Back to the subject in hand... The government responded to the petition during my exam week so I’m thrilled that the Sunday Times has run it now. The government has committed to upholding the principle of single-sex spaces. Good. Now we need to demand that they do so. I was at an event yesterday where Emily Thornberry said, “There is absolutely no point in having a right if we can’t enforce it, because people take the mickey.” Changing the GRA to self-ID would make the right of women and girls to single-sex spaces unenforceable. Nic Williams has written an excellent explanation of why: here.
We asked in the petition for women’s voices to be heard. The government are preaching a consultation exercise. Good. Now we must ensure that women know there is a consultation, that it affects them and that they feel motivated to respond. Nic is running a fundraiser to do this: here.
Thankyou to all those people who have posted congratulations and support. Often, all I see is vitriol so it means a lot to read kind words. I’m very aware that I’m an absolute newcomer to this and that the change in public and media perception would never have started without the efforts of women who have been working on this for years and decades longer than I have. They have my utmost admiration and respect; this is a tough world to be in and they are battling through. On top of that, the #ManFriday team is incredible for their wit, enthusiasm and intelligence and I am very proud to be among them.