At the start of this thread I was kinda open to negotiation, but a couple of days have gone by and I’ve done lots of reading, lots of thinking, and lots of posting on here.
I’ve been outside for the last couple of hours, the weather is nice and I am trying to vent a tumble dryer by drilling and chiselling a brick out of the back wall. It’s what we refer to in this house as ‘magical lady time’ which is the part of my cycle when testosterone is highest and I am able to prune 30ft trees and lift heavy weights at the gym.
Anyway, it occurs to me that the reason I have, up til now, been very sympathetic to the trans cause, and been willing to look for some kind of middle ground, is because I have been thinking of the wonderful transfolk in my life, and how they pose no danger to me nor my children, and how the absolute last thing I would want is for them to have harder lives than they do already.
I haven’t posted anything gender critical on my social media, because I wouldn’t want to upset any of them (although I have commented on posts made by real life GC friends).
This afternoon I’ve concluded that I’ve got to stop thinking this way.
It’s not about MY trans friends, it’s not about MY comfort.
My trans friends are kind, thoughtful, quiet, attempting to fly under the radar, not trying to break down barriers and insert themselves into spaces they know are not their spaces.
I’m a weightlifting, brick removing, tree pruning, able bodied, educated, heterosexual, married woman who isn’t at risk of homelessness, drug addiction or domestic violence.
But, as we know NATALT, and lots of women are far more vulnerable than me.
So, no.
No to Self ID that allows you to co opt the legal designation of ‘woman’ or ‘female’
No to accessing ANY of the places or positions allocated only for women.
No changing birth records, no hiding of criminal pasts.
No to competing in women’s sports.
No standing on AWSL
No affecting women’s statististics
No policing of the language women use to describe their own bodies and their own experiences.
No to conflating sex and gender,.
No negotiating.
However - yes to Self ID that gives you legal protection for your adopted gender and gender presentation - no need for a medical diagnosis, it can be like deedpoll.
Yes to a selection of theoretical genders to chose from (none of which can be named man/woman/girl/boy/male/female - these terms are to be used to describe biological sex alone)
Yes to gender protections against discrimination, in the workplace, in housing, in healthcare.
yes to exemptions that allow for those with the legally registered characteristic of adopted gender to provide services and spaces that exclude people who do not share the self id’d legal characteristic of adopted gender. Yes to sports and facilities for adopted gender people as well as access to single sex spaces based on your biological sex.
Yes to schemes that work towards proportional representation for adopted gender people in public office,
Yes to safe, secure, appropriate spaces for adopted gender people in the prison system.
Yes to statutory time off work for health care appointments that relate directly to your adopted gender needs (although the self ID system will mean some adopted gender people will not be attending specific healthcare appointments. Those that are can prove their entitlement by doctors certification (which is how pregnant women prove entitlement to maternity protections).
Current Gender Recognition Certificate holders could choose to retain their current legal status for life or transfer to the new protected characteristic of adopted gender, depending on their personal preference. No more GRCs to be issued.
....
Basically, separate sex and gender completely - protect both against discrimination, but sex remains forever as observed at birth (with the current extra time for doctors to diagnose intersex conditions prior to registering the birth retained).
Everyone has the protected characteristic of sex, gender is an optional extra with minimum gate keeping that adults can sign up to just prior to turning 18 (so when you sign up to vote).
Have I missed anything?