Female Labour MP seemingly onside

[OVAgroundWOMBlingfree]

It’s a bit wishy washy but my MP (finally) got back to me with this email:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

In July this year the government opened a public consultation, which closed on October 22, on proposed changes to the Act that would make it easier for someone to transition to another gender. I understand the concerns that many have raised about the proposed changes to ‘streamline and de-medicalise’ the process and the impact those changes could have on women only spaces.
I do share those worries and agree that there is an issue here about protecting women and their privacy.
Under the Equality Act 2010, anyone who identifies as a particular gender, whether that is their legal status or not, can already use facilities such as changing rooms or toilets in the gender they identify with – unless service providers can demonstrate a justifiable reason for treating people differently or excluding them completely.

This has not been tested by case law.

The present consultation has created strong feelings both about the proposed changes and the provision in the Equality Act itself.

I look forward to the government’s response

With best wishes,

Strictly speaking Under the Equality Act 2010, anyone who identifies as a particular gender, whether that is their legal status or not, can already use facilities is not correct because the relevant characteristic in the Act is:

A person has the protected characteristic of gender reassignment if the person is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of reassigning the person's sex by changing physiological or other attributes of sex.

However, that definition is so woolly and open to abuse that what your MP said might as well be true.

Blimey - ONE!

It's like the Magnificent Seven, only far less successful a search.

I’ll be writing back to her with some clarifications and questions but it’s a shame she didn’t use her voice more widely and before the consultation.

This was off a prominent female Labour MP in relation to the recent WPUK and co. meeting in Westminster. The Amnesty part made me

**While I will be unable to attend on the 16th as I will be meeting with Amnesty International. I hope you will be pleased to hear that I have already had a parliamentary meeting with Womans Place and aware of their concerns surrounding the issue of self-identification and the impact it could have on women and girls.

I will continue to monitor this issue and will continue to ensure that the safety of woman is never jeopardised.

Please just let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. **