I am about to ID as a man

[YesItsADebate]

In 1.5 hours, I will be identifying as a gay man who does not conform with male gender stereotypes. I expect my local leisure facility to comply with the Swim England guidelines and agree that I am entitled to access the men-only swimming sessions, the male showers and toilets and to wear swimming trunks. I also expect them to re-educate any other man who objects to any of the above.

In other words, I have a meeting with the local swimming pool at 10 to see whether or not I’ll be resorting to topless swimming and public nudity tonight in an effort to prove my point that the Swim England guidelines are ridiculous

Wish me luck!

[gingergenius]

Brilliant!

[SimonBridges]

A brilliant response from your MP.

[YesItsADebate]

Great response Derxa. I know for a fact that several MPs are on-side but don’t feel able to say so, yet.

I have tweeted A Woman’s Place.

[CertainHalfDesertedStreets]

That's brilliant derxa. Well done!

[PositivelyPERF]

I’m so delighted that some MPs are starting to see the light. This time last month there were nothing but woolly nonsense responses. What a difference a month makes. Millwall was one of the best home goals I’ve ever seen. 🤣

[BlackeyedSusan]

yay.

[derxa]

I've had a good response from my MP:
Thank you for writing about the vexed issue of transgender recognition. I share many of your concerns and those of other women who have raised this with me. This is classic example of needing to balance different people’s rights and trying to find a fair balance.

I believe that none of us should face discrimination simply because we are who we are. Dignity and respect should be shown to all, including transgender people. However I agree with you that there could be serious unintended consequences of allowing body males to self-declare, unless sensible and effective safeguards are put in place. You rightly highlight the recent cases in prisons and also the problems around single sex changing rooms, hospital wards and of course domestic refuges. I was not aware of the guidance from Swim England, which again highlights the problem.

I have previously spoken with the Equalities Minister on this, and my impression is that Ministers are carefully weighing the issues involved. However your email has encouraged me to formally write to her to spell out your and my concerns. I enclose my letter.

[gingergenius]

Omg if any of you hasn't watched it, watch Ricky gervais Humanity - he does a brilliant piece about trans identification.

Well worth a watch

[IAmADancer]

Hello,

Long time lurker but very aware of this crazy situation and so needed to post. I wondered if you had shared this petition with Women’s Place UK? I’m sure they could help get it out to a wider audience.

[swivelchair]

surely this must also mean that f2m trans should be prevented from using men's changing rooms as well. Doesn't this mean that there will still be penises in the women's changing room?

No. If you google female to trans surgery, you'll discover that it's pretty rare, because the surgery just isn't very good - these constructed phalluses (phalli?) are very different from an actual penis - even more so than vaginas/neo vaginas.

[Aristaeus76]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but if m2f trans should be prevented from using women's changing rooms (quite rightly), surely this must also mean that f2m trans should be prevented from using men's changing rooms as well. Doesn't this mean that there will still be penises in the women's changing room?

[SecondaryConfusion]

Going to PM re LinkedIn

[swivelchair]

Wow - we're a scattered lot! I can't see any constituency with more than one vote, and we're all over the place.

So much for London-centric middle class white women..

[FuckYouDailyMail]

Brilliant news on the petition OP

[swivelchair]

38Degrees don't let women raise any concerns about this - they believe in safe spaces for all genders, but asking for similar for sex they judge to be transphobic. Or that's what they told me when I complained last year at their removal of a petition regarding women's spaces.

[YesItsADebate]

X-post. It’s up!

[kaitlinktm]

Worrying about the petition delay. Didn't a pp say that 38 Degrees had refused a similar petition?

[YesItsADebate]

Update: the petition is now live!

Link: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/214118

[YesItsADebate]

It’s a balance between security and actually being able to do anything. The two group admins are checking requesters’ MN posting history before adding anyone.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

Sorry, if this sounds a bit stupid but should you be publicising this on a site known to have periodic influxes of activists?

Anyway, That sounds really cool. I am too ill to join. But I sincerely wish you the very best of luck. Please keep us posted even if you have to start a new thread.

[YesItsADebate]

It’s been over a week petition still hasn’t been approved. I emailed the petitions office on Friday to ask for an ETA but haven’t had a response. No response on the phone either. It’s supposed to take less than a week so I’m a bit concerned.

ETA for a response from the swimming pool is this Friday.

The #ManFriday Facebook group is secret so you won’t be able to find it. Secret because we’re concerned about doxxing, rather than because we’re planning to attack anyone or ruin their lives It’s a group of women from all over the country who self-ID as men, while changing absolutely nothing about themselves, and access male spaces to illustrate how self-ID works in real life. If you want to join in, send me a PM with your Facebook profile URL.

[bellasuewow]

Thanks for keeping us all updated op. Many of us are keen to hear the outcome and support the next steps.

[mummyhaschangedhername]

What's the status on the petition?

Did I read there was a Facebook page? What is it called?