Daimbar you wrote "if a trans woman was attacked or raped I hope as a society we would allow her to access support in a domestic violence or rape crisis hostel rather than dismissing her as a dangerous male.
If a predatory TRA decided to self ID as female to deliberately access a woman's safe space then that is a different scenario.
Using discretion and assessing on a case by case basis, as per the current law, is my suggestion."
Please read the part of this thread from Fri 11-May-18 19:30 with respect to trans women prisoners Sophie Eastwood and Alex Stewart.
Sources from recent articles (links to which are in the thread) have commented:
"Despite their new female identities neither have had surgery, and fellow inmates complained that they felt intimidated around the pair because of their behaviour."
"The women inmates have had to accept that Stewart is being allowed to live as a woman, despite not having had surgery.
That means she is in the showers at the same time as other inmates, which some have found quite awkard.
She has the right to determine her own gender."
Hopefully you will be able, as SuperMatchGame did, to acknowledge the very real issues that already exist (prior to the possible changes in GRA to include self id) when some male-born people are able to access what were previously single sex spaces?
The rebuttal against concerns for women prisoners with regards transgender prisoners, is often that "individuals are assessed on a case by case basis."
SMG replied "Yes I acknowledge there are very real issues when some male-born people are able to access what are single sex (female) spaces.
Yes, sounds sensible [that individuals are assessed on a case by case basis] given that not all transgender prisoners have committed sex crimes or are a risk."
& yet significant issues have been demonstrated recently in respect to these prisoners, Sophie Eastwood ("previously dubbed “Hannibal Lecter Jnr” over the chilling intimidation of a female guard") and Alex Stewart, who have been convicted of murder and continue to be held in the female prison estate. This is despite using what SMG believed were sensible assessments by the prison service.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3242178-Transgender-killers-split-up-by-prison-chiefs
I would reasonably anticipate that the prison service would have more information available to them (by way of pre-sentence reports, ongoing risk assessments, time and resources etc) than a women's refuge.
Additionally,
A woman using refuge services on the Victoria Derbyshire show (5/3/2018) shared what is, an incredibly important perspective.
Link discussing this here, although having checked, BBCiplayer no longer have the segment of the show available so I will try to find it:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3184532-Pilgrim-Tucker-who-spoke-at-the-meeting-last-Tuesday-being-stitched-up-on-TV-tomorrow
I think the needs of vulnerable women in prisons and those who need to use women's refuges deserve greater consideration.
I don't know Daimbar if your comment is made in good faith. Perhaps it is and when you raise it, you are thinking of the trans women you know and are motivated by empathy for them.
It is though very simplistic and at the very least, I would hope you are willing to engage with the reality of service provision for those who have experienced domestic violence.
The impression that I have, is that those who make such statements have very little understanding or awareness of this reality.