LGBT Humanists responds to Gender Recognition Act consultation

[frazzled1]

humanism.org.uk/2018/09/25/lgbt-humanists-responds-to-gender-recognition-act-consultation/

Lizzie Streeter, Chair of LGBT Humanists:

‘We support this on the understanding that safeguards to ensure the genuine intent of applicants for legal reassignment will be in place, and that existing Equality Act protections on the grounds of sex will be maintained. All public authorities need to be aware of these, to prevent laws designed to liberate one set of people inadvertently risking the oppression of another, as has happened in at least one recent case.

‘These protections guarantee, for example, that single-sex services or facilities can continue to be restricted to people of one sex only, if such a restriction is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.’

Looks like Stonewall, Mermaids etc failed on the re-education here.

Hurrah

Except it won't and in fact all that is in place already so why change it? So they don't support the changes at all, said in a clever way.

Debate over these issues has become severely heated in recent months, with some taking a hostile, zero-sum attitude that is not conducive to mutual understanding or evidence-based policy making. We implore everyone involved in this debate, particularly online, to remember that all parties in the discussion are human beings with feelings and many different genuinely held concerns, and it is the responsibility of each of us to listen to each other patiently when balancing risks and rights in our plural society.

Gosh, that sounds...ummm....sensible!

But sadly, I don’t think it is practical to say that as self ID essentially removes the safeguard of a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and does the new, inclusive definition of transgender.

*as does

What they are recommending is essentially the GRA (2004). They are not against changes, so long as everything essentially stay the same. Possibly with a new name.

Though I guess it leaves room for tinkering with how gender dysphoria is defined and diagnosed.

We support the freedom of all people to make choices about their own lives to the extent that they do not harm others.

Good.

humanists are sensible and able to see the world as it really is

who 'da thunk it?

Safeguards aren't being maintained as it is.

The legal fiction that a pice of paper can change someone's sex has left gaping holes in safeguarding

Making that piece of paper easier to obtain will only make it worse

The more of this type of statement that is in the public sphere, the more likely other businesses etc will brave the TRA maelstrom. My hope is that more official organisations will step out of the current TWAW borg mentality to make public statements in favour of protecting women's rights.

This is a really excellent blueprint for that.

Concise, fair but not bowing to pressure. A request to re examine the proposals. Their PR team need a pat on the back.

This is great news.

I read the text differently and there's some discussion here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3378073-Humanists-UKs-GRA-Consultation-Response

I should state that my major objection is that organisations keep asserting that there will be no changes to the EA 2010 despite all of the clashes and intersections that changes to the GRA 2004 would create.

Stonewall and other organisations have clearly stated that they wish to use an amended GRA 2004 as a bridge to 'updating the out of date EA 2010, specifically single-sex exemptions'.

I am still with arran on this one.

Stephen Fry (prominent humanist & known wordsmith) says disagrees with no platforming, don't censor & don't alienate possible inclusion & diversity allies by saying no questions allowed. Watch from 2.50