Oral evidence: Enforcing the Equality Act: the law and the role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, HC 1470
data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/women-and-equalities-committee/enforcing-the-equality-act-the-law-and-the-role-of-the-equality-and-human-rights-commission/oral/92165.html
Transcript above of what was said.
The witnesses were:
- Sam Smethers, Chief Executive, Fawcett Society.
- Catherine Rayner, Chair, Discrimination Law Association
- Karon Monaghan QC, Barrister.
Really insightful discussion about discrimination laws and the impact of how the law is (not) working for people, the hurdles and blockages in accessing the legal system for individuals, and NDAs.
Transgender issues are mentioned too. But it was good to hear women talking about women's issues again.
I disagree with Karon about self-ID having no impact, although, I do see why she says that and she makes a very good point about the lack of guidance being the real problem.
And actually, having read this all through, to my mind self-ID will just lower the threshold for when it's reasonable to use the Equality Act 2010 exemptions for a strictly single-sex space. Which could be a good thing.
For example, when a GRC needed a Gender Dysphoria diagnosis, and most had had surgery, then it might not have been proportionate to exclude a transwoman from, eg, a female changing room, (but a rape crisis centre would be OK).
However, if GRCs are done on self-ID basis with most holders having no medical treatment, then it becomes necessary and proportionate to exclude transwomen from changing rooms too (as more women will feel frightened or uncomfortable being in a changing room with someone who they perceive to be a man, whereas they may not have if it was a dysphoric post-surgery transwoman).