Biological SEX MATTERS. How many mumsnetters say "aye" to this campaign?

[SexMatters]

This document and campaign called 'Sex Matters' is a collaborative effort by amazing and knowledgeable mumsnetters on a couple of threads in FWR.

To move forward with the campaign, the organisations and individuals approached will need to know who is behind it, and the honest truth, is that mumsnetters have spearheaded it.

That does not mean that other campaigners can't get involved or even take greater ownership of it. But it needs a bio in order to introduce it to people and organisations to get started and I need your consent to describe the campaign this way: 'mumsnetter led' (and maybe even some suggestions for writing a bio on this thread).

So, you amazing gender-critical mumsnetters, do you say 'aye'?

Aye

I posted a comment on this piece about a local person. The journalist contacted me to see if I would be happy to be interviewed for a feature. I am. I have a letter from my MP I want to share with them.

www.dailyecho.co.uk/NEWS/16050552.Southampton_transgender_man_shares_his_experience_to_help_others/

This is the comment I wrote underneath the piece which prompted the journalist to email me last week.

Sexnotgender27th February 2:04 pm
Its great that Devin has found peace and happiness here.
Understanding transgender is important but so is understanding same sex segregation. The T part of the LBGT movement have decided that sex segregation must be eliminated. They are not asking for consent from anyone. Those of us that want safety and acceptance for T people don't really need to provide that at the cost of sex segregation we have enjoyed for centuries do we? Why are we not being allowed to talk about this?
Sex matters - please read this to understand why.
drive.google.com/file/d/1bJRkyLJYuTx0zlHo-50SEemYhyT9ZvMn/view
Last Updated: 27th February 3:25 pm

Wow! Mouth :)

Aye

If anyone wants a more memorable url for the pdf it is here:

www.sexmatters.org.uk/sexmatters.pdf

Oh, very well done Mouth

I'm going to write this time to my mp. Recorded delivery. I have emailed him and even tweeted him and he doesn't reply.
Any tips on what I should put in the letter. I don't want to sound like a pleb who doesn't know what's she's talking about . I'm new to all of this and it's blown my mind.

Have a look at this thread for some ideas drinks

Thanks

Great stuff Mouth - amazing work!

I have written (on paper) to my MP to express my concerns. I hope he reads and responds.

Decided to go all out and write to each party in my area.
Got some cracking ideas of that thread , thanks.
It will be interesting to see how many replies I get.

@Mouthtrousersafrocknowandthen well done for speaking out!

Can you tell us any more about the letter you received from your (Labour?) MP?

Well done bingbong and drinks !

That was a really clear concise comment mouth.
Please update us with outcome from interview with journalist.

@Mouthtrousersafrocknowandthen Fantastic!

Late to the party but aye

Delurking to say aye

Aye

Thanks for the flowers, much appreciated.

There is another piece in the paper from a year or two back about Devin's mothers suicide after many years of abusive relationships with men, and struggling with her mental conditions. This is heart rending. I weighed up if it was appropriate to post there but it would hit traffic so my instincts told me provided I was sensitive it was ok to post this corresponding issue in the interest of balance. I have my own experience of a self harming child, I understand this.

I also want to pick up this line with the writer from her article:
Figures show that between 40 and 60 percent of transgender people attempt suicide.
Figures show? Sloppy work.
So now gathering my thoughts about what to cover in the interview.I have 45 minutes. I will focus on the GRA changes and the political situation, I've already told her I've been in correspondence with Alan Whitehead, the local Labour MP.

@Bangkokhilton

Apologies for not responding sooner, fours hours round driving in torrential rain for mothering Sunday with family. Very lovely time.

I posted the letter I received from Alan Whitehead here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3179281-Labour-MP-thinks-men-are-women-and-says-women-can-never-say-no-to-men?pg=1

I will dig out my letter to him and post it here if it helps anyone.

Aye

Here is my letter to Alan Whitehead.. You will see I used the 5 points from A Woman's Place and also on a personal concern, the Swimming UK guidance.

Happy to help anyone with a letter.

Dear MP
Last month Jeremy Corbyn confirmed to Andrew Marr that a man declaring himself to be a women, was a women, and was welcome on All Women Shortlists for labour party candidates. He is saying this without any legal basis for doing this - women is a protected characteristic under equality law. The proposed changes to the 2004 Gender Recognition Act will enshrine this in law, a man will be able to self declare himself a women and thereby he is one.
Before voting for you at the next election I would like to know where you stand on this proposed change to the law. The Government Equalities Office has committed to consult on changes to the existing Gender Recognition Act. The current process requires that you are over 18; have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria (defined by the NHS as a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because they believe there to be a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity); that you’ve lived in your acquired gender for at least 2 years and that you intend to live in your acquired gender for the rest of your life.
You must also have an original or certified copy of your birth certificate and copies of any official documents that show your birth name has changed to your current name; proof you’ve lived in your acquired gender for the required time (2 years for standard route, 6 years for alternative route); any medical reports and proof you’re living in your acquired gender (passport, driving licence, payslips or benefit documents, utility bills or other documents of an official nature)
The proposed change to the law would simplify the process to gain a GRC with the likely introduction of a simple statement of intent as in Ireland. Transgender people should have the same rights as anyone else to be free from discrimination, to access the services that they need and to be treated with dignity and respect.
However, moving to a process of self-declaration risks unintended consequences for the safety and wellbeing of women and girls. If the government were to go ahead with the proposed simplification of the gender recognition process, and move towards a self-declaration system, it would mean that violent male offenders could demand access to women only spaces and services such as refuges, sexual violence centres/services and prisons simply by claiming to identify as a woman, whether or not this was the case.
There is already evidence that this is happening in the prison service in the UK. There is evidence from both the UK and internationally of people who were born male entering women only spaces dressed as women and going on to assault women. Whether or not these offenders are transgender is irrelevant since the recommendations in the report would facilitate this type of offending by making access to women only spaces dependent on an individual’s declaration that they identify as a woman with no need for any process of social or medical transition. Trans people have the right to access the services that they need and there are real concerns about the safety of transwomen, in particular if they are housed in the mainstream prison population in line with their biological sex. However, the Committee’s recommendations in these areas are not the best way to address these issues and threaten the safety and wellbeing of women and girls. Women have five demands on this:

1. Respectful and evidence based discussion about the impact of the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act to be allowed to take place and for women’s voices to be heard;
2. The principle of women only spaces to be upheld – and where necessary extended.
3. A review of how the exemptions in the Equality Act which allow for single sex services or requirements that only a woman can apply for a job (such as in a domestic violence refuge) are being applied in practice;
4. Government to consult with women’s organisations on how self-declaration would impact on women only services and spaces;
5. Government to consult on how self-declaration will impact upon data gathering – such as crime, employment, pay, and health statistics - and monitoring of sex-based discrimination such as the gender pay.

This has not happened. Already organisations are being told they must permit men and boys into women’s and girls changing rooms if they want be there and any women or girls that object must be “educated”. Please take a look at the guidance issued by Swim England. If I am forced to agree to male bodied people in the women’s changing rooms as advocated here by Swim England I will have to stop swimming . I believe this completely contradicts their children’s Safeguarding rules. www.swimming.org/swimengland/guide-engaging-trans-people-swimming/ Labour are acting ahead of the law without any party agreement, a teenage boy has been elected as woman’s officer and women are being expelled from the party for objecting. We are being silence by a Men’s Rights Activist group. Labour will lose support from women on this, and they already are. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards

mouth that's brilliant, better than what I've wrote. You've made some points I've missed. May I pinch?