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've just emailed my Tory MP again. He thinks the consultation will be forgotten about, as there are more pressing matters, and all will be well. I therefore pointed out the intimidation, YHA, Guides, Stonewall, Janice Turner, yada yada, and then linked to The Times poll suggesting opposing self-ID was a vote winner, even if Penny is also a Tory... (Yes, I know the poll's not a random sample.) I probably won't get a reply, but it did make me feel better.

I only happened upon this board recently, quite by chance. I have been so impressed by the quality of the posts here, and the knowledge of the posters. It's certainly opened my eyes.

This poem deserves another share.

A big heartfelt thank you to everyone here who educated me on the issue too. I have been thoroughly radicalised! I feel elated at the many amazing, brave, hardworking and passionate women I meet since I hit peaktrans. I feel depressed when I look at the lies, the hatred being directed at individual women who are courageous enough to oppose self-id publicly and the contempt shown to all of us born female in this country.

I will be known as a feminist nutter after this - I peaktransed my neighbours, my friends, my kid's deputy head and assistant teacher. I handed out leaflets on my local high street (did not like that at all, would have been better in a group). I've argued with my sons and DH about this. Hardest nut to crack was DS1 (at uni) and thoroughly pro-self-ID when I started to talk to him.

And although I wasn't involved for that long, it has taken a surprising emotional toll on me all the same. But I'm in Scotland and there's no rest for the wicked. If women are to have any say at all in how the new GRA looks here (expected 2019/20) we need to keep working.

So I've got an appointment with the first of my seven list MSPs next Monday. I'm going to meet my constituency MSP again now that I am better informed.

My MP sent me a completely useless message today a la "I care about equality for all. That's why trans trans trans trans trans trans trans trans. UKGov promised nothing will change for women at all. The EA should be reformed to better protect trans people. Women will still be totes fine, nothing to worry about. Trans trans trans trans trans."

If I overcome my female socialisation I will send her the reply I penned to that useless pile of garbage. And then I won't bother with her anymore. Maybe campaign against her when the next GE comes along. (I feel like making a right fuss about being represented by a woman who cares so little about her fellow women she can't even be arsed to respond to a single point I made in my email.)

Anyway, the fight in Scotland now is aimed at getting Scottish politicians to understand that women and women's rights group must be consulted and involved when any legislation is drawn up that redefines not just men as women but also states they become female by identifying as one.

So, a drink, a sleep, a deep breath and into the breach once more. And this time under my full name and address.

Like I said, total feminist nutter. Radicalised on Mumsnet (I need that on a t-shirt!)

Yeah, I've just had a text from another friend to confirm she submitted yesterday....was a bit worried as, i sent a text and didn't hear back, but my instincts were right, i thought she would be against self id.

My MP is one of the signatories to the "Media all biased, couldn't they just shut up about anything that doesn't fit our ideology?" letter.

She was a science teacher but apparently feelings are more important than logic now. And more important than democracy - God forbid that there should be an open debate if there's a possibility of upsetting someone.

Is there any point writing to her, do you think? Or should I direct my energies elsewhere?

I was working on my submission to the consultation a few weeks ago. I am also dealing with bone cancer right now. Filling that thing out was so depressing, in how there was clearly no thought about how it would affect women in comparison to trans people who had lots of questions aimed directly at them. I am a very positive person but it was dragging me down. I also took a couple of weeks away from the feminist boards, although I love this place, the intensity of the fight was getting to me. It's awful to know that we are needing to fight AGAIN for our rights when previous generations of women had already fought for their daughters and granddaughters.

In the end I found that one of the womens groups had created the one stop, already completed consultation and so I did that instead and also got at least two other women who hadn't known about these issues to complete it to.

The positive results of this consultation is we now have, I believe 4 women's organizations that didn't exist before. As well as mobilizing thousands of women. I have given money to crowdfunding for these groups for the first time in my life. It makes me laugh that the opposition claim that the American right wing are supporting us when we all know it's hundreds and thousands of small donations that are doing it (and many MNers are on the left but the left have abandoned us and are now abusing us!). Their misogyny can't conceive of us organizing meaningfully and in the numbers that we have. Same regarding the conspiracy theories they have about the professionalism of the marketing and campaigns. Their misogyny prevents them from comprehending the numbers of qualified, talented women in the world!

A huge thank you to Posie, Dr Nic and many many more. You did so much and must all be exhausted.

Look back and enjoy the progress that has been achieved. Let’s hope it is enough.

Do let us know how we can help.

www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/502/the-low-road

Another poem.

Especially for prawn and Ida and any of us who have to measure out our energy in teaspoons rather than handfuls.

You've all made such a difference.

Wonderful poem, Super. Thank you.

Another poem, I hope it's OK to reproduce it. It's by Irischild irischild.blogspot.com/2018/09/i-will-not-say-it-tran-i-am.html

I will not say it, tran-I-am

I am woman
you are man
we cannot change that, tran-I-am

you'd make me say that we're the same
I do not want to play that game

but what if I can wear a skirt?
and tell you that my feelings hurt?

what if my long hair I curl
can't you see I'm now a girl?

what if I begin to knit?
you'll agree that makes me it

what if I put on a bra?
say that changes who we are

a woman cannot be a man
it cannot happen tran-I-am

what if my identity
tells me you're the same as me?

what if all my friends agree,
will you say that you're like me?

what if I am really funny?
what if I withhold your money?

I will not say it tran-I-am
I will not say you're not a man

what if I am in your space?
would you say it to my face?

what if all the legal courts
say I can be in your sports?

what if laws are made for me
stopping you from stopping me?

what if a panel all agreed
gave me the paper I said I need?

I do not like to make a fuss
but you do not belong with us
and when my sisters tell you no
the thing for you to do is go

what if doctors all agree
I hate my body, can't you see?

what if I cut off my willy?
I'm a woman then, you silly

what if men all over earth
tell me I was mixed at birth?

what I am is not like you
you say you're me
but that's not true
you say that we are both the same
we're clearly not and that is plain

what if truth becomes a crime?
would you say it, given time?

what if I hit you in the head?
what if I claim you want me dead?

would you say it for a judge?
why oh why will you not budge?

would you say it if I danced?
would you say it in a trance?
would you say it pretty please?
will you say it on your knees?
would you say it to a fox?
would you say it if I doxx?
would you say it if I'm pretty?
would you if I called you shitty?
what if I call you a name,
will you say we are the same?
would you say it if I hid?
would you say it to a kid?
would you say it if I'm backed?
would you say it when you're sacked?
would you say it to a mayor?
would you say it anywhere?
I'm not like the others,see
will you say it just for me?

say it!
say it!
say it please!
just repeat it after me

not if you dance
not in a trance
not if you plead
not if I bleed
not to a fox
not if you doxx
not if you're backed
not if I'm sacked
not for your please
not on my knees
not to a judge
I will not budge
I would not say it if you hid
I'll never say it to a kid
I would not say it to a mayor
I will not say it anywhere!

I will not say you're not a man
I will not say it, tran-I-am!

say it!
say it!
make it true
say that I am just like you

I do not want to tell a lie
and say that you're the same as I
there's nothing that a man can do
to make him me when he is you
I will not say it just for you
I will not say what isn't true
I will not say it from a jail

I will always know you're male

~Irischild

I'm by nature a socialist but what has been said about T May is quite dreadful.

I can’t believe how long I had been living in bubble, or what made me stumble over here as was section I always avoided.

Not as clever as most of you lot and I be honest a lot goes over my head if it not in real layman terms.

It’s been rollercoaster of emotions, utterly relentless at times and I only been speaking up for a while.

Feel proud that I been out there speaking to just about anyone who I pass, especially meeting with school, probably got my email address on spammer lists now the amount of people, companies & authorties Contacted.

You lot are alright actually, given that your supposed to be a bunch of 40+yr old bored SAHM nutjobs.

Have I passed the course at Mumsnet University of Bigots.

That poem by Irishgirl 👏

You lot are alright actually, given that your supposed to be a bunch of 40+yr old bored SAHM nut jobs.

It's our secret disguise! Welcome IKF.

Love that poem.

Have I passed the course at Mumsnet University of Bigots.

Yes. Stick around for postgrad!

Much respect and love to you all. You have changed my life - regulars and lurkers alike. That's all there is to it. I never before believed that women were as brilliant as I do this year, or understood what female solidarity was like.

Female solidarity is a beautiful, beautiful thing, *Floral". Sisterhood is powerful, to use a phrase from my youth.

Female Solidarity is amazing!!

Huge thanks and complete respect and admiration here, too |flowers]

I’ve just read that all of the submissions made through the FairPlay For Women website will be considered as a petition by the government, so will only count as one single submission. Is this true? Does anyone have any more information on this?

Would they not have to do the same with all stonewall submissions then?

Yes, I think so. However there were many more trans organisations prompting people to complete their submissions individually, than GC platforms.

If harrop and Jones (I think) did theirs via one click, I wonder how many bothered to fill it out individually.

Of the 15 people I managed to get to fill it out, I was the only one to fill it out individually so I’m not sure which way I’d want it to go.

On the other hand, several of my gender critical feminist friends who filled it out didn't even know about the Fair Play guidance let alone the one click option, ( ) so I wonder what other routes people have come to it by.