Response from my MP

[Fwend]

"I am fully committed to equality for all and it is my firm belief that no-one should be discriminated against because of their gender identity.

The UK has made extraordinary progress in improving the rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in recent years. However, there are still gaps in trans people's legal rights and protections and I believe more needs to be done to ensure people feel that the UK is a country in which identity is respected and supported.

I believe that both the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and Equality Act 2010 should be reformed to ensure they protect trans people. In July this year, the Government published an LGBT action plan which includes a commitment to consider how best to make the gender recognition process less bureaucratic and intrusive. I welcome this plan and believe it will go a long way to creating a more just and equal society.

In July 2017, the Government committed to consulting on reforming the Gender Recognition Act and finally launched its consultation in July 2018. I understand the concerns you have raised about the proposed changes and the impact they could have on women-only spaces.

Under the Equality Act 2010, anyone who identifies as a particular gender - whether that is their legal status or not - can already use separate-sex facilities, such as changing rooms or toilets, unless service providers can demonstrate a justifiable reason for treating people differently.

The Government has stated that there will be no change to the provision of women-only spaces and services as a result of this consultation. For example, it has noted that a female only domestic violence refuge may provide a separate service to a trans woman if it can be shown there is a detriment to other service users from including the trans woman as part of the regular service.

The Government has also said that it recognises the wide range of views on reforming the Gender Recognition Act and has emphasised that it has encouraged women's refuges, women's rights charities and trans rights charities to respond to the consultation. This consultation closes on 19 Octoberr_ and I hope that all views will be carefully considered. I trust that you have already taken the time to share your views with the consultation, as you shared them with me.

Thank you once again for contacting me and for sharing your views. I can assure you that I will continue to bear in mind the points you raise."

Labour, female, I won't be voting for her again.

Sigh. I think helpful to feedback that this is a vote deciding issue. Well done for writing to her.

I wouldn't worry that's just a copy and paste of the official Labour Party Line. It may not well not be what she actually thinks.

It's really well worthwhile going to see your MP as I got a similar letter from mine but when I went to see them the reaction was completely different and actually has all sorts of concerns.

I just don't think that anybody right now in this climate dares put anything actually on paper that could be used to out them as being in any way gender critical.

I got a better response than that from Penny Mordaunt - it was quite surprising in some ways.

Thank you for sharing. Makes it very clear what the TRA strategy is yet again: the response to women's concerns will be "But the Equality Act 2010" ...

It sounds as if your MP was briefed.

The thing is that legal experts (e.g. Julian Norman) have clearly said that the EA will be affected by the GRA, and this needs repeating over and over again.

Dawn? Stella? Ang? If they’re throwing us under a bus name and shame!

Ask her exactly what ‘gaps’ there are in trans legal rights and protections.

Also ask why as an MP does she have such a piss poor grasp on the law.

Then congratulate her on contributing to Dawn’s utopia of ‘as many mediocre women as mediocre men in Parliament’.

Sorry for the arsey response, I’m getting a little bored of being governed by fuckwits.

She sounds wonderful.

(Please note I am not being sarcastic)

Think I've had that one. Might have been at my last constituency.

EatPeanuts Agree - I must stress I'm not a lawyer but I can't see how the two are compatible.

If, as Stonewall et al tell us, TWAW, that anyone should be able to identify as transgender for any reason and that we have to take their word for it, then I can't for the life of me see how this won't render the EA exemptions null and void.

Stonewall also advocates against single-sex spaces, of course. I really, really hope that FWR lawyers can correct me on this ...

A great and correct response from an MP. Will be good when the consultation is finally finished, the GRA is reformed and society can just move on past this wave of transphobia

I have the link saved downstairs, but theres an explanation from a solicitor I believe it is...that explains how self ID for the GRA will affect single sex spaces. It basically explains how the two interact. Basically you have been brushed off with lies. I expect a similar one from my MP, if he even bothers replying

The thing is that legal experts (e.g. Julian Norman) have clearly said that the EA will be affected by the GRA, and this needs repeating over and over again.

Should have read the thread first, this is what I am referring to and if links not posted by tomorrow when I come on, I will post it

However, there are still gaps in trans people's legal rights and protections

Please can someone explain to me what these are? In really simple terms because I don't know what rights trans people don't have that everyone else does.

Thanks

I've had the same response from my Labour MP too. He has declined to respond as to whether he will go to the meeting in the HoC next week.

Not planning on voting for him again.

Very similar to the response from my Labour female MP in a very very safe seat. No engagement of brain.

AuntBeastie Given that I had, word for word, almost the exact same response from my female labour MP back in March (a few tweaked lines around the GRA because the consultation hadn't been launched then) you might want to revise your opinion.

Any MP who responds to a multi-layered issue that heavily impacts half of their constituency with a cut and paste standard letter dismissing their concerns falls significantly short of wonderful in my book.

There seem to be a couple of new posters on here with a very similar posting style to old posters who have been banned who only seems to be here to be awkward.

That is the standard labour party copy and paste text. It's evolves over time (and sometimes they add a personal sign off or opener).

Agree, go and see her if you can, or ask her to respond to a particular point in your mail.

I've not even had a response from mine and he's normally quite responsive. he's an out and proud Tory man. Seemed semi supportive last time I contacted him. Sigh.

No response from my MP.

Sounds like Stella.

I had a good response from my Tory MP. Someone would still have to put a gun to my head to make me vote for him, though.

Wow that’s remarkably similar to the letter I received in March this year from my ( male ) Labour MP! Does look like a copy and paste job doesn’t it...

Someone would still have to put a gun to my head to make me vote for him, though.

Is this issue the gun....

has emphasised that it has encouraged women's refuges, women's rights charities and trans rights charities to respond to the consultation.

How has it encouraged them? I see no evidence that sports clubs, who will be greatly affected are remotely aware of Question 12, nor obvious evidence that Mosques and churches have been consulted. Or businesses like gyms, various types of beauty salons (waxing lady dicks?), providing elderly care, or catering for tourists who might not like gender neutral loos. Replacing sex with gender will affect everyone.

The world is a lot more than trans-activist and feminist groups. Plus the feminist groups have not had a real chance to voice their concerns. Not even on posters. It does not sound like she has been willing to listen to them anyway.

It's so reminiscent of the Welfare Reform Bill and the scrapping of DLA in favour of PIP

The whole disabled community: this will result in very vulnerable people losing vital money. People will die as a result

The governmemt: no, no, no. The most disabled will get more money. We're being nice!

A few year later and there have been so many deaths and suicides, people dread being assessed for PIP and lots are worse off.

Gender identity is bullcrap. It simply isn't real

I had pretty word for word that same letter from my very woke woman hating MP several months ago. As you say, shocking that they wont even hear the viewpoint of women and disregard all concerns about GRA v EA.