Joan McAlpine on sex and census. Wow.

[Alicethroughtheblackmirror]

Give this woman a standing ovation!
twitter.com/JoanMcAlpine/status/1101251118611525633?s=20

What a fantastic set of tweets. I am going to register on Twitter just to say thank you!

surely the majority of trans women, trans men and those who identify as non binary would not welcome shared third spaces

They are effectively trying to make current female only spaces into third spaces so I don't see how they could mind.

Thingybob

I think the idea with third spaces is that they're mixed sex spaces so everyone can use them. It's not solely preserved for transpeople but is the "gender-neutral" space that seems so coveted. The "third" is important though because it means that women-only and men-only spaces are preserved but provide provision for those who don't want to use them. The fact they're for everyone also removes the "outing" element of using a different loo/changing room etc.

What a star. Absolutely brilliant.

Alex Cole-Hamilton is as much use as a chocolate teapot. He has but one interest and that is himself. He promises stuff to his constituents, doesn't deliver (I have had dealings with him as part of my job ). As with all the lib dems, their misogyny is pretty ingrained in the name of progressiveness. He was one of the 6 MSPs who decided to change the definition of female in the Gender Recognition and Public Bodies Bill (the rest of them in Holyrood bar the Tories went along with it). See details from Fair Play For Women
fairplayforwomen.com/scottish_stole_woman/

Ive written to thank her

Betsy Thank you for reporting the minutes of the whole debate. Fascinating reading and I'm not surprised you danced around the room.

So many SMPs recognising finally that woman do need a say in this! I still can't believe that we are battling in 2019 to have biological sex acknowledged.

I noted Ross Greer of the green party leading the opposition to the committee's findings. Backed up by Alex Cole Hamilton of the liberals. Reminded me of Aimee Challenor's fingers in those pies...

leftfootforward.org/2018/10/ex-green-party-spokesperson-aimee-challenors-application-to-join-lib-dems-under-review/

but provide provision for those who don't want to use them

Yes but third spaces are only inclusive spaces if enough biological men and women chose that space rather than a sex specific one. I'm not sure many people would.

There are a load of women and beardy men who are insistent they absolutely don't mind unisex spaces and it's no different to loos at home that aren't sex-segregated so I'm sure it'll be fine!

Anyway apologies for derailing the thread as I didn't mean to detract from the amazing Joan McAlpine.

Let us not forget the SNP need the Greens to get a majority

Sticking your head above the parapet like that takes some intestinal fortitude at the moment, especially in light of Sturgeon's comments. Bravo Joan.

I see she received some stick for her comment about "women experiencing discrimination on the basis of biology" because trans women experience the same discrimination because they are women - could've seen that one coming a mile off.

Even if that is how you think, why then is it such a terrible idea to protect sex class?

She is currently my favourite woman in the entire world.

That tweet thraad is word-perfect.

I love Joan. I love Joan. I love Joan. Joan for First Minister!!!! Joan for FM!

Brava Joan McAlpine!

We need proper data.

I have been thinking about this since yesterday. I am politically homeless.

The SNP stance on this topic so far has horrified me, their rampant idiocy in the removal of legal sex as a status together with the ridiculous "blazing a trail" attitude to the total dismantling of safeguarding, particularly around children.

I have never known an SNP member allowed to break rank.

Joan McAlpine has my vote based on her complete understanding of the removal of women's rights and the support she has shown us by standing up for women publicly.

I hope for a change in approach among the SNP but suspect she will be leaned on to retract or forced out. I will vote against transideology.

If she holds fast she has my vote, either independently or with SNP changing to backing her and supporting women and girls.

Joan McAlpine for First Minister.

Ive also written to thank her and sent her thread to my SNP MSPs .

I have never known an SNP member allowed to break rank.

I agree, the SNP like to control everything from the centre which makes Joan's actions all the more admirable. I've tweeted but also sent her a longer email. I hope lots of people do the same so that she has a bank of evidence for when she's leaned on.

That is fantastic! Thank you Joan, I may also send this to my tight lipped msp to see if she will respond in a meaningful way

Wonderful!

My SNP MP replied to an email of mine( asking if she was going to attend the women's meeting at the HoP) condemming the transphobic debate around the issue of the GRA, that women's groups had no problems whatsoever with it - and she was so busy anyway with Brexit anyway.

I do hope she's paying attention now.

Scotland's "feminist" organisation is not happy and have written this letter to Joan:

www.engender.org.uk/news/blog/letter-to-joan-mcalpine-msp/

Some interesting nuggets:

"We neither ‘represent women and girls’, nor make any claim to."

"England is palpably an outlier within the UK, in terms of the prevalence of gender critical feminism, and the UK is an outlier in global terms. However, there has always been a gender critical strand within British feminism, and it comes to the fore on a cyclical basis."

Oh, and they constantly switch between 'sex' and 'gender'.

"We neither ‘represent women and girls’, nor make any claim to."

What is the point in them then?

our funding from Scottish Government does not require any of us to adopt any particular policy positions
So Kezia's question was answered wrongly was it?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3477627-For-Women-Scotland-Public-meeting-on-Womens-Rights-in-Scotland-Edinburgh-31-1-19
Education, Communities and Justice
Kezia Dugdale
(Lothian) (Scottish Labour):
To Ask the Scottish Government Whether its funding for violence against women specifically requires organisations and projects to be trans inclusive and, if so, where this requirement is stated.
(S5W-19971)
Christina McKelvie: Applicants To the Equally Safe Violence Against Women And Girls Fund are required to provide their LBTI Inclusion Plan (or An GBTI Plan for organisations providing direct support to men) as part of their application. Applicants Without these plans in place are not considered.

It is just a list of insulting statements about women isn't it? Every paragraph contradicts itself. It is an astoundingly poor statement.

Although questions around gender identity and women’s equality are currently very visible on social media and in MSP mailbags, they are not emerging as a significant area of concern in our engagement activities.
SHUT UP WOMEN

there is a consensus emerging around trans-inclusive feminism (says who?)THEN our organisations challenges sexist and patriarchal views of women and traditional gender roles all whilst dissing the very idea of gc thinking. Pick one you can't have both!

Theoretical discussions about how gender, gender identity and sex interrelate are important to feminist analysis, and the gender lens that our collective work applies to policymaking in Scotland. It is vital that these discussions do not devolve into a conversation that is polarised and evidence-light.
WRONGTHINK and how very fucking sinister sounding. The gender lens? Really? The gender lens applied to policymaking in Scotland? That right there is the problem, I cannot believe the dissonance required to actually put that in black and white.

This, more than any other nonsense I have seen, convinces me beyond any doubt that Scotland is using public money to silence women. Altering the law purposefully in the guise of men centred "feminism", that is a deeply chilling and incredibly stupid admission to make.

developing appropriate mechanisms for prisons (and other single-sex spaces) that would prevent male perpetrators maliciously... because the mechanism of single sex space is not mannish enough?

I can't even begin to cover the obscenity that any other approach is evidence-light. The only thing lacking in evidence is the ridiculous concept of gender trumping material reality.

Stand firm Joan, Scotland is with you on this!