Holy crap I've approached friends about GRA and now I'm crapping myself a bit!

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplands]

So I’ve been following the trans discussions both here and in the press for a while now and I’m scared of how women are losing their voice and could be losing rights very soon. What is odd is that in RL no one I know has mentioned it. Ever. Not once.

So after watching so many brave women really putting their heads above the parapet tonight I’ve bit the bullet and sent a text to my close friends giving them the link to the GRA consultation and some reasons why I think it’s of interest to them to at least look at. This topic is something none of them have mentioned even knowing of.

Although I feel proud of myself for doing it I’m slightly shitting myself about the “friendship “ fallout and worried they think I’m bigot! Is this the adrenaline talking??!! Please talk me down

Woo hoo! Have spent about 4 nights in a row compiling a really long explanation of the self ID disaster-waiting-to-happen, to send to friends, and have just finished it. Will wait for my mum and DH to check it for glaring issues, then send it tomorrow night.

Next on the list for this week, complete consultation and write to MP.

I'm never going to be on the PTA again after outing myself as a T* to my son's HT who now hates me....

That sounds like a good outcome to me Handsoff. PTA eats time you’ll never get back.

Boaty !*

LittleCabbage* we'll be thinking of you later!

I've almost completed the consultation it's just as well you can close it then continue later as it's hard going. Found the notes on the FPFW website really helpful.

So far I've spoken to...

Mum (on side and quite passionate about it)
Sister (thinks I am a bigot and we've fallen out)
DH (on side although not sure he entirely gets it as each time I say something he says "wait does that mean...")
Best friend (on side but we haven't spoken about it since and I get the sense she doesn't quite believe it's really happening)

I've started sharing carefully filtered things on Facebook. I've had a bit of backlash from one person who is causing me some stress so I'm thinking of hiding my posts from her. One other person doesn't "get it" and is very much "nahhh people won't take advantage, who would want to spy on me". No one else has ever responded. I feel somewhat warmed reading the posts here and perhaps I need to share more on Facebook.

Just to update - my email has been well received by the first group of friends I sent it to, so will be sending it to a bigger group tomorrow. I've asked my friends to forward it on to anyone they think will be supportive.

Also had a hospital appt yesterday, and "toured" the women's toilets, leaving FPFW leaflets in the cubicles . Am trying to work up the courage to post the Dick Boldly Goes video on FB.

I know lots of women here have done so much more to promote the cause - I'm posting this so that you all can see that your efforts to spread the word have been successful. I wish I had discovered this issue before a few weeks ago - could have involved myself so much more before the consultation deadline passed.

So many people are unaware that this is happening or have the attitude that it's just boring old politics and next week will be forgotten.

I dont trust online consultation - it must be open to fraud (look at postal voting fraud in East london) and those who are pushing appear to be highly skilled in modern political meddling and pan banging.

I've been posting things openly on FB for a while, but I've really ramped it up over the past couple of weeks. This week I got my sister, two nieces, daughter, son in law, two friends, both sons, my husband and my male neighbour to complete the consultation. It took DH a while to fully get it, but I was really proud when I heard him talking to the neighbour about it yesterday, he articulated the issues succinctly and with passion! Neighbour immediately peaked and went home to discuss with his wife.

Have just sent my typed message to about 25 local friends in a WhatsApp group. Fingers crossed......

Just outed myself on Facebook too.

Another one delurking to say thanks to this forum I have also filled in the consultation this morning. I have also been increasing my social media and face to face discussion confidence over the last few weeks, starting with some general feminism posts/chats. Today I have posted all about the consultation on all of my social media accounts.

The best bit is I know it has made a difference, however small - my mum has done it already thanks to my chats with her and my step mum has just had an email full of links after she was horrified by what is happening when I braved discussing it with her and will hopefully get my dad and step-sisters etc. aware of it all too. I have also already had a message on social media from another women I don't know that well thanking me for posting stuff who now has consultation links too.

The only direct negative/challenging comment I've had online was pretty mild and they were open to discussion even if we had to somewhat agree to disagree. Mostly my posts get a couple of likes, but the message yesterday made me realise people are reading even if they aren't confident to post themselves. Keep going everyone!

Fantastic and as so many of us keep having these conversations if feels like it's really going to make a a difference. Even my 76 year old dad offered to march on London with me if it helps make a difference!

Holy bananas , I spoke to someone today who I was really nervous. Has 4 daughters, no idea this was going on. Looked rather confused. But I’m hopeful.

Also to a friend who is very active in her local Conservative party. She had no idea and peaked in about . 60 secs!!

Also she was furious that the local party did not know about it.
Thanks FPFW the flyers are bang on!!!

She’s probably my only Tory mate. I told her if the conservatives decide against it, they will have my vote, despite my leftie ideals.

Right so im going to do emails etc this week.

I’ve had some really vicious responses from a couple of people prior to this and TBH I feel like I don’t want to be friends anymore.

But I’m going to ramp it up this week. Fuck it. Anyone who call me a bigot while refusing to listen to another point of view is yhe fucking bigot actually.

Keep buggering on.

Well done everyone!

The only response I've had to my FB posts so far (today's Express article and the Dick Boldly Goes video) is a PM from my sister, asking if I'd been hacked! When I said no, and sent her further info about the consultation (stating also that I am not a transphobe), she replied that she was already aware of the situation as she is a Stonewall supporter! I didn't see that coming .

Have you seen the latest Jonathon Pie video doing the rounds? I reckon he's a mate of Graham Linehan. Doesn't mention GRA stuff directly, but very good on some of the peripheral issues around it. I've shared it on FB and it's been reshared.

My mum and dad are totally on board. One sister totally on board. Other sister thinks it’s all a bit of a niche obsession of mine. My two male business partners are totally on board.

The only real pushback I’ve had is from people who think this can’t possibly be real.