection
from sex discrimination
2
Words in legislation should have a
consistent, coherent meaning
3
Groups that "share a protected
characteristic" should be
meaningful
A
Single-sex associations must be
permitted
5
Single-sex schools should be
allowed
6
Single-sex higher education
institutions should be allowed
Single-sex charities should be
allowed
8
The single-sex services exceptions
concern the reality of bodies
9
When a job requires a woman or a
man it is because of their sex
10
Public bodies should consider how
policies impact on women and men
sign the petition
seXmatters

Maya

To sign the petition
⬇️
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243

Bump for any sleepless people...

To sign the petition
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243

From Sex Matters a couple of days ago:

If you are a signatory to the petition you will have received the government’s initial response.

It is over six weeks late and answers a different question from the one we are asking. It focuses on the operation of single-sex services. Our petition does not specifically mention single-sex spaces or services but concerns the definition of sex in the Equality Act.

We have published a response to the government setting out ten reasons why we think that the definition of sex in the Equality Act means sex. We are not asking the government to change the law but to clarify it.

Last night the petition topped 75,000 signatures. The government's disappointing response shows why we need to have the debate in parliament.

With the petition now three-quarters of the way to the big total, we are sure it will get there with your help. Please share our response on social media and with your friends and ask two more people to sign the petition. If everyone who opens this email does that we could get to 100,000 signatures in no time at all.

10 Reasons why sex means sex in
The Equality Act
1
Everyone is entitled to protection
from sex discrimination
2
Words in legislation should have a
consistent, coherent meaning
3
Groups that "share a protected
characteristic" should be
meaningful
A
Single-sex associations must be
permitted
5
Single-sex schools should be
allowed
6
Single-sex higher education
institutions should be allowed
Single-sex charities should be
allowed
8
The single-sex services exceptions
concern the reality of bodies
9
When a job requires a woman or a
man it is because of their sex
10
Public bodies should consider how
policies impact on women and men
sign the petition
seXmatters

Maya