Reply from MP

[unlurk85]

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!!)

I have just sent something similar to my Labour MP, who is in the Shadow Cabinet. Having previously checked his voting history, he seems like an ok guy, so I’m interested to see what he has to say!

My MP is also a low-profile Brexiteer toady who posts racist cartoons on his public Facebook page and would probably still get voted in if he was caught frotting the frozen chickens in M&S foodhall. But I genuinely don't feel like there's anyone I could bring myself to vote for now, so it would be interesting to know what his stance on self-ID is. I never thought even a year ago that I might be considering a Tory vote. Strange times!

If you are writing to your MP, consider signing this petition petition.parliament.uk/petitions/214118 and telling them you have signed.

I got a reply from the PA of my MP Monday morning (I emailed Saturday AM) saying that it isn't a bill Mr X is interested seeing enacted and would I be happy if he takes it to Ministers on my behalf.

At the risk of reading way too much into that (very quick) reply it sounds as though he's been waiting for someone to raise the issue with him so that he has a good excuse to raise it.

Unfortunately, I'd already emailed him Testingnamechange1 by the time the petition went up. DP and I have both signed. There have been only 15 signatures in my constituency so far though.

I don't think the word 'frotting' gets nearly enough use...

Oooh @YogaDrone that's great news, I wonder if it's the same Minister my MP is writing to... Do we know who is leading this now in Govt?

I'm sorry unlurk85 he didn't say which minister, and I didn't like to ask (I know my place [tugs forelock]). The website just says that the sponsor was Maria Miller but that was back in 2016

I have signed up for updates about the bill's progress though. I didn't realise that was a feature: Parliament.uk

When my MP replies he said he was sending my views to Amber Rudd.

Good reply from your MP, OP! Thank god there is someone in parliament that can think for themselves & sees through this BS.

Amber Rudd is minister for women & equalities.

After a number of re-writes and edits, and screwing up some courage, I have just sent my own email to my MP.

I too will come back and post an update if/when I receive his reply.

I received a reply from my MP this morning , here it is.

Thank you for contacting me about the Gender Recognition Act.

I am encouraged by the commitment to equality and hard work is underway to build a society that celebrates and benefits from the talents of everyone. This ensures fairness, protects the most vulnerable and prioritises equal opportunities for all.

The UK is a world leader for transgender rights, and I welcome the progress that has already been made in this area. I know that guidance has been provided to employers and service providers to ensure that transphobic bullying is tackled head on. I am also encouraged that gender dysphoria is no longer considered a mental illness and gender identity services will be improved through new training of NHS staff.

Proposals to streamline and de-medicalise the process for changing gender will be part of a broad consultation of the legal system that underpins gender transition, the Gender Recognition Act. The consultation, to be published in due course, will aim to relieve the bureaucratic and medical burdens for those who want to change their gender.

It will seek to improve the recognition process and reduce the stigma faced by the trans community. The proposals include removing the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria before being able to apply for gender recognition, and options for reducing the length and intrusiveness of the gender recognition system.

I note your concerns about single-sex spaces. The Equality Act 2010 allows organisations to provide single-sex services and I know the Government has no intention of changing the safeguards already in place to protect vulnerable women by providing these services.

Those who run single-sex services are professionals and make decisions that are in the best interests of the individual in need and other service users. The consultation on the reform of the Gender Recognition Act will be a wide and open consultation, and I know the Government Equalities Office wants to hear from all stakeholders, including women's groups and refuges.

More must be done to help transgender people with the unique and often difficult challenges that they face. I am encouraged that issues such as gender self-declaration are being considered and I will closely follow the progress made in this area.

Thank you again for taking the time to write to me.

Kind regards

signature - Graham

GRAHAM STUART MP
Member for Beverley & Holderness

Reply received from my MP this morning.

Dear OohMavis

Thank you for your email.

I share your concerns about allowing self-identification. My personal view is that biologically we are born a man or a woman (excluding intersex people), therefore, prisoners, for example, who self-identify as a woman but still have male genitalia should be placed in a male prison.

I hope this reassures you.

Regards
GORDON HENDERSON MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey

...It doesn't reassure me, really. But good to know I guess.

Is it fair to name MPs, who believed they were entering into a private dialogue, on here?

What do you mean Third? They consider their responses to these emails very carefully for this reason, I'm sure.

My MP's responses to various peoples' questions get posted online quite often.

My MP has sent me a very non answer type letter:

Thank you for your recent email in respect of the GRA (it was about self ID but ok).

I have noted your views and appreciate you taking the time to contact me on this matter. I will listen to the debate before deciding how to vote.

Should I be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Kind Regards

Female Tory MP

I can't decide if she thinks I'm a nutcase/bigot and doesn't want to engage with me, or if she doesn't want to express any potentially controversial views in writing, or if she really just doesn't care.

At least I've expressed my concerns...

If you get a generic or bland response, try again. Many people have got a different response the second or third time they tried! Use the current 'ManFriday' news to show that the Swim England guidelines currently say anyone who says they are a man should be allowed in the men's changing room, and vice versa.

Third, MPs know that any correspondence they send out could & may well be made public.

I wouldn't worry about that at all.

The response from the female Tory indicates to me that she hasn't really thought about it much yet. It's not an imminent bill, so most MPs won't even have it on their radar. Labour are more likely to know a bit because of AWS arguements.

At my work, only 2 people have contacted the MP about gender in the last few years. 70,000ish constituents...

I think when I have time I will send my MP a longer letter fully outlining my concerns. My initial letter was very brief, so hopefully if I can highlight all the issues I can think of it might get her thinking about the issues at least.

I've previously written to her once before about the EU, and she sent back a much longer response, so I guess you are right- she probably just hasn't thought about it much. I was a bit worried she has put me on some kind of "crazy nutter" list!

Lady lance you'll only get on the nutty list if you email 10 times a day...

Or spout too much daily mail nonsense.

Smurf the people who will know are:
You
The MP
The MPs staff.

If you ask the MP to forward it to a minister, then the minister & their staff will know.

If the MP writes a letter back, your postman will know it's from an MP, as will anyone who sees the letter. That's cos the envelope is clearly parliamentary.

It is illegal for the MP & their staff to share info from correspondence without your express permission. Staff have to sign confidentiality agreements.

@LongWeek This is probably a silly question, but how would I get a letter forwarded on to the relevant minister?

Could I just add a sentence saying "Please could you forward this letter to the relevant minister?" Or do I need something more complicated than that.

@LadyLance - yes, that's all you need to say.

I also work for an MP. We've just had an email from someone trans working a trans organisation, obviously very supportive of the changes to gender identification... I don't know how I can draft a reply along the party lines when I disagree with it so strongly myself!

Thank you @TheSecretMole. A longer second letter is in the works.