Women's Place event in Reading - 4th Dec

[ContessaHallelujahSparklehorse]

It's local to me so I'm delighted!!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-womans-place-is-at-the-bar-tickets-52641760924?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

I cant wait, especially as I missed the Basingstoke meeting. Just trying to work logistics of getting into Reading by car at the tail end of rush hour - the M4 is a nightmare...

I have to apologise in advance as I will be the one yawning. DD had me up at silly oclock and have been outside working all day. I know as soon as I sit down I'll be yawning away

My DM is going (and I didn't even tell her about it) - she thinks MN is the tool of the devil, but if anyone spots a super-annuated hippy looking a bit vague, that's her. DF wanted to go too (he's chuffed to have been called a TERF) but my mother told him that he wasn't welcome as "women need their own spaces"

Envious of all of you going - have a great time.

at Hefzi's mum

I am about 30 seconds away as I type! Just finishing a quick drink and then I'm heading over!

In fact I can see the venue from where I sit and can report that all is quiet. Not a soul or any obvious plotting nearby.

Obviously there may be blue hair hidden under woolly hats etc

Broad st or Riverside carpark?

I prefer riverside because broad street always seems a bit dangerously deserted. There's always life in and around riverside.

Exactly how I feel!

On my way over!

I've parked at riverside as it's the car park I know best. All within walking distance! Now to grab some food before it starts.

Despite valiant attempts the protesters have failed to buy a ticket or find the location by other means (please be careful of anyone asking for the venue).

We're in and we have wine!

I'm not going to tonight's meeting but feel I should protest that anyone who's seen me at a feminist meeting know that super-annuated hippy looking a bit vague fits me too a tee. I resemble that remark, Hefzi.

Also at Hefzi's mum.

We are about to start! The mic is broken so there will be much GOOD PROJECTING (Rosa's excellent at this, as is the excellent security guard fellow)

Prawn

I HAVE SOMEHOW SAT NEXT TO CONTESSA

(It's also possible everyone here is a mumsnetter)

I am sat with the lovely JellySlice at a packed venue! Talk about to start!

I found Anlaf!!

It is lovely here admittedly the venue has had a few issues but everyone is very friendly!

The mic is now working, mostly. Julian has a suffragette striped bow tie. We're nearly off!

Julian is talking on sex and gender in law and human rights, how the GRA arose through Goodwin case, and what's a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim

Christine Goodwin case took UK govt to ECHR - unable to marry male partner, unequal pension age, detriment through having male birth cert which she had to show.

Court found in her favour - no threat of "overturning the entire system" as no more than 5,000 transsexuals in UK and their proportionality assessment was restricted to fully transitioned transexuals.

But law is balancing act.

Balance of e.g. gay rights and religious belief.

Exception was a hers cake case, where the bakery had not refused service because the customers were gay, but would have rejected services to anybody for that service.

Thanks for the updates. I'm toggling between MN and Twitter and feeling quite involved 😃

No similar cases yet for sex v gender. Julian compares this to someone self id-ing as a nationality to get a passport.

Case of Goodwin assumed some transition -whereas self iD is an internal sense/self perception.

How do we legislate for self perception? Sex and self perception of gender are distinct.

And stonewall believe gender ID is innate

Julian mentions the concept of innate gender to low but audible snorts...