Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Reply from MP

101 replies

unlurk85 · 08/03/2018 13:52

Hi all,

Received a reply from my MP (Tory grandee) about the GRA. Hope it's readable. As you can see he's going to write to the Minister and let me know. I hope coming from him (he's well respected in the party) it'll help. He also seems to grasp the arguments well. Hurray. Happy IWD (and my DS' birthday too!!) SmileThanks

Reply from MP
OP posts:
noraclavicle · 08/03/2018 17:54

..and I’ll add that EVERY other time I’ve written to her I’ve had a proper response within a week or 2

SeaWitchly · 08/03/2018 18:12

I've never been a Tory voter but his response (and his views on Brexit too) do make me think that maybe I could vote Tory....

I have been feeling somewhat the same way... and this is from someone who actively campaigned for both Jeremy Corbyn and Labour.

I am bitterly disappointed in how Labour are dealing with the issue of Self ID and their attempts to silence and discredit gender critical women within their party.

JC told Andrew Marr there would be a consultation and seemed to acknowledge that he needed to hear both sides of the debate. He said, if I recall, that he would speak with Linda Bellos about this.
However I am not aware that any attempt has been made to get round a table to discuss this issue with feminists other than perhaps empty headed liberal transmaidens.

Meanwhile vocal gender critical female members are being suspended and threatened with expulsion whilst male TRAs are allowed to call them 'cunts' on social media and organise secret groups with the aim of eradicating them from the Labour Party.

This is not what I campaigned for nor what I voted for. I am a middle aged gender critical feminist and mother. I am a professional person with a degree and postgraduate qualifications and I am appalled at currently how silenced and threatened I feel within the Labour Party.

Jeremy Corbyn needs to get his head out of his arse pretty damn quick or he is going to lose my support and that of a lot of other women. And again, I say that as someone who agrees with him on most other policy and would otherwise would happily campaign and vote for Labour in the next GE.... but not at the moment with the spectre of self id as an official labour policy hanging over us.

unlurk85 · 08/03/2018 18:19

Ha sorry to disappoint all but I'll not comment on who is it as I don't want the world and her husband to know where I live! But KC is a decent guess.

@TheReluctantFundaFeminist I'm happy to pm what I wrote. Tbh it was v brief (I work with politicians and I know they appreciate brevity). I also forwarded my email to Women’s Aid so he could see that too. Let's see what 'The Minister' says.....

OP posts:
HomeTerf · 08/03/2018 18:23

@TheReluctantFundafeminist I'll PM you my letter, though I've just had a look at it and it seems a bit out of date now (written 21st January) because events seem to have moved on so quickly and significantly, with Labour's official announcement about AWS. Might give you some sort of framework to go on though.

loveyouradvice · 08/03/2018 18:25

Oh wow! Really great reply ....how fab to have an MP who actually says what they think!

And love that comment coming from a Tory grandee - "Simply chooses to cross dress" ... something I would never have imagined a few years ago - that "simply"... strange times

LizzieSiddal · 08/03/2018 18:31

OP would you mind PMing your letter to me too? I won’t copy it word for word, I just need some ideas to get me started.

Cuntysnark · 08/03/2018 18:36

Could I have a copy too please? I’ve sat on my hands for far too long and am increasingly scared-I think I’d end up sending an unintelligible rant :-/

unlurk85 · 08/03/2018 18:53

Ok I've checked my email and it was very brief indeed and not outing so I'll post it here. I'm not suggesting for one minute that this is the ideal email on the subject, just posting for info.

Dear [MP's name]

I am one of your constituents living in [x place]. Recently I have been growing more concerned over the implications of the Gender Recognition Act for women; particularly vulnerable women. Please see my email to Women's Aid below regarding their decision to allow biological men who Self ID as women to work in refuges. I don't think I need to point out that 3 women are killed by men every week in the UK so this is a very pressing issue.

Can you please clarify your personal stance on the Gender Recognition Act?

Regards
Unlurk

Begin forwarded message:

From: Unlurk

To: [email protected]
Subject: Gender Self ID and your workforce

Dear Women's Aid,

I'm writing to add my voice to the many others who have contacted you about allowing transgender staff who are biologically male to work in your refuges. I am very lucky to have never needed your services, but I do have a good friend who has and she had nothing but praise for your excellent staff. However, I am deeply concerned about the erosion of safe spaces for biological women and the effect that letting men into these spaces may have. I'm sure I don't need to point out what a trauma seeing a member of staff who is quite obviously a biological male (despite how they may identify) could be for vulnerable women and children. I fear such women will feel they have nowhere to go and stay in abusive relationships; potentially ending up as a murder statistic.

This is all without even considering that some men make abuse Self ID to gain access to vulnerable women.

I have huge respect for your organisation, but I urge you to rethink this policy change. There is no legal requirement yet for you to make this change and resisting it doesn't make you bigoted; it shows you put the rights of biological women first.

Regards,
Unlurk

OP posts:
charlyn · 08/03/2018 18:58

That’s a promising reply. I’m thinking of writing to my local MP too. I’m interested to hear her views especially as she used to be the Minister for Women and Equalities.

Maursh · 08/03/2018 19:23

I have been thinking how ironic it was the far-right eurosceptic arm of the tory party (Bill Cash, Jacob Rees-Mogg etc) would be most likely to be outspoken against this proposed bill. An unlikely alliance with typically left-leaning feminists. I asked on another thread for MPs who had spoken out against the bill and the only two who have are Henry Bolton and David Davies.

JRM in his infamous GMB interview when he admitted his moral opposition to abortion and homosexuals made a distinction between the two. One being a lifestyle choice which doesn't affect others and the other being an act done onto another. I think that this largely sums up the whole GRA issue.

OohMavis · 08/03/2018 20:13

I've been thinking about writing to my MP too. This thread has convinced me to do it.

I've taken the first and last part of your letter, OP, and amended it to suit. I hope you don't mind.

Dear [MP],

I am one of your constituents living in [place]. Recently I have been growing more concerned over the implications of the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act for women; particularly vulnerable women, who need access to all-female spaces such as domestic abuse shelters, prison wings and female-only hospital wards.

These spaces are segregated by biological sex, the reasons for which I am sure are apparent. I am concerned that this change to allow 'self-identifying' transwomen access to these spaces, undermines the protection that sex-segregation offers these women.

Can you please clarify your personal stance on the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act to allow for Self-ID?

Many thanks,
OohMavis

Any suggestions/deletions?

I've never written to him before. Actually I think he's a bit useless, but we'll see.

Bejazzled · 08/03/2018 20:18

I think I'll also contact my Tory MP and SNP MSP.

Would the wording in the helpful posts above be equally applicable in Scotland?

OlennasWimple · 08/03/2018 20:21

Great reply

And I love that it looks like it came off a typewriter

FatBallsontheBirdFeeder · 08/03/2018 20:23

How are Tories the sensible voting option when Maria Miller (a Tory) is the one chairing the committee proposing self-ID? If it comes into force, it will be a TORY policy. Labour are as bad. There are NO sensible voting options.

Select Committees like the one that Maria Miller chairs are not part of Government. They are cross party and there to scrutinise Government and make recommendations - which the Govt can, and often does, ignore.

The Governments response to the Transgender Equality report produced by the committee in 2016 was lukewarm at best.

There's very little evidence to indicate that the current Govt will change the GRC or Equalities legislation. Whereas opposition parties have indicated their intent to do so should they get into power.

Fekko · 08/03/2018 20:26

I guess they meant 'men (not people) who just want to self-identify as women' (para 1) and 'someone who is simply self-identified as awoman (not man)' (last para).

Sorry to nit-pick but I think it has a sensible, calm and measured tone. None of the hysterical bandstanding that is common these days.

unlurk85 · 08/03/2018 20:34

Yes of course, happy for anyone to copy and paste my text. Although a peruse of the feminism boards will likely throw up some other fantastic prose. I specifically asked him to clarify his stance so that a) he couldn't wriggle out of giving his opinion by just saying he acknowledges my concerns blah blah, b) if he didn't have a stance he'd have to do his homework and c) if he already agrees with me he now has a reason to write to the Minister. I have had enquiries at work that we're much pettier and have received ministerial responses. It genuinely can affect change. Go for it!

OP posts:
KnitFastDieWarm · 08/03/2018 21:05

I’ve just been inspired to write to my MP by this thread. He’s a Tory and I would never have considered voting Tory before - but if he comes back with a response like the one OP received, I will seriously consider giving him my vote. Never thought i’d be saying that!

KnitFastDieWarm · 08/03/2018 21:08

Also I’m really thinking/hoping OP’s letter is from Ken Clarke - after his above-the-parapet stance on brexit I wouldn’t be surprised if he was prepared to speak his mind on something like this.

jaimelannistersgoldenhand · 08/03/2018 21:09

After a little Google I found this site which looks interesting in finding out about your local MP's voting record.

www.theyworkforyou.com

ferntwist · 08/03/2018 21:12

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

unlurk85 · 08/03/2018 21:22

Ok so we could capitalise on this possibly. Anyone else live in a Tory constituency where the MP is likely to be a supporter and also carries some weight in the Party? If Ministers start receiving letters from respected grandees within the Party then it might focus the mind a bit. Worth a try? I still think Labour pressure is useful too, every little helps.

Looks good @OohMavis send it!
Can anyone help @Bejazzled with the Scottish question?
Go for it @KnitFastDieWarm @charlyn @Cuntysnark @LizzieSiddal @TheReluctantFundaFeminist do it do it do it SmileSmileSmile

OP posts:
TrippingTheVelvet · 08/03/2018 21:38

I'm in NI but am thinking of writing to my local DUP MP as they're propping up the Tory party. I'm undecided though as I'm pretty sure he'd vote no for anything Trans related on principle anyway -and I abhor the DUP-

KatyaZamolodchikova · 08/03/2018 21:44

I’ve done it!!

I live in a very multicultural community and have concerns where women are already perceived to be marginalised culturally, how they will access much needed services where their culture or religion prevents them from feeling like they can engage with men. I have included this in my email.

Labour MP though so my hopes for a sensible answer are not high.

Thank you all so very much, I would not have done this without a template!

Danglingmod · 08/03/2018 21:52

My mp is a (medical) doctor so I really need to write and find out her stance, don't I?

LadyLance · 08/03/2018 22:03

I've written to my MP inspired by this thread. I've written to her twice about Brexit and got prompt responses each time- even though our stances are very different, so hopefully she will reply.

I'm also currently a member of the LibDems, and I've emailed a few times to try and get them to confirm their stance on Self-ID and not had a response yet.

If anyone wants a quick and free way to contact their MP, you can use this website to automatically send them a letter www.writetothem.com/

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.