Labour councillor quits in row over facilities for trans people - The Times

[ReappearingWoman]

Anne Sinnot, Labour councillor (Cambridge) has resigned.

"Ann Sinnott stood down from Cambridge council claiming that the authority was treating women with contempt and was acting in “dereliction of the law”. She said a policy that resulted in single-sex facilities, such as toilets or changing rooms, being “abolished at a stroke” was undermining women’s rights and was a breach of the equality act."

I don't have a clicky link or share token. Hopefully someone else will add?

It's also Cambridge that are refusing to add sex as a protected characteristic in line with the EA.

twitter.com/sueveneer/status/1023567529317412866

twitter.com/annmsinnott?lang=en
Hope that works

Times article

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/labour-councillor-quits-in-row-over-facilities-for-trans-people-jnc7b5fw0

to Anne Sinnot and (again) to The Times

Open access link:
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/labour-councillor-quits-in-row-over-facilities-for-trans-people-jnc7b5fw0?shareToken=20989292b7f2a327a8e2863008b3638f

It's such a shame she had to resign to make her point.

"Ms Sinnott said that based on national figures there were between four and 37 transgender people in the city."

she does not know Cambridge that well then does she, there are a lot of transgendered people there far more than the national average. also int that where our secret HQ is based lol

Living in her constituency that’s the best news I’ve had all day

Thanks for sharing such excellent news.

Brava Ann Sinnot

Thank you Anne Sinnot! I love when women in strong positions stand up and refuse to go along with this madness. If only more men and women had the guts. Looking at you Sophie Walker!

Cambridge is one of several councils that campaigners claim is in breach of the equality act by stating that gender is a protected characteristic instead of sex. Dozens of councils were found to be using the terms in this way including Nottinghamshire, Stockport, West Oxfordshire, Wigan, Luton, and Salford. They have changed their guidance.

You've got to wonder what motivates people to want to remove sex as a protected characteristic. These aren't good people to be around and certainly shouldn't be in positions of authority.

But at least they are showing us who they are.

Glad you think the problems this is causing for women are funny Bespin

Ms Sinnott, 68, gave examples that she said supported her case. “Women are socialised to put others first, to be nice, to not make a fuss, and women also fear for their safety,” she wrote. “In central Cambridge public toilets, a recognisable male in women’s clothing entered, the women present experienced varying degrees of emotional agitation. None objected. Another day, a man in male clothing aggressively asserted his right to be there to shocked women, who all turned silently away. I was present and did not make a complaint on either occasion.”

The council is breaking the law, and laws are there for good reason.

The above is a really good example of problems with enforcement of the equality act. Not only because of the council breaking the law but also what options did those women have on the ground? The line has become so blurred by the extreme demands of trans lobby orgs like Gendered Intelligence, Stonewall etc that these women ended up having no choice but to either accept someone clearly male, and aggressive to boot, in the ladies loos - or risk challenging him. That is not supposed to be the outcome of the equalities act.

Well done and thank you to that councillor for having some principles.

Ann Sinnot, thank you for standing up for women and girls.

This part is significant:

"She added: “Cambridge city council knowingly stands in dereliction of the law. I have no wish to be party to unlawfulness, nor will I collude in keeping this matter from Cambridge women, and other residents — they have the right to know. I do not want to be a member of a council that fails to recognise that female-only facilities are needed by women as a generality. Nor do I wish to be associated with a council that effectively treated Cambridge women with contempt, while it insidiously dismantled their rights.”

Last night Ms Jackson said that the council was reviewing the policy and was saddened by the councillor’s resignation. “The policy has been in place for eight years and no one had queried the wording in that period and in June it was drawn to our attention that the wording wasn’t consistent with legislation,” she said.

“We are actively reviewing the policy but weren’t ready to take something to the June scrutiny meeting so will be discussing it at the next meeting in October to make sure any amendments we make are in line with legislation."

Many LAs corrected their Diversity & Equality policies when their error was identified.
womansplaceuk.org/grassroots-womens-pressure-forces-local-authorities-to-comply-with-the-law-over-sex-and-gender/

Cambridge refused to do this and deferred the discussion.

The Equalities Act 2010 is legislation.

June 2018 Govt confirmed that the single sex exemptions will (now) remain.

James Kirkup:
'Some facts about the events that preceded the Government statement here that the coming consultation on the Gender Recognition Act will be narrowly drawn and not affect the Equality Act’s single sex exemptions.

I offer these facts because some are claiming “there was never any question of removing/amending EA exceptions.” Those claims are either mistaken or dishonest.

August 2015
Stonewall submission to the Women & Equalities Select Committee says MPs should amend the EA to
“remove exemptions, such as access to single-sex spaces” (continues with further evidence)

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1004635839480164352.html

Cambridge is siginificant (I believe) in that it may have been one of the first councils to make changes to Equalities policy re gender identity rather than sex.

Isn’t Zoë O’Connell a Cambridge Councillor?

I understand the frustration that made Anne resign, but I can’t help thinking it’s a bit of an own goal. Won’t they just put in a councillor more sympathetic to their views as they did with Lily Madison?

Cambridge is siginificant (I believe) in that it may have been one of the first councils to make changes to Equalities policy re gender identity rather than sex.

Sarah Brown.

Thank you, Ms Sinnott!

Tanith
I think that she has made the correct calculation in that the publicity is what this issue needs.

Indeed. Maybe more of our female politicians should be as principled as Ann Sinnott and have the courage of their convictions.

There will rightly be a focus on Cambridge if indeed it was a council that set precedent.

Its really important to understand how Equalities Act legislation came to be so widely misquoted and likely applied especially in the public sector.

Sinnott is a Labour councillor Tanith, and O'Donnell (and Brown who lost to Sinnott at the last election) are Liberal Democrats. So the Labour candidate to replace Sinnott won't be chosen by O'Donnell/Brown.

There'll be a byelection I am pretty sure - it's not a case of just someone making an appointment.

I think she's done the right thing. It has got her media attention and will make more people aware of what is going on. Thank you so much Anne.

she does not know Cambridge that well then does she, there are a lot of transgendered people there far more than the national average. also int that where our secret HQ is based lol

Gosh, how hilarious. And shouldn't secret HQs remain secret?

Isn’t Zoë O’Connell a Cambridge Councillor?

Yes I think so.

recent thread re Cllr Zoe O'Connell:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3263172-Andrew-Gilligan-Latest-bullying-transgender-complaint-swiftly-rejected-by-parliamentary-standards-committee

A principled stand. Thank you Anne Sinnot

There will rightly be a focus on Cambridge if indeed it was a council that set precedent.

Its really important to understand how Equalities Act legislation came to be so widely misquoted and likely applied especially in the public sector.

Yes, exactly. How and why have councils come to be acting unlawfully with regard to the protected characteristic of sex?