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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Guess how I got suspended from the Labour Party?

811 replies

IAmDavidLewis · 22/05/2018 23:17

Well, one of the weirdest days in my life concluded with me receiving a letter informing me of my immediate suspension from the Labour Party. They believe I may have breached the rules by subverting the intention of All Women Shortlists, Women’s Officers or minimum quotas for women. Unfortunately, this does mean that my political ambitions are on hold for a while. I shall of course be continuing to self-identify as a woman every Wednesday, as that is my gender identity...

I have to say a huge thanks to @namechangeah for all her help, guidance and, more importantly, proof-reading! I wouldn’t have gotten to this point without it. I’d also like to thank everyone for their support today. I hope this has helped a bit.

And the Telegraph called me an “activist”! Achievement unlocked Grin

OP posts:
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12
Flomper · 23/05/2018 10:17

I have a young family member who is on the Labour Exec and also had no idea - I've sent him this link

FesteringCarbuncle · 23/05/2018 10:18

A bio woman who does not identify as a woman would not be allowed to take a woman's officer place in the LP
I would be exempt because I do not identify as a woman

MsMcWoodle · 23/05/2018 10:18

Thanks for that David. Makes me absurdly happy when I get proof that NAMALT.
I don't know if David wants to take it further, but I think it's now up to us to push this forward. Labour have acted so quickly because they want it hushed up.
Any remaining Labour members out there who can make sure that this is discussed?

EmpressOfSpartacus · 23/05/2018 10:19

I am wondering, if legal self-id comes in, would you be willing to make a false statutory declaration and become legally female. My fellow MNers including at least one self-identified lawyer think nothing would happen to you. My money is on prison time, especially if you have previous.

But there are plenty of prominent transwomen without GRCs at the moment, SarahAR. They're not legally female but still expect to be recognised as such. Are you saying that after legal self-ID comes in, any prominent transwomen who don't make this statutory declaration must be recognised as men? And if a biological male walks into a women's changing room, how are the women in there meant to know whether they've made the statutory declaration or not?

Bowlofbabelfish · 23/05/2018 10:20

My money is on prison time, especially if you have previous.

Am I allowed to mention Ian Huntley here?

OldEnglishSheepDog · 23/05/2018 10:20

Thanks David. But forgive me for feeling a tiny bit depressed that it's taken a male voice to really force this issue into the wide world.

Ereshkigal · 23/05/2018 10:20

Sarah gives away the game that Sarah expects all these males and many more to immediately apply to become legally female. Despite all assurances that it only affects a small number of people.

ToeToToe · 23/05/2018 10:22

Absinthe, could you link to the thread? I never go on Gransnet.

Ereshkigal · 23/05/2018 10:24

Can someone link to this thread on the GN thread?

LangCleg · 23/05/2018 10:25

The Labour Party are just such great entertainment this year.

They are. That said, even if I wasn't particularly exercised by the self-ID issue, as a rational voter I would look at them and think JFC, if they can't even manage this, how are they going to run the whole fucking country? I wouldn't vote for this level of rank incompetence under any circumstances.

Voters are laughing at them. This is not good.

Original poster
IAmDavidLewis · 23/05/2018 10:28

yawn stretch mumblemumblesomethingboutselfid

Actually I mixed it up this morning by self-identifying as I put the bath mat down. Variety is the spice of life!

@Pratchet The sum total of my self-identification to my CLP was saying “I self-identify as a woman”. The Party policy, as I understood it at the time, needed no further qualification and, indeed, none was asked for. I would have at least expected to sit down with the LGBT Officer to discuss the situation.

@CrustyCob Mother Nature gets all the credit for my beard highlights!

@ConfessionsOfATeenageDramaQueen The letter can be summarised as “we think you’ve been naughty, there’ll be an investigation, we think we need to take a break (it’s totally you, not us) and we’ll be in touch”.

@hackmum Micky-taking is in the eye of the beholder Wink. I self-identified because the Party said I could. I was serious about it from that point of view. My statement of identity was made with a straight face * ; if people find it humorous, then I’m okay with that.

@AlisonCHaynes From when my alarm clock goes off until midnight. It’s strictly observed, otherwise it’d just be chaos.

@merrymouse I’ll go for a walk and enjoy the weather. I shall also be wearing suitably womanly jeans and tee-shirt.

  • This sentence was also written with a straight face.
OP posts:
merrymouse · 23/05/2018 10:30

I’ll go for a walk and enjoy the weather.

Ooh me too - I forgot I had to walk the dog - it's like we're in sync! Grin

AbsintheFriends · 23/05/2018 10:34

Sorry - here is the link

www.gransnet.com/forums/news_and_politics/1248434-Im-a-woman-on-Wednesdays

I registered at GN years ago as part of a blog thing so I get their daily email bulletins. This was the headline in this morning's email.

Someone on the thread has linked to the petition, which is great. I like to think GN is on the brink of being peaked...

senua · 23/05/2018 10:35

What is a female gender identity?

Good question. And one that you had better find the answer to, quick-sharp, because it's being forced upon you. From my recent encounters:
MN don't ask about your sex, they ask about your gender.
G-mail don't ask about sex, only gender.
The Government Gateway doesn't ask about sex, only gender.
That's just my experiences in the last few weeks. I'm sure there are loads of other examples that people can give.
Sex is being obliterated. Only gender counts now.

Wanderabout · 23/05/2018 10:37

I am wondering, if legal self-id comes in, would you be willing to make a false statutory declaration and become legally female. My fellow MNers including at least one self-identified lawyer think nothing would happen to you. My money is on prison time, especially if you have previous.*

What would make it false? What does it even mean in the first place?

CertainHalfDesertedStreets · 23/05/2018 10:37

It's about belief. David doesn't really believe he is a woman. Some others apparently do. That's the basis of their policy.

And if that's not the most batshit crazy, totally subjective, completely impossible to judge from outside, sands shifting beneath my feet as I speak piece of policy insanity ever to dis-grace the annals of politics ever then I don't know what is.

But yeah, you have to believe. Truly. And then the fairies get their wings.

2rebecca · 23/05/2018 10:48

Many thanks David. Wine

BeyondPink · 23/05/2018 11:00

'It's about belief'

Well indeed, but how do you prove whether someone has a belief or not. David has not said anywhere that he does not believe he is a woman on a Wednesday, afaik?

Datun · 23/05/2018 11:00

@IAmDavidLewis

So let me get this straight.

A man who wants to help women has applied for the job women's officer and been suspended.

Meanwhile, labour have reacted by changing the criteria from self identification, to men needing to appear to authenticate the reasons why they identify as women, is that right?

Wanting to help women is not a reason.

You have to really, really, either have the medical condition gender dysphoria, have a transvestite fetish, be a very serious part time cross dresser, or be gaming the system.

If you can show full commitment to any of that criteria, you're in?

But if you are an actual woman, and refuse to identify as such, you're out.

The Labour Party absolutely hate women. And they are only willing to promote like minded people.

Thank you, David. I know you were nervous. The easiest thing for them to do was simply not select you.

But no, yet again, they are perfectly willing to highlight their arrogance.

They think they can.

They are wrong.

Popchyk · 23/05/2018 11:05

Is anyone else wondering how Labour will define "self-identifying woman"?

They can't define woman because that means male and female people according to Labour. So that's out.

They key is in the self-definition bit. David can of course self-define as he wishes, but now Labour is saying that it can reject his self-definition for the purposes of women's roles in the LP. What is the point of self-ID if another authority (Labour Party in this instance) can choose to dismiss it?

So David will be rejected as a self-identifying woman in the LP based on what exactly?

What is woman "enough" to be able to qualify for women's roles? What are the criteria and how are they measuring them? Where is their line in the sand? Can non-binary people qualify? What about gender-fluid people? What about those people who stood for election as a man and then qualify for women's positions (yes, Heather Peto)?

Gosh, Labour HQ have much to ponder.

And I await the next hilarious instalment. Where they are flailing around trying to pin womanly attributes onto absolutely everything except biology.

BetsyM00 · 23/05/2018 11:08

I am wondering, if legal self-id comes in, would you be willing to make a false statutory declaration and become legally female. My fellow MNers including at least one self-identified lawyer think nothing would happen to you. My money is on prison time, especially if you have previous.

Some of the ManFriday chaps have changed from female to male on their driving licences using self-id, completely openly and endorsed by the DVLA. So far no police officers have come knocking on their doors.

FermatsTheorem · 23/05/2018 11:08

Men's beliefs, no matter how far-fetched, seem to trump reality an awful lot in legal situations, don't they?

I mean "I never exchanged words with the complainant prior to the incident, the room was dark, she was having sex with someone else when I entered, she was drunk to the stage of oblivion, yet her grunt led me to sincerely believe she consented." "Oh, that's all right then, sir - leave the court without a stain on your name."

Men's beliefs are to be taken at face value when they fit with what the patriarchy wants (though apparently up for question when they appear to be on the side of women, as has happened to David - btw, it being Wednesday, I salute you, madam!)

LighthouseSouth · 23/05/2018 11:11

If David had worn a skirt on Wednesdays, this would not be happening....

Sarahconnor1 · 23/05/2018 11:11

They will just need to show that you were not sincere in your claim to have a female gender identity

I don't have a female gender identity I just am a women by virtue of biology and all that.
What is a sincere female gender identity? Can someone define that? If I don't have one am I ineligible for AWS? If someone only identifies as a women part time like Pippa Bruce does that count?

So many questions so few answers.

TerfsUp · 23/05/2018 11:11

You are a star, David. I am sorry to hear of your suspension and hope that it is soon rescinded.