Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

What to take?

17 replies

SanFranBear · 29/10/2018 18:49

I'm meeting my MP this weekend who has been in his post since 1997! He is Labour and I've never voted for him.

I was a LibDem through and through but resigned my membership a few months ago due to their approach to women and promotion of trans rights above all others. Like many on this board, I feel politically homeless at the moment.

I know the Labour party line but am going in there with the aim of finding out his own views. If he's not knowledgeable about the potential impacts, I'm hoping I can explain them well and perhaps sow a seed for the future.

As I only have 15 minutes with him, he's asked me to bring along any written material which he can refer to later. I wondered if you could suggest a couple of articles or studies I could take - nothing too lengthy - which would sum up succinctly why radical feminists are so angry at the moment?

Obviously, he may be completely woke but I can but hope...

OP posts:
Jezebelz · 29/10/2018 19:42

What is it you want from him?

The GRA reform consultation is now closed.

There is no plans to reform or amend any parts of the Equality Act.

Is there something else you had in mind?

PencilsInSpace · 29/10/2018 19:53

I have no specific recommendations but I'd take one thing that gave a good overview, one thing about the silencing of the debate and one or two things that went more in depth into whatever specific aspects you are most concerned about. Plus if you can a one page statement of your own views, if you haven't already set these out in an email.

WPUK have just released a really useful guide to meeting with your MP.

Good luck, and do report back.

ToeToToe · 29/10/2018 20:01

We want as many MPs on side as possible - the consultation may be closed, but it still has to get through parliament.

I would be asking my MP if they are in favour of the proposed amendments - ie. Self ID.

There are so many different angles to take - I think women's spaces, AWS, and sports are very strong points. But concentrate on what is important to you, OP.

Trans people should not be discriminated on the basis of being trans - but biology matters when it comes to women's rights. It cannot be right that any man can just declare themselves a woman.

I rather like the Hansard records when the original GRA was passed in 2004 - it was pitched as a simple change that would only affect severely gender dysphoric people in the UK - those with a doctor's diagnosis of gender dysphoria - and would only affect around 5000 people.

Now it seems the transgender umbrella has expanded to include cross-dressers etc - and indeed "any man that says he identifies as a woman" - where are the safeguards for women?

Karen White, Martin Ponting, Jacinta - all great examples of predatory men saying they identify as women to gain access to vulnerable women.

PencilsInSpace · 29/10/2018 20:01

GRA consultation is the beginning not the end. To change the GRA, a bill has to be introduced, debated, amended and passed by house of commons and house of lords. There is still everything to play for.

There has also recently been a consultation on enforcement of the EA and the role of the EHRC. Again, this public consultation is the beginning, not the end.

The government has assured us that no changes to the EA will be made. However:

  1. The EA doesn't work at the moment. Changes need to be made to strengthen and clarify the single sex exceptions

  2. many politicians and trans lobby groups are pushing to change the EA in the other direction - removing the exceptions altogether where a TW has a GRC (including Maria Miller who recommended it in the trans equality report at the same time as self-ID)

  3. Governments are short lived. Who knows what the next lot will do?

nellieellie · 29/10/2018 20:04

I think this is useful sages.org.uk/publications/sages-factsheet.html

concretesieve · 29/10/2018 20:04

Well, yes the consultation's closed, but MPs will be voting on proposals at some point - unless it's dropped/shelved/hits an election.

The gov't says the EA won't be amended - but I don't see how the proposals won't affect it. The Labour party now says that they would change the EA if elected, but no detail yet.

concretesieve · 29/10/2018 20:05

Oops - lots of x-posts.

Nightcloud · 29/10/2018 20:10

Trevor Phillips recent article in the Times is good as he’s Labour too and was reaponaible for the current Equality act. So his words should carry some weight with your MP, together with backing up what you say.

MsMcWoodle · 29/10/2018 20:14

I am seeing my MP's soon. There's lots to say and we need to keep the pressure up.
I would take any articles on areas you are particularly concerned about and highlight the important bits to make it easy for him.
I wouldn't deluge though. I usually do that and my points get lost.

Original poster
SanFranBear · 29/10/2018 21:40

As many have pointed out, MPs still have a very powerful role still to play in this discussion.

Thanks for the recommendations - I am definitely not going with the deluge approach. I know I'll get muddled so selecting a couple of pertinent areas is a good idea.

I guess all I really want is to know is his personal position. I know what his party thinks - and it stinks - so I just want to know if I have a possible ally. As mentioned, I fell quite lost at the moment.

OP posts:
booze2shoes · 30/10/2018 16:07

How did it go?

arranfan · 30/10/2018 16:13

Did you update WPUK with your MP's initial response and now his piece in the paper as they're interested in knowing:

womansplaceuk.org/gender-recognition-act-lobby-your-mp/

twitter.com/Womans_Place_UK/status/1057189279703666689

loveyouradvice · 30/10/2018 18:31

I WOULD SAY IT IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW - they're the ones who will take it forward - OR NOT.....

Consultation was for us not for MPs... and the good thing is that talking to them now they will have heard about it whereas 4 months ago many hadn't

Original poster
SanFranBear · 02/11/2018 22:47

It's tomorrow morning so will report back.

OP posts:
Ereshkigal · 02/11/2018 23:14

Looking forward to the update. Good luck with the meeting OP!

Original poster
SanFranBear · 03/11/2018 12:15

It went quite well actually. I ended up taking the Times article recommended up thread, the fact sheet and printed out a copy of the excellent janeclarejones blog below - lengthy perhaps but comprehensive!

janeclarejones.com/2018/09/26/twitter-trans-rights-totalitarianism-and-the-erasure-of-sex/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

It was an interesting chat - he's not openly gender critical but nor is he woke. I explained I had become very disillusioned with party politics and was more interested in his views so I could form an opinion on how he might view any legislation.

He doesn't believe TWAW and seems to understand the concerns around self-id.

He listened well when I explained my worries for DDs future (gender non-conforming and proud of it, for now) when the atmosphere has changed so much - this was what i took as my central theme. Thanks for that advice - it helped centre my thoughts when it could've been easy to get derailed.

I only had 15 minutes but they were well spent and even though I don't know if I'll vote Labour next time as I don't agree with a lot of their other policy, I feel at least locally, that my MP understand the issues and the impacts.

He said himself - getting from the principle to the practice is what is important and at the moment, this is not clear enough to implement massive change.

OP posts:
rightreckoner · 03/11/2018 12:17

God that’s good. Amazing work OP. It doesn’t matter that he didn’t immediately sign up to oppose the GRA. You’ve sown the seeds and I think once they are sown they take hold.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page