Do Women's Aid and Rape Crisis let "part-time women" access their support groups and refuges?

[PissedOffLesbian]

I came across this link by accident while looking for an example for another thread.

lgbt.foundation/who-we-help/women/social-and-support-groups-and-links

It is increasingly common, particularly in LGBT organisations, that groups for lesbians are open to men who identify as women some of the time (ie natal males who identify as heterosexual men for most of the week but identify as lesbian women part-time and attend lesbian support/social groups and events). This is increasingly explicitly stated on event leaflets etc, although even where it isn't, no one would dare question anyone who turned up on their gender identity.

The organisation linked above is one that subscribes to this view, as stated on that page, and says that it doesn't knowingly list organisations or support groups which 'discriminate'.

As organisations like Women's Aid and Rape Crisis are listed, how widely are these other organisations defining 'woman' now? Can "part-time women" get access to women's refuges and rape support groups as well now?

I don't know about rape crisis centres, but this is certainly the case for some female psychiatric wards 😩

That would be horrific for abused women. I truly hope that this isn't the case.

How can you identify as something (anything?) part time?

This is a disgrace. I actually can’t believe I’ve read this. I’m astounded. So women who have been subject to abuse by men may then have to share their ‘protected’ space with men who ‘part time’ identify as a female? How part time does this commitment have to be? Would 6-7 pm on a Friday do it? I am honestly scared for all women. Very sad days.

Not sure about rape crisis centres or women's aid (I hope not, my mother along with me and my siblings were in one for a time as a child) but certainly psychiatric bays and AMU, SAU and SSSU in the hospital I previously worked in, are now going to become "identity determined" by the end of 2017 - according to colleagues who still work there.

It's beyond belief. Blatant abuse of women in my opinion. Colleagues of mine in the NHS raised this issue, and the complaint was referred to the LGBT committee.

They were told the LGBT group fully supported the move to have part time women on female wards, & that they were on the right side of the law.

These are bloody health professionals! I feel there's no hope.

www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/statement-in-support-of-the-equal-recognition-campaign-and-reform-of-the-gender-recognitio/

Can you imagine if a white person identified as black part time?

This is getting ridiculous isn't it.

This is just horrifying, what are they thinking? I would have thought the priority is the women using the service. Somebody said the anger would fade and I’d start rolling my eyes. Now i’m just feeling disappointed and resigned.

How the hell can you be a part time woman?

Dear God, this is scary.

Rape crisis have done, I don't know whether it's a blanket policy though.

It's only abused women though, and blokes in frocks feelings are much more important than them.

Although I was seeing this in LGBT organisations, I was really hoping the rest of the world hadn't gone that crazy.

So many people still imagine transsexuals when they think about this trans stuff ie that someone has undergone hormones, complete surgery etc. I think most people would be shocked to find out, not only is that no longer case, men who happily identify as male for 90% of the time, with all the privilege that entails, can now choose to be a woman for a few hours a week to access any lesbian, sex abuse survivors etc group they fancy.

How can these organisations think this is okay? What do they think 'woman' is? Just some costume you can pull on for a few hours for a change?

It's all so fucking sad. I thought I had reached peak trans, but no. I am just left feeling that there is no fight to be had and we are left unheard. What will make people stand up and realise what is going on?

The problem is that in their eagerness to do 'the right thing' these organisations (NHS included) consult LGBT groups, Stonewll etc. They DO NOT ask women for their opinion.

The problem is that in their eagerness to do 'the right thing' these organisations (NHS included) consult LGBT groups, Stonewll etc. They DO NOT ask women for their opinion.

You would think at least domestic abuse and rape support service charities would think of women, wouldn't you?

I've wondered to what extent they are just scared of being anything other than compliant with transactivist demands. Because of the abuse that would targeted on them and their centres - which could in itself make vulnerable women feel less safe in accessing their services - and the potential loss of funding if they are accused of 'transphobia'. Not to mention the effect on charities' resources if they spend years getting dragged through the courts as has happened in Canada:

thetyee.ca/News/2007/02/03/Nixon/

Excellent article in the Morning Star which highlights that women working in domestic violence/rape support services are afraid to speak up on this issue:

morningstaronline.co.uk/a-95d8-Womens-concerns-should-not-be-minimised#.Whx4T3mxUkL

As a feminist campaigner of many years, I know women who work in organisations from across the domestic and sexual violence sector; many are scared to openly raise questions about gender identity theory.

Doing so could lose them their jobs, or worse, jeopardise the minimal funding that charities they work for depend upon.

One such friend, who asked not to be named, said: “There are no safeguards in place to identify trans women who suffer from gender dysphoria from men who might wish to abuse access to women-only space.

“We have to make our service trans inclusive, but I know this will put the very vulnerable women we should be centring at risk.”