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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

I am meeting my MP on Friday!

45 replies

MacaroonMama · 06/12/2017 14:16

Any words of wisdom? He replied to my letter, seems genuinely concerned but a bit ignorant of the wider ramifications of accepting changes to the Gender ID Bill.

I will print off the sage guide as it is so clear. Then I will bring up:

Prisons (this is an interest of his)
Hospitals/care homes
Rape crisis centres/refuges (with examples of where this has gone wrong in other countries)
Sport
Children - the risks of puberty blockers
The gaping lack of science behind any of this
The whole if Lily Madigan can be a women's officer then in theory all women's officers could be men thing (I will not get personal about her, I feel she should simply have been told 'no you are not eligible' end of).
Will give him the amazing speeches from the MPs meeting on Oct 31 (I asked him to attend but not sure if he did)

What else? I think *BetsyM00 did a thread of gathering resources already so I will have a look.

Any other things? I am in SE London (just over border from Lewisham in Bromley) if anyone fancies coming too! 3.45pm (I think he purposely scheduled with school run but I have asked a friend to help out, phew!)

Thanks for any comments or suggestions 💐💐💐

OP posts:
Trailedanderror · 08/12/2017 12:48

Mine was lovely but utterly nonplussed by it all. It's not an easy conversation to have, but the crux of the matter is that violent people in prison with penises will be allowed into women's prisons with those penises without having any expectation that that will change.

Gileswithachainsaw · 08/12/2017 13:34

Good luck Smile

Regressionconfession · 08/12/2017 20:37

How did it go macaroonmama ?!

Original poster
MacaroonMama · 09/12/2017 11:06

Hi All,

I was so nervous!!! But it was actually very positive. He said straight away what he said in his letter, that he is broadly sympathetic (would he have used that word to a man? was it a bit placatory? I digress...) to the concerns I raised, particularly in regards to the prisons issue, which I had prepped for. We talked about some great statistics and analysis from Fair Play for Women re: prisons, and I corrected him about the trans suicide thing (he said he was worried, I was able to point him to the article by Dr Nicola Williams and later emailed it to him).

He was also interested in the sports angle, and the impact on children.

I am fairly sure he would vote against any changes to the existing act, but he also seemed to think that it wasn't actually all going to happen - like it would blow over? I said that Scotland was having the consultation now and he said yes, then he asked me to get back in touch when England opened its own consultation. He also said he was happy to meet again or me to send any more literature his way.

So, broadly, it was positive. I wish I had been braver and got more - not shouty, but sort of Ani Difranco-style Righteously Angry! But I didn't feel he was a person to fight against really, he agreed with what I said.

Anyway, I am going to keep in touch, left some literature with him, and I think he will be with us.

I also think if he was not a white Conservative posh (not a slur, he just was) man, he would have been more concerned.

Thanks so much for the support all, I could feel many of you sitting right behind me and cheering me on 😘

OP posts:
LangCleg · 09/12/2017 11:23

Well done, MacaroonMama, I salute you.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 09/12/2017 11:35

Well done! Sounds like you handled it brilliantly!

GuardianLions · 09/12/2017 11:46

Well done!

IrenetheQuaint · 09/12/2017 11:50

Sounds like a really good meeting - well done! I think concern is definitely a better approach than anger.

Really interesting that he thinks it's not going to happen. I suspect the Tories have realised the issue is more complicated than they originally thought.

hipsterfun · 09/12/2017 11:54

Round of applause for you, MM Smile

jeaux90 · 09/12/2017 12:09

Well done! I think we all need to pick off our MP's and have the conversation it's the only way. I've sent mine a letter and am making an appointment to see him in person. I'm covered by the MP for Henley. Does anyone know if any of the groups are organised enough and running a campaign targeting the MP's individually?

Blanchefleur · 09/12/2017 12:20

Well done! I'm glad he can see the issues at stake here.

Now you've met him once, any further meetings will not be nearly so nerve-wracking.

lostplot · 09/12/2017 12:33

Well done!

Regressionconfession · 09/12/2017 16:20

Well done!!!

I've been inspired by these threads to write to my mp. Still awaiting a response!

QuarksandLeptons · 09/12/2017 19:15

Well done & thank you OP

SuburbanRhonda · 09/12/2017 19:25

That’s amazing macaroon!

I know if it had been me I’d have forgotten everything I wanted to say so well done for keeping your cool Smile

Thelilywhite · 09/12/2017 19:52

Good for you macaroon

Original poster
MacaroonMama · 10/12/2017 19:21

Thanks all. Lots if support on here. Last thing - he said he was interested in how I had heard about his (I said from the Mumsnet feminist talk boards, which was full of lots of fiercely intelligent, articulate and compassionate women), and then he said I was the only one of his constituents to have raised it with him. The population of this constituency is 88,633 and electorate is 65,508! I need to get more people into this!

OP posts:
raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 11/12/2017 13:26

I've also asked to see my MP. (Lib Dem).

All I've said is that I'd like to understand the Lib Dem position and that I have soem concerns about the upcoming GRA changes.

Should I give him some more detail before I go?

Has anyone got any tips? I've never seen my MP for a meeting before. Would it help to bring him some printouts of relevant info to look at after?

busyboysmum · 11/12/2017 16:44

I would send him the Sages sheets and print off a copy to take yourself. Maybe highlight the parts you are particularly concerned about to have as talking points.

RedToothBrush · 11/12/2017 16:52

I would be armed to the teeth about the idea of the GRA being authoritarian not liberal if you are seeing a LD.

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