Spreadsheet of local authorities that record sex not gender - let's complete it together!

[DJLippy]

Started this in response to this thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3271841-does-your-local-authority-equality-policy-exclude-sex-as-a-protected-characteristic

We need to contact all local authorities and make sure that they record sex as a protected characteristic and not gender

Someone on Twitter (NorthernJugni) has set up an editable spreadsheet that anyone can add to. She’s added all of the local authorities

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hxZ6n4ovGRtGD2Q85NIrRnpGmMbdgc3XDsezQojxLXg/htmlview

It would be really useful if somebody could help those without much experience in contacting the local council by proving a basic message that they could copy and paste. It would save time and make us sound professional. Anybody feel confident with this?

Sprouts

Perhaps you could helpfully remind them that the GDPR requires them to only collect data where there is need for that data.

You could ask them: (i) on which forms is data about gender collected and for what purpose is it collected and (ii) on which forms is data about sex collected and for what purpose is it collected.

Once you put questions in writing the request should be treated as a FOI request.

MsBeaujangles

Perhaps you could helpfully remind them that the GDPR requires them to only collect data where there is need for that data.

that's a really good point. i've just registered for online booking at my doctors and noticed they asked for my gender and not my sex. i really want my doctors to know my sex but can't see why they need my gender, especially as i don't have one i identify with?

Great points about GDPR.

Basingstoke & Deane have replied to my email and said that they’ve corrected “sex (gender)” to “sex”. I confirmed it a few minutes ago.

Yay!

excellent!

Mansfield district council uses gender.
Will also email them tomorrow.

While Nottinghamshire county council uses does use sex occasionly but mostly uses gender.

It does however proudly boast of being Stonewall top 100 employer 2018...

I put this on the wrong thread, here are various LAs covering Devon and some neighbours:

South Hams has Sex (gender)
www.southhams.gov.uk/equality

Torridge (North Devon) has Gender
www.torridge.gov.uk/article/11398/Equality-and-Diversity

Plymouth has Gender
www.plymouth.gov.uk/communitiesandneighbourhoods/socialinclusionandcommunitycohesion/equalityanddiversity

Devon County Council Equality pages aren't working new.devon.gov.uk/equality/

Exeter has Gender
exeter.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-information/strategies-policies-and-plans/equality-and-diversity/

Teignbridge has Gender but lists Sex, Gender and Gender reassignment all in that category, which is confusing.
www.teignbridge.gov.uk/community-and-people/people/equality-and-diversity/the-equality-act/

West Devon has Sex (gender)
www.westdevon.gov.uk/equality

If anyone else wants to write to all of the above please do.

Torbay has Sex
www.torbay.gov.uk/council/policies/corporate/equalities/

Somerset has Sex
www.somerset.gov.uk/policies-and-plans/policies/equality/

Cornwall has Sex
www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/equality-and-diversity/the-nine-protected-characteristics/

East Devon has Sex
eastdevon.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-business/equality-and-diversity/equality-policy-and-strategy-2017-20/appendix-2-equality-act-2010-duties/

Mid Devon has Sex
www.middevon.gov.uk/your-council/equality-and-diversity/

Aurielia
I e mailed Notts and received reply.
You are quite right that sex is one of the protected characteristics under the Equalities Act 2010. At Nottinghamshire County Council, even before the introduction of the Act, we have always considered ‘gender’ when introducing or revising our policies and procedures and when the Equality Act was introduced, we continued to consider gender as well as sex under the category of ‘gender’.
The Equality Policy you have seen on our website is now quite outdated and we are in the process of updating it. We will ensure that the new policy uses the correct wording as defined by the Equality Act 2010
You can rest assured, as a Stonewall Top 100 Employer, we do take our commitment to equality and diversity very seriously and all the protected characteristics are taken into account when delivering our services and in the employment of our staff

Imnobody4
Thanks for sharing that. I haven't had a reply to my email yet.

I'm not quite sure what I make of it. On the surface it seems positive but they still don't seem to understand gender and sex are not interchangeable. Therefore do they understand or care why protecting sex characteristics are important.

If you are doing Universities, university of Warwickshire is not right. I am not in a position to email and complain, as I am not a student.

Here is a 'view only' version of the spreadsheet on Dropbox. I gave up on Google Docs. You don't need Dropbox to view. Let's keep it view only for now as I am keeping track of the changes. www.dropbox.com/s/xmq54yl0vxih1au/Local%20Councils%20List%202018.xlsx?dl=0

West lothian - sex(gender) - not heard back yet
Falkirk - sex (gender) & gender - they are getting legal to take a look
North Lanarkshire - gender - not heard back yet

Stirlingshire - sex
Fife - sex
Perth & Kinross - sex
Glasgow - sex

"Basingstoke & Deane have replied to my email and said that they’ve corrected “sex (gender)” to “sex”. I confirmed it a few minutes ago."

I have contacted them, shown that that the Equality and Human Rights Commission uses gender and explained why from the text of the Equality Act 2010 that gender is the better term. I have asked them to reinstate gender.

"Falkirk - sex (gender) & gender - they are getting legal to take a look"

Thank you. I have contacted them to explain why gender is the best term to use.

I will contact other councils tomorrow. They need to know that the Equality and Human Rights Commission uses gender and understand why this is the clearest term

Flibberty makes a good point. The EHRC guidance is out of step with the EA and also needs reviewing.

The EHRC has no authority to change the law.

Seems pretty clear it’s sex here (from EHRC website):

www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/equality-act/protected-characteristics

@Gibberty can you explain how gender is the clearest term when it has no agreed legal meaning?

So if I understand what @Gibberty is saying, if you interpret the EA to agree with your position and read selective pages from the EHRC website, then sex and gender are the same and either word can be used when talking about the EA.

The protected characteristic is still “sex”, though. Not “gender” or “sex (gender)”. Using or including the word “gender” in this situation is incorrect.

Just noticed in the ‘about you’ bit Mumsnet ask for the ‘gender’ of your children not ‘sex’

GibbertyFlibbert
Thank you. I have contacted them to explain why gender is the best term to use.
Well my point is they are miss quoting the law I'm sure you can continue to try to get the law changed