Fawcett Society Live stream from 5.30pm 'Courage Calls, Ask her to stand'

[R0wantrees]

www.equality-and-diversity.co.uk/live-stream-courage-calls-ask-stand/1025

Includes a Q&A session with:

Penny Mordant
Maria Miller
Dawn Butler
Sal Brinton
Sophie Walker
Amelia Womack
Alison Thewliss

What are we going to do about Maria?

Going slightly further with my mind reading, I think for the people in the room who were shocked by that rather brave woman's question, to them it will have seemed like

"if parliament was half men and half lesbians" or
"if parliament was half men and half lesbian, gay and bi people" or
if parliament was half men and half women and men of colour"

I.e a very taboo thing to imagine you could be against.

Pratchet
see also recent comment by Andrew Gilligan (Times)

"Latest bullying transgender complaint (against David Davies MP over We Need to Talk meeting) has been swiftly rejected by parliamentary standards commissioner"

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3263172-Andrew-Gilligan-Latest-bullying-transgender-complaint-swiftly-rejected-by-parliamentary-standards-committee

What Ova said

Those fuckwits are seriously ok with a parliament comprised of 100% men

That's what they're saying

I do not think they've thought this through

Woke prats

According to Wikipedia we were ranked 58th in the world for representation of women in parliament

Now is not the time to give women's places to men

There's still so far to go

This is the issue that got me into all this and it gives me the rage

Maria Miller comments:

"[Transwomen] are a group who endure some of the worst discrimination , some of the most despicable discrimination, that we ever see, and as a woman who has seen a little of that, they will always get my enduring support"

Minister for Women and Equalities Oct 2012 - Apr 2014

I would be interested to know which other groups of women who also experience despicable discrimination Maria Miller met with suffieciently to 'see a little' of what they faced & thus also receive her 'enduring support'.

There are many.

She just feels sorry for men, is what it is.

as a woman who has seen a little of that

Wouldn't it be interesting to know what Maria Miller was shown?

Yes Maria, why is it the male born 'women ' who come in for particular enduring support?

And yes as women and equalities minister she should have been supporting trans people against discrimination, that was her damn job.

But the emphasis on support for transwomen? Why?

Dawn Butler
"Parliament needs a transwomen MP actually, and for the parliament to look like the country that we represent, there;s a deficit, so hey ho, live with it. "

Surely Parliament needs someone who is transgender to be an MP? I would be interested to know what Dawn Butler was also proposing to ensure better representation by transmen.

NB Dawn Butler, in Commons debate on Homophobia, Biphobia & Transphobia in May, referred to a social media platform where there were calls for a new Section 28
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3251616-Parliament-debate-on-homophobia-today-tweet-MP-if-you-would-like-lesbian-voices-to-be-represented

My thought was that Maria miller meant
as a woman who has seen a little of that [discrimination in my own life]

Anlaf it could be, but I think she's talking about the especially 'despicable discrimination' that transwomen face.

Why can they not see that a parliament composed of 50% men and 50% transwomen would be evenly split in terms of gender identity but not in terms of sex. Does sex-based discrimination not matter at all any more? Is the only thing that matters gender discrimination. Would they really be happy with a Parliament that had nobody of the female sex in it? How very progressive of them

I think they believe that its such an impossibility, they are solely assserting their belief that 'transwomen are women'.

In thinking of transwomen, they are, as you said, thinking of those they know.

They have no idea of the wider picture and have absorbed all of their belief about how transwomen are treated / regarded by those around them.

THis is why I think it would be interesting and important to know what Maria Miller has 'seen'. Similarly the representatives from the other parties.

Gender = fluffy wuffy feewings and pwetty sparkly clothes

Sex = gross smelly stuff that leaks out of orifices ewwww

I would be surprised if there were not MPs already elected who would fit the Stonewall umbrella definition. The thunder could easily be taken from the Labour Party with their inclusive all women shortlist if there was a change in the law. Probably wouldn't happen, but it is a possibility

THis is why I think it would be interesting and important to know what Maria Miller has 'seen'. Similarly the representatives from the other parties.

Would this ever be possible with a FOI request, or do I have to stay alive long enough for the papers to be published (or redacted - that seems to be increasingly popular)

I think they believe that its such an impossibility, they are solely assserting their belief that 'transwomen are women'.

The problem is it's not an impossibility. Women are less likely to go up against MTF trans people due to this kind of attitude, they may need time off for pregnancy, maternity, family related issues where a male would not. I can see a situation where we're expected to be content with males speaking for us and representing our issues. Where female representation is considered irrelevant. Thanks to these ladder pulling up fuckwits.

I would be surprised if there were not MPs already elected who would fit the Stonewall umbrella definition

Wow. Interesting thought.

Glenda Jackson is androgynous. Is she still an MP?

It's worth a look through the written submissions and oral committee meetings (you can watch online or read the transcripts) from the W&E Committee's Transgender Equality inquiry

www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/transgender-equality/publications/

I would be surprised if there were not MPs already elected who would fit the Stonewall umbrella definition

Exactly Eresh, I would presume the basic need for all women shortlists is due to maternity not just women being socialised not to be ambitious or getting less of an education. When I look at my tax records on the hmrc site stretching back decades, anyone with half a brain can see the impact maternity has, and that's not applicable to transwomen.

Ereshkigal
I agree.
Its also the case that with the additional belief that transwomen "endure some of the worst discrimination" in some cases transwomen may already be given opportunities/positions/political access/ influence that others do not.

This seems especially poignant given the previous discussions on the panel last night about meritocracy.