Consultation closed! Well done everyone!!

[naivetyisthenewblack]

So, that's it then. Well done everyone, for everything we've achieved in the last year.

My goodness my world has shifted!

At the beginning of 2017, I was a Labour voter, wasn't involved in any active campaigning, my feminism was an identity (no pun intended!) instead of an action. I only read the Guardian, never nasty Tory papers like the Daily Mail / Spectator / The Times. And I assumed most lefty men understood about male violence and supported feminism.

All that has changed.

I've met some fucking awesome women though, falling down this rabbit hole.

This is for all of you fucking awesome women. A five minute pause, at least for and - before we move on to the next phase

Thank you mumsnetters, for opening my eyes to what was actually going on.

I think the danger is It will all go quiet in the media now, but TRAs will still be working. I filled in the consultation on Hate Crime and the one on the Equalities Act. Not sure what will happen with the results of these but we need to keep an eye open. There is no way I'm accepting any increase in the limitation on freedom of speech.

Yes, thank you to all who have patiently explained this. I first heard of self ID only about 8 weeks ago, when I wandered over to these boards after seeing lots of mentions of trans people on active threads.

I was horrified to find out what was happening. Since then, I have researched and written an essay on the issue, and sent it to about 25 friends (at least 8 did the consultation, and hopefully more). I got my mum and DH to do it, I filled it out myself comprehensively. I did leaflet drops around my local hospital, wrote to my MP, donated to Posie, and came out as GC on FB.

I'm exhausted, so I can only imagine how you long term posters feel! Thank you for all you have done for this cause. I'm regrouping and continuing the fight with you.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel

Ah well have that somewhere in the bookshelves! The tulips, and the South Sea Bubble I think are in there, yes, you're right.
It's like that which is why we need make sure laws aren't changed because bad laws are hard to revoke.

^we not well

I’m in awe of the incredible women I’ve encountered in this fight. Inspiring, intelligent, patient, creative and brave. I’m not great at debating but I’ll often post stuff I’ve seen on Twitter here, to inform other women. I’ve been so enraged by it all, pretty much on a daily basis, but the women on here have kept my spirits up!

After reading about that TRA conference though, I do really think it’s time to organise. The WEP have been useless. We need a strategy, as although the meetings, stunts pp have organised have been great, they’ve been a bit piecemeal at times.

Think we need our OWN version of the WEP!

I've been banging on about this for years and bloody years. I'm profoundly exhausted. I've met some amazing Mumsnetters and other women through this but I'm nearly burnt out. I notice myself posting less. I'm not going to give up but I am going to pace myself. My health is crap anyway.

If we have succeeded in getting the government to rethink their plans we will have won a great and noble victory. But there will be further battles. AWA are waging war on women's rights and we can't give up.

I think the danger is It will all go quiet in the media now, but TRAs will still be working.

Yes, we can't take our eyes off the ball at all.

I'm profoundly exhausted.

My lovely, you've more than done your bit. Take a break.

littlecabbage god thats brilliant!.. I lurked for quite a while, before posting. I landed here in May and FWR has been amazing for me.

I have been to a couple of meetings, been a sneaky leafletist, got friends and family to do the consultation. I've been shot down a couple of times, but 98% have gone WTF and think its madness.

the bubble will burst, when the youth move on to something else and being trans falls out of favour

^ this, and when those young people grow up a bit and see the real world too.

Huge thank you to all the women here, sisters I salute you.

Thank you, fantastic FWR posters and lurkers.

Without being complacent, I feel very proud to be part of this movement to protect women and girls.

I won't stop.

Imnobody4 - what and when was the consultation on hate crime? Is it over?

People are pointing out that the trans lobby will still be working on politicians. We don't want to see self id on party manifestos for the next election, but gender critters just don't have the same ways in to the whole machine.

Ditto so many others on here, Guardian reader, Labour voter, member of trade union, intermittent Ocado user. All gone now.

I also almost lost my son over this and to a lesser extent my daughter, who both completely refuse to listen to my point of view - it is an ‘age thing’ apparently. My son wouldn’t speak to me for three months.
I have been to meetings, thank you WPUK, got 5 others to complete the consultation, and bought the T Shirt (and going back for the sweat shirt) thanks Posie.
Thank you to all the amazing women on here. 💐🍷Here’s to the next chapter!🍰🥂

@HopeGarden let me know how you get on with your MP.

If you can give any pointers what to include it might may a difference if we all compile letters to our MPs.

@slaymill I’m a complete novice when it comes to writing letters to MPs!

I’m planning on going through the feminist chat board later to see if anyone else has already suggested pointers on what to include

I haven't been able to do as much campaigning as I'd have liked to before the consultation due to bad health and caring responsibilities alas, although I did write to my MP and got a few people to complete the consultation. I'm just gearing up now really and am planning to work my arse off over the coming months!

I noticed recently when looking at schools for my eldest child that all of them have gender listed on their policies and not sex, so I'll be hassling them next.

Sometimes I feel really low about it all, but then remind myself every action counts. Even the people who have had a go at me. Maybe one of the things I said will stay with them and give them pause for thought.

I left a load of flyers at ....... and thought will anyone see these. I don't know??

I think a lot of people have qualms but are frightened to speak up.

My ex came over this am. I gave him a leaflet, he read it and did the consultation right there and then. That was brilliant to see someone read it, get it and take immediate action. He knew nothing about it before.

Me too @HopeGarden though my MIL is a dab hand though I'm not sure whether asking her would be a good thing as it may veer off subject for hours!

Good luck with sleuthing for pertinent points. I'll have to do some digging on what approach works with MP's.

Hopegarden and slaymill there are some good threads on writing to an MP. One where two posters have worked for MPs so have been the ones reading.

**At the beginning of 2017, I was a Labour voter, wasn't involved in any active campaigning, my feminism was an identity (no pun intended!) instead of an action. I only read the Guardian, never nasty Tory papers like the Daily Mail / Spectator / The Times. And I assumed most lefty men understood about male violence and supported feminism.

I was the same. Exactly the same. Now read the times, politically homeless and critically aware of a strong misogynist undercurrent

Think we need our OWN version of the WEP!

This!

Really we needed the WEP to not be such a spineless disappointment.

Thanks to The Handmaid's Tale and this board for peaking me in July. It sounds ridiculous, but up until watching that programme (never read book) I had never ever considered the fragility of women's rights. I was in a bubble.

Re MPs. I have previously posted about my successful meeting with my female Conservative MP.

She agreed to take a letter to Penny on my behalf.

Since then I have emailed a few times, but no response. Twice to invite her to the Westminster meeting. Her aide said he'd get back to me. He didn't.

On the day of the meeting I rang my MP's office and the same male aide said "she's too busy to go." I asked if anybody else could go and he was very impatient and said "we're all too busy."

This aide is a man in his 50s. He's a bit creepy, for reasons that I can't pinpoint. Looking back, when he was in the meeting with my MP I had an uncomfortable 'vibe' from him. I'm beginning to think he supports the TRAs.

I'm now wondering if any of my messages are getting through and not sure what to do.

There was a poster on here a few weeks ago who said she’s chain herself to the railings at Westminster to protect the rights of her daughter. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I read that whoever you are.
It’s not over.
I’ll see you there.