Call to write to your MP before Commons debate

[GarlicSpartaterf]

On Thursday 1st December 2016, The House of Commons will debate a motion on Transgender Equality.

Maria Miller’s Committee has called for the removal of qualifying requirements for gender change, so that anyone could easily become legally a member of the opposite sex, without the need for any form of social or medical transition.

We’re asking anyone worried about the implications of this move to contact their MP.

"We" are Fair Play For Women. There's a lot more detail in the link.

The prevailing attitude in the debate seemed to be that only by giving more weight to gender identification can society deliver greater equality to trans people and reduce their suffering. Gender identification should be a protected characteristic, and if this were truly the case, there would be less paperwork to fill out, more protection afforded to trans people, in areas such as education, healthcare and work, and more respect afforded to where they would like to holiday at her majesty's pleasure.

I didn't see all of the debate but what I did see was a completely blinkered and one-sided view of the issues. Not much of a debate!

I did chortle a little when Angela Crawley stated that non binary people feel invisible. I thought, well it depends on how much you're invested in that part of your identity, doesn't it? I mean, I would qualify as non binary but ticking the female box on a form doesn't mortally wound me (not least because it describes biology!). I felt at times like I was missing something. I can understand those with severe gender dysphoria feeling in need of more support, but those who are gender fluid and or non binary??

Lorelei76

The idea seemed to be that self-identification is the next step to a brave new world of equality for trans people and that GRCs are out-dated .

No gender critical suggestions arose at all. No suggestion that maybe schools should cease to corral kids into gender stereotypical roles/activities or that maybe the media should show more gender non-conforming children/adults.

field, sorry, I wasn't clear

I don't what the next step is in making it legal to self define but I hope that more MPs will get involved in opposing arguments. The fact that only 20 turned up could mean all sorts of views exist among the others.

It was a train crash, in my opinion. So one sided, it was laughable.

Lorelei 76

Sorry I misunderstood. And, yes I did wonder at there being so few MPs present. It crossed my mind that it could be a case of 'if you can't say anything nice....'. Although, I hoped at least one member would grow a pair, especially given that so many of us have been shooting emails off.

Frankly, I am taking solace from the fact that there were so few people there. It has not hit the mainstream yet. God knows, if women at large were aware of this it would've been packed to the rafters.

What IndominousRex said. It really is so simple - I don't understand why people can't see it

Is there any record of who was in attendance?

Full debate here:

hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-12-01/debates/D4F283FB-2C02-4C8C-8C7E-BEAB889D1425/TransgenderEquality

I think to see who was there you may need to just scroll through

Does my hon. Friend agree that the essence of today’s debate is that gender is a social construct, and that that should be recognised in law? It is not primarily a biological construct, but because the law is based on that outdated concept, it is failing us.

Bloody hell. Good to know that science is outdated

Just skim read some of that debate. Handmaid's tale here we come...

(Dystopian future-wise - I know the immediate parallels with trans issues are not obvious.)

I like to think so Datum.

Oops, I mean Datun.

I only read the first few exchanges and got too cross to continue (there are no problems in the unisex toilet on a plane, so there is no problem with shared toilets more generally.... FFS.... )

Caroline Flint has gone up further in my estimation

In terms of next steps legally, it's a long way to go to get the law changed as proposed in the W&E Committee report. Hopefully long enough for more people to understand and engage with the issues that are raised by what seems like an innocuous proposal at first glance.

Here is most of the patronising, missing the point, response.

Thanks Oleanna
I do hope that more publicity will help with this

Honestly, I've had people disagree when I say gender is a social construct but quite how we ended up at a point where some people want to put that in law....

And how the hell do plane toilets compare?

I wonder what the PM thinks of this.

The PM is an interesting person for feminists, TBH. Religious (daughter of a vicar), has done important things to promote talented women (both in her appointments to Cabinet, but years ago in terms of mentoring and supporting other women MPs), refuses to play by the traditional boys' rules about how to get ahead in politics. Her stance on the burkha is interesting: as Home Secretary, she refused to back calls to ban it because she would not be involved in telling other women how to dress. I would expect her to be a Spartacus

What will happen to single sex schools? (No jokes about group sex please)

Reply from my MP James Wharton.

Thank you for your email. I was unfortunately unable to attend the debate on Transgender Equality on Thursday, however I did follow the debate closely.

This is an extremely sensitive and important issue that I am glad is being discussed in Parliament. It is important that everyone is treated equally and their rights are protected.

The concerns you shared in your email in regards to ensuring women’s rights were also protected were raised in the debate too. It is accepted by all that protecting one group’s rights should in any way infringe or put at risk others.

The incidences you mention are abhorrent and are rightly dealt with as a criminal matter. The issue you raise regarding public facilities (toilets, changing rooms etc.) is a topic that causes the most contention and it is important that there is an open forum where a grown up, frank and open discussion can take place.

If you are interested in the debate that took place on Thursday you can read the transcript or watched the debate here:

Not really sure how to respond to it. Not happy about the part stating that toilets are the most contentious issue, I barely mentioned it in my letter!

Pooky - Perhaps take comfort from the fact he is even aware that there might be a problem and notes the rights of one group must not infringe the rights of others. Seems quite a measured and open-minded response compared to yesterday's debate.

It also suggests to me he had other letters which DID dwell more heavily on the toilets issue & has repurposed a previous reply, so he's getting correspondence about this.

I agree I thought that part was great, let's hope that is what they try to achieve.

I think I will get a reply that duplicates yours Treacle.

Every time I read it I get a bit more annoyed.

'Natal (assigned) sex'? It makes it sound like a child is born and the parents just assign a sex, picked out of thing air...