BBC Question Time this week

[Spinsterf]

Have applied for an audience ticket. Apparently Justine Greening is on the panel. Any ideas for phrasing a question on trans issues as topically as possible to maximise chance of it getting onto the show?

"Women in NHS psychiatric wards, many of whom have a history of male abuse and violence, are being told they have to share these spaces with people with male genitalia.

What would the panel say to a woman who felt frightened and intimidated by this situation?"

It will very much depend on what is on the news between now and early evening Thursday. They very much chose 'hot topics.

My DH has been to recording twice in the past.

As it is I very much doubt a question like this would get on.

If the hunger striker is still in a male prison though that’s just the hunger striker being a ‘snowflake’ - it doesn’t demonstrate how all the parties are prepared to throw women under bus. IMO the scariest part of that story is that his crimes aren’t being mentioned in the reporting.

Is a transwoman a woman even when they have committed sex crimes with their intact male penises?

Jesus, you couldn’t make it up.

They'll only pick a version of the question that allows the panellists to obfuscate, I'm afraid.

'If transwomen can be accepted on AWS, is it equally acceptable for Rachel Dolezal to be accepted onto a BAME shortlist? If not, why not?'

How about,
With Corbyn stating that transwomen are women, Is biology now irrelevant to being a woman?

Marie Dean self identifies as a woman, do you believe her? Do you think locking her up with female prisoners is a good idea given the offenses that she was convicted for?

I got a q on gardeners q time once.

Could try a query about self identifying female holly?

(But not the variegated ones, too bloody confusing)

(Joke).

Do you think Ian Huntley should ever be allowed to be put in a woman's prison ?

Now I do like that one. It is clear, direct, and doesn't have any "euww" words or jargon.

It is reported that Ian Huntley has declared himself to be a woman. Do you think he should ever be allowed to transfer to a woman's prison?

One negative is lack of topicality from the week's news.

I think if you mention a particular case the stock response will be to deflect and say they are not acquainted with the details.

I think it's better to ask 'what is the definition of a man?'

Anyway, however you choose to frame the question, good luck.

Do you believe that people born into the biological class of female have the right to name themselves?

Definitely needs to be topical, and I agree that the hunger striker man would be be the perfect news story to hang the question on (better than Corbyn's pronouncement, as it's much more dramatic, and more likely to get people talking). Maybe even a simple: "Should male sex offenders who identify as female be allowed a transfer to a women's prison?"

I don't think Ian Huntley is in the news at the moment (afaiaa)... best to link it to current stories.

Think about the context of this question in relation to other news stories this week with how to aim the question... if it's likely to be big then ask a more detailed question for the front of the show. If less prominent then aim for one of the later question slots which are shorter and punchier. Maybe "with regards to AWS, what is the definition of a woman?"

"Last week, the Labour Party decided to open up its All Women shortlists to anyone who 'self-identifies' as a woman.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines woman as an "adult human female", and defines female as denoting the sex that can produce eggs.

Does the panel think the Oxford English Dictionary is transphobic?"

BBC radio 4 today World at 1 will have a segment later on the prog about the Labour row regarding all women shortlists/transwomen.

Thanks Bagel. Switching on.

Should male sex offenders who identify as female be allowed a transfer to a women's prison?"

This one is probably closest to getting picked. And it covers the whole concept without going into the labour AWS thing which will just be confusing and deflective. The above question is pretty straight to the point and shows that the whole idea of self id is kind of crazy.

I've just listened to that segment and thanks for flagging it up.

The question I'm left with is why have trans in the LGB? Or a separate trans?

Surely the logical conclusion of those purporting that transwomen are women and transmen are men, is that there is no need for a separate identifier?

I was out - what did they say?

Ah. I see a thread.

They said many words which will have left 95% of the audience thinking "WTF was that? Must be one of those leftie navel-gazing things".

Do the panel believe that all women short lists (and other areas of sex distinction ) were set up to deal with challenges rooted in female biology or those imposed by adherence to feminine

Or

Does the panel believe all woman short lists will have served their purpose if no increase is made in biological female representation?

Or

Is a biological female who doesn't identify themselves as feminine by society's standards now considered less of a woman than a man who does?

Personally I would like to keep the debate away from focusing on trans and more about women and why the need for women's only facilities/short lists etc. Exists.

Should male sex offenders who identify as female be allowed a transfer to a women's prison?

Agree this is the most powerful, topical and widely understandable question. How about adding 'self' to help link it as clearly as possible to the self ID issue, i.e.

Should male sex offenders who self-identify as female be allowed to transfer to a women's prison?