Ultimate betrayal by the WEP

[Procrastinator1]

Dr Stock has just tweeted this text of a motion to be put to the party conference in September

d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/womensequality/pages/5826/attachments/original/1532600430/Fnl_Gender_recognition_act_motion_final.pdf?1532600430

Obviously the motion hasn't been passed yet.

Motion text: 1 The Women’s Equality Party recognises the damage done by socially constructed gender 2 stereotypes and supports changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004. The Women’s Equality 3 Party supports changes to the current process by which transgender people are able to receive 4 legal recognition of their changed gender.

5 The Women’s Equality Party supports a process of legal recognition of changed gender which does 6 not require medical reports nor two years’ worth of documentation but a process of self- 7 determination of gender. The Women’s Equality Party supports legal recognition of non-binary 8 people.

9 The Women’s Equality Party calls on the Governments and administrations of the UK to make the 10 following changes to the current process as they revise the Gender Recognition Act 2004:

11 ● Change to the requirement to submit two supporting medical reports, one of a diagnosis of 12 gender dysphoria and one detailing treatment received. Change to the requirement to submit 13 documentation to prove the person has lived as their acquired gender for two years. Instead 14 require a self-determination process to change gender and to obtain a Gender Recognition 15 Certificate and new birth certificate. 16 ● Remove the requirement of spousal consent to obtain legal recognition of changed gender for 17 married people. 18 ● Allow people to change their gender to a third gender option as well as to male and female.

Motion rationale:

19 The Women’s Equality Party should clarify its position as changes to the Gender Recognition Act 20 (GRA) 2004 are being considered by the Governments and administrations of the UK. This change 21 would add depth to the already stated Women’s Equality Party position of supporting the right of an

As per every other time women have invited them to meetings to discuss the GRA.

This is so frustrating. You had one job, Sophie. One fucking job.

I have taken this from what I have posted on Twitter.

I strongly agree with what Pam posted (page 1 of this thread, and screen grab included).

To the pickets and the protest. Susan B. Anthony said ' No self-respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party who ignores her sex'. Later Emmeline Pankhurst brought war to the parties that ignored her sex.

As knowing history is always important, the Suffragettes were challenging Liberal candidates (the party who had let them down over the Women question) at every election and talk they were present. Emmeline and many others went all over the country doing this. They were very successful in removing the vote for the Liberals. In response, Asquith gave some vague promise about a women's suffrage amendment. The Suffragettes picked up on the fact he had no intention but many women were duped into working to create support for the Liberals again.

It was only afterwards when the women's energy was no longer needed that it became clear they had been lied to. This provoked an angry militant turn. The first windows smashed were Downing Street's.

I am not suggesting that the WEP would ever get near Downing Street or be that influential. I wish to warn that there is a history of political parties dragging out and trying to exhast women over their causes. This is the WEP, don't be duped by them.

Sophie said at a WPUK meeting that she was listening to women and learning, 8 months later this motion is going to conference. The party is, in my opinion, only paying lip service to women's concerns, they don't care and don't relate to ordinary women. It is a game of ego for them maybe?

The suggestion from Pam of Mumsnet about seizing it as an oppertunity got me very excited because it is like looking at the early Suffragettes. The Mumsnet proposed tactics are the same tactics the Suffragettes adopted post the Manchester Free Trade Hall meeting 13 October 1905.

JackyHolyoak I see you on the board, I have missed you over on Twits

I think if I was Sophie, & being increasingly GC on Twitter, I'd be looking over my shoulder a lot. I would guess that the TRA contingent of WEP will be increasingly unhappy with her views.

WEP can fuck off to the far side of fuck and then fuck off some more. Their stance is unconscionable and an outright betrayal of women. They should be ashamed of themselves.

That's a good point Empress. I try to follow people on both sides of any given argument just so I can keep a sense of perspective on my view and what never fails to amaze me is how both sides of a polarised debate can be critical of the same thing or person.

Although radfems/gender critical women are none too happy with Sophie, I doubt that the TRAs are overly delighted with her either.

All the more reason for her to take a stand on what she really believes in and stop alienating everyone. Whichever side of the fence she jumps there are plenty who will support her and have her back.

For goddesses' sake, piss or get off the pot, Sophie!

Yes, I agree that Sophie has a target on her back in the WEP now.

She doesn't centre men enough for the trans lobby and has pissed off those who want to preserve women's rights.

So when the trans lobby come for her, (and they will because they always do, that's what feeds them) she'll have no allies to call on.

I'm sure a nice fella will step up and take her place though.

God that could actually happen couldn't it, a transwoman leader of WEP? could will.

What makes people think Sophie wants our help and has peaktransed? I've read the whole thread (quickly) but didn't notice that bit.

She's had a few gender critical comments to make recently, like:

"I spent 10 mins last Sat on Lewisham doorstep listening to a parent of girls worried that predatory men could access changing rooms without lawful challenge if they claimed self-ID. Telling him to snap out of it, as your tweet suggests, helps no-one & fosters anti-trans feeling"

and then from upthread:

"I've lost count of the number of conversations like this I have had w women who are not members & won't do this work with us and are then angry because it's being done too slowly. I'm sorry you have no confidence in the debate. I'm sorrier you don't want to try to do it with me"

You know, all of this tortured wrangling could have been avoided completely if they'd just define woman, and stick to it. If Sophie recognises and understands that sex matters, then say so. Stop this polite dancing round an important and pivotal issue, and just commit. One way or another.

God that could actually happen couldn't it, a transwoman leader of WEP?

I suspect that's the long game here.

Look, this is the party that basically said austerity was nothing to do with them way back in the early 2010s. When even then we knew that more than 80% of the cuts would fall on women.

So why we are surprised that they can't even manage to define the eponymous class of human being they claim to represent, I can't imagine.

Of all the betrayals of women, the WEP has been the greatest. It's an abomination that a debate as to whether to include males in the category of women exists at all, but for the Women's Equality Party?

It's unconscionable treachery.

God that could actually happen couldn't it, a transwoman leader of WEP?

Yes, Lily Madigan will become 'disillusioned' with Jeremy and will step forward to be like my user name for the WEP. Cue applause

I remember at the WPUK meeting in London, Sophie pled “small party, moving slowly” as to why they were still working on this issue. Nearly a year later, they seem to have failed to make any progress on the issues of protecting women and girls, and Sophie is still “working slowly.” I am in favour of carefully considering things, but to be no further on nearly a year on smacks of disinterest rather than circumspection. It is no wonder that women are losing patience.

WEP just make me think of the Sunk Cost fallacy.
What have WEP achieved for women in return for the money they've used? Are they
treated as the go to expert on women's issues by anyone?

Moving slowly but managed to secure the services of 2 top pro self ID lawyers to talk about the GRA. How fortunate they were both free at such a busy & crucial time.

Sophie told us in 2014 that we were unreasonable to object to Tara Hudson being in a women's prison & that anyone could be a woman if they identified that way.

This isn't a new policy. This has been WEP's view right from the start.

And here we go... one of the responses to Sophie's tweet about the worried parent in Lewisham:

You continue to be the least trans friendly party leader. At least be honest about it. You want exclusionary feminists to join your party and you will throw trans rights under the bus to get them. And it might be a good move for you initially because they have loads of experience

Yup, shit or get off the pot, Sophie. Either stand with women or go full TRA, cos this mealy mouthed wrangling is not convincing anyone.

Moving slowly but managed to secure the services of 2 top pro self ID lawyers to talk about the GRA. How fortunate they were both free at such a busy & crucial time.

Yes, it's very lucky!

Yup, shit or get off the pot, Sophie. Either stand with women or go full TRA, cos this mealy mouthed wrangling is not convincing anyone.

I agree. I don't think she can stand with women other than do an Ann Sinnott though.

But if Sophie did do an Ann Sinnott she might be surprised at how many WEP members / ex members stood with her.

I don't see the point of voting for the WEP in a first-past-the-post voting system. I doubt they'd win in a contest against the other parties with just women voting, let alone in one with the male vote to overcome too. They're irrelevant.

The Women’s Equality Party contested seven seats in the general election:
In Shipley Sophie Walker won 1.9% of vote share
In Tunbridge Wells Celine Thomas won 1.3% of vote share
In Vauxhall Harini Iyengar won 1% of vote share
In Hornsey & Wood Green Nimco Ali won 0.9% of vote share
In Stirling Kirstein Rummery 0.7% of vote share
In Manchester Withington Sally Carr won 0.4% of vote share
In Vale of Glamorgan Sharon Lovell won 0.3% of vote share