" Amnesty International, Mermaids and Stonewall have signed an open letter to Penny Mordaunt, stating the importance of reforming the Gender Recognition Act. "

[R0wantrees]

Pink News exclusive:
"In 2017, the former Equalities Minister, Justine Greening, announced plans to review the 2004 law, which allows transgender people to gain recognition by changing their legal documents – but the process has since been delayed multiple times.

This has been partly due to pressure from the right-wing press.

Multiple departures from the ministerial position have also contributed to the confusion.

Mordaunt is now the third Equalities Minister since the announcement of this review — following the departure in April of Amber Rudd — it is currently unclear when the review will begin and how much of a priority it will be.

Reports last year stated that the review would begin in spring 2018, but there has been no further information about the review’s time frame.

In the open letter, the groups have highlighted the “humiliating” process the current law requires to change the gender on legal documents, as well as pointing out that transgender people face discrimination and abuse that remains unchallenged while the government delays the review.

“The longer this delay goes on, the longer abusive invective is allowed to continue unchallenged by a government who rightly pride themselves on robustly speaking up for its minority citizens,” the letter states....." continues
www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/05/07/exclusive-the-government-is-enabling-abuse-by-not-reforming-gender-recognition-groups-tell-new-minister/

I was planning to write to Penny Mordaunt about this issue anyway so I guess now is as good a time as any.

Let's get this push through quickly because women are #peaktraning people faster than we can bully them off.

I suppose that was to be expected. They were probably drafting the letter while Rudd was wobbling over the Windrush. We need to get to P Mordaunt too. How many GRCs are refused by the panel, does anyone know? I expect a Freedom of Info request will answer that, never done one of those before but there's always a first time. And what is the 'humiliating' procedure they undergo?

Abuse? They know all about that, they dish enough out.

What is wrong with (pro pimp) Amnesty and why do they care so little about women?

Amnesty are a human rights organisation. Women aren't human. Or so it appears.

What's wrong with Amnesty? This article explains some of it.
nordicmodelnow.org/myths-about-prostitution/myth-amnestys-research-in-norway-has-proved-the-nordic-model-is-harmful-to-sex-workers/

The more people become aware of what has been done, and what transgender advocates want done to strip women of their rights so that these men will not have to experience humiliation, the more people say wait just one effing minute.

I used to be a supporter of Amnesty International, but after the whole 'sex work' thing I am just very disturbed by them.

When and why did they buy into the idea that women are disposable and that protecting them was not necessary?

"Humiliating"

Funny how so many of the people who're what we used to call transsexual who've been through the process didn't see it that way, huh? It's almost like the process was designed to weed out exactly the people who're now complaining about it.

I've written to Penny Mordaunt just now. Fucking AI, they used to be so good. All's going to shit.

After the Oxfam scandal I have my suspicions about the reasons for the change in Amnesty's policy towards "sex work".

"In the open letter, the groups have highlighted the “humiliating” process the current law requires to change the gender on legal documents,"

But hasn't it also been shown that the only thing you're unable to change without a GRC is your birth cert?

It's almost like the process was designed to weed out exactly the people who're now complaining about it.

Just exactly that right there, and truer words were never spoken.

I am curious about this 'humiliating' - from what I've read on here, it doesn't seem particularly humiliating, more like some people going through paperwork, asking questions etc. No more humiliating than a job interview/consultation with a medical consultant/viva. I mean, there's going to be some personal questions, but it's an important document, I'd expect some!

I won't name him but our local head of Amnesty is a colossal misogynist and bully. Amnesty used to be about prisoners of conscience and oppressed people, now it's his pet causes and vanity projects. Oh and prostitution should be legalised

I don't want to make light of a very distressing condition but anyone who is that concerned about humiliation should perhaps (as MNHQ might say) be asking themselves whether womanhood is the place for them.

Floisme such a perceptive comment. I shall use that if I may.

Of course And thank you.

@Floisme bravo!

Just why am I not surprised by this fresh hell from pimp-luvvin Amnesty? Oh that's right, I already knew they hated women.

And furthermore, you'd think that anyone proposing to make such a huge and radical - and presumably permanent - change to their entire life, which will impact not just them, but their (relationships with) friends and family, and may include major surgical intervention, would welcome the offer of appropriate health and wellbeing support to ensure they are doing the right thing and understand the full implications of it all beforehand.

The recent Guardian letter phrased the new proposals as "over the counter" which I thought rang true. It SHOULD be harder, not easier!

I will pen up and get something off to PM as well I think, thanks for the reminder.

Link to alternative view from people who are transgender:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3240366-Letter-in-The-Guardian-from-Transexuals-saying-self-ID-not-the-answer

forthcoming parliamentary events
9th May Caitlin Jenner speaks on Diversity
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3240113-caitlyn-jenner-to-speak-to-parliament

15th May Stonewall reception for MPs
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3223840-Parliament-hosting-Stonewall-panel-event-on-trans-issues-and-changes-to-GRA

17th May Peter Kyle MP (Labour) Has secured a 3 hour debate in the Commons to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.

James Kirkup raised questions in The Spectator after the recent Home Affairs Hate Crime discussion:
(extract)
" [Stephen Doughty MP] said. “Do you think the use of the phrase “trans lobby” is an appropriate one?”

As it happens, Dr Carmichael in her lecture said some things that seem relevant here:

“Gender has become amazingly topical and we have to be really careful not to assume that anyone is exploring or questioning their gender is going to want to change their bodies in line with that. The extremes on either side are not helpful. We need to look at the grey areas in between. To do that we need to be able to talk and discuss these issues. All too often stakeholders become lobby groups.”

She did not name any stakeholder. But her words might be relevant to a charity called Mermaids. Mermaids is a charity that describes itself as “a support group for children and young people with gender dysphoria and their families”. Its CEO, Susie Green describes herself as “parent to a daughter who was born male.” Mermaids is a relatively small charity (it had income of £127,000 in the year to March 2017) with a big reach. It has prominent backers and its advice and recommendations have been absorbed and adopted by many public bodies."
blogs.spectator.co.uk/2018/05/why-are-some-mps-trying-to-shut-down-the-transgender-debate/
thread discussing the meeting:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3237973-Commons-debate
Submission to the meeting from Trans Media Watch:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3238618-Trans-Media-Watch-has-written-to-parliament-saying-trans-identified-male-can-be-considered-as-hate-speech-and-that-Mumsnet-users-referring-to-penises-are-being-transphobic

Recent response from minister via MP recognising that there are a wide range of stakeholders who will be included in consultation:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3240272-Response-received-from-Minister-via-MP

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3236009-Rudd-resigns-Who-is-new-Women-and-Equalities-Minister

To append to forthcoming parliamentary events:

4th June Westminster forum on Next Steps for Transgender Equality
www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/conference/transgender-equality-2018