Some feminists, Emma Thompson amongst them, sign letter decrying trans-exclusionary responses to the GRA

[EweSurname]

www.thenational.scot/news/17472564.they-do-not-speak-for-us-feminists-hit-back-at-trans-exclusionary-activists-in-open-letter/

We, the undersigned, are a large and diverse group of women who are committed to ensuring that trans people feel welcome and safe within our society.

Recently there has been a rise in ill-informed articles and commentary, where writers have continually insinuated that trans women are not women. These same pieces misrepresent current legal statutes, equalities policies, and public attitudes in Scotland.

Since 2004 the Gender Recognition Act has realised, in law, the rights of trans women as women and trans men as men. Since 1999, the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations and then the Equality Act (2010) have recognised, in law, the right of the trans community not to be discriminated against on the basis of their gender reassignment. The right of trans people to access gender specific services is an already settled legal matter.

Many national and regional news outlets routinely fail in their pages to recognise this legal reality. Instead, it is our perspective that some writers rely on recycling outdated arguments in an uncomfortable attempt to shoehorn trans identities into much needed conversations about gender-based discrimination and violence.

We believe that national conversations about gender-based discrimination and violence are necessary, however these conversations should not in any way attempt to roll back the rights that trans people already have in Scotland, nor spread misinformation.

In the Scottish Government's recent public consultation on reforming the Gender Recognition Act (2004) a majority of respondents supported gender self declaration, as well as recognising non-binary people. As a collective of women, we urge that trans-exclusionary writers do not suggest that their narrow and archaic arguments are in any way representative of the women of Scotland. They do not speak for us.

This is not an issue of Freedom of Speech. Both sides have a plethora of platforms to outline their position. However, it is imperative that these platforms should not be used to spread misinformation or misrepresent the law or the facts in this area.

When this conversation is reduce

d to allegations of "shutting down debate" whenever misrepresentation or misinformation is challenged, the result is to purposefully discount the position of many women - like us - who support the trans community. We will be heard.

Trans people have played an integral role in every civil rights movement to date; from LGBT equality to women's causes. Attempts to airbrush trans people from conversations regarding equality and human rights, or to exclude them from advancements for LGBT and women's rights, have happened before. Such efforts may have re-energised, but they are nothing new, and we say as a collective of women: they are not representative of us. We support trans rights.

Outlets and commentators have an ethical responsibility to consider the impact of their reportage, analysis and commentary particularly on the mental health of trans young people. Recently, data from Stonewall Scotland revealed that over half of trans people considered ending their lives last year. Trans people continue to face unlawful discrimination and violence. Routine misinformation and sensationalism is contributing to a cultural climate where this is legitimised. This has to stop.

Journalists, commentators, and publishers have a central role to play in ensuring Scotland is a welcoming and inclusive place for trans people.

The conversation has to change.

Rhiannon Spear, Chair of Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) and Glasgow City Councillor for Greater Pollok

Tiffany Kane, Vice Chair of Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) and Operations Manager at Common Weal

Dame Emma Thompson, Double Academy Award Winner

Laura Waddell, Publisher and Writer

Dr Jennifer Jones, Independent

Rosa Zambonini, Communications Manager to Member of the Scottish Parliament

Cllr Jennifer Layden, SNP Councillor for Calton

Dr Claire Askew, University of Edinburgh

Laura Wylie, Sexual Violence Prevention Worker at the Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (Dundee and Angus),

Sinead Daly, CEO of the Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (Dundee and Angus)

Christina Neuwirth, Writer

Kate Adair, SQIFF

Eve Livingston, Freelance Journalist

Kelly Given, Equalities & Mental Health Advocate

Jennifer Constable, Journalist

Rachel Hamada, Journalist

Leona Jack, Gender Based Violence Practitioner

Angela Haggerty, Journalist

Lynne Davies, Foster Carer

Amanda Stanley, Freelance Podcast Producer

Kaite Welsh, Author & Journalist

Hannah Bardell, MP for Livingston

Miriam Brett, International Finance Project Manager

Sarah Masson, or Co-Artistic Director of Shift, Shift Theatre

Fi and Charlotte Duffy-Scott, Co-Owners, Category Is Books, Glasgow

Claire Biddles, Freelance Writer

Erin Hardee, Schools Outreach Organiser

School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee

Dr Pat Cullum BA (Hons) DPhil FRHistS, FHEA, School Co-Ordinator for Student Experience, School of Music, Humanities and Media, University of Huddersfield

Gail Ross MSP, SNP Member of Scottish Parliament for Caithness

Dr Eleanor Janega, Guest Teacher at the LSE

Cllr Kim Long, Green Councillor for Dennistoun

Cllr Eva Murray, Labour Councillor for Garscadden/ Scotstounhill

Cllr Christina Cannon, SNP Councillor for Springburn/Robroyston

Cllr Martha Wardrop, Green Councillor for Hillhead

Bailie Christy Mearns, Green Councillor for Anderston/ City & Yorkhill

Cara Spence, Head of Programmes, LGBT Youth Scotland

Amy Irons, Broadcaster

Hannah Pearson, Queer Feminist Campaigner

Rebecca Crowther, PHD Social Science Researcher

Susan Ross, Police Scotland

Jane Friffin, Head of Partnerships, LGBT Youth Scotland

Michelle Sodo, Head of Operations, LGBT Youth Scotland

Nicola Booth, Head of Youth Work, LGBT Youth Scotland

Bridget Bradley, Teaching Fellow, The University of Edinburgh School of Medical Anthropology

Naomi McAuliffe, Scotland Programme Director, Amnesty International

Gayle Telfer Stevens, Olivier Award Winning Actor

Jen Ang, Lawyer and Director, Just Right Scotland

Lisa Clark, Senior Communications Officer, Children in Scotland

Mhairi McMillan, Solicitor, Logans Solicitors, Cumnock

Margaret Logan, Women’s Aid, Support Worker

Dr Brandi Lee Lough Dennell, Research Associate

Rona Mackay, SNP MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden

Hazel Marzetti, PHD Student, University of Glasgow

Pam Currie, EIS FELA President (Personal Capacity)

Fiona Robertson, SNP's National Women's and Equalities Convenor

Katherine O’Donnell, Journalist

Christine Burns MBE, Equality Campaigner and Author

Lucy Spraggan, Musician

Leeze Lawrence, Producer, Editor, Filmmaker & Trans Advocate

Helen Nugent, Journalist and Editor of Northern Soul

Janet Coulson, Actor and Creative Director of Firebrand Theatre

Paris Lees, Writer and Broadcaster

Marlene Zwickler, Agent and Producer

Elena Soper, Feminist and Activist

Mhairi Black MP, Paisley and Renfrewshire South

Dr Lindsay Clark, Post-Doctoral researcher

Jackie Brock, Chief Executive, Children in Scotland

Joanna Murphy, Chair, National Parent Forum for Scotland

Louise Oliver, Actor and producer

Lady Mary Hope, Lady Hope of Craighead

Audrey Barnes, Campaigns & Programmes Coordinator at YWCA Scotland

Jemma Tracey, Senior Participation Officer, Children in Scotland

Laura McGlynn, University of Glasgow

Bailey McCormack, Event Coordinator and Freelance Performer

Emma Rogan, Senior Policy Officer at Children in Scotland

Róisín McKelvey, Feminist PhD Researcher

Janine Ewen, Queer Feminist, Violence Against Women Campaigner

I didn't know Paris Lees was a feminist

'Emma Thompson I'm ashamed of you. Either you're ridiculously naive and ill informed on the real impact of this on women, or you have put your name to something knowingly attempting to remove rights from women and girls. '

I agree. SO incredibly disappointing

I couldn’t even read all those paragraphs of utter bootlicking. Infuriating.

Recently there has been a rise in ill-informed articles and commentary

The right of trans people to access gender specific services is an already settled legal matter.

Ahem. U mean sex. Clearly not settled given terror among service providers of using the exclusions in the EA2010. Shifting prisons approach to housing trans prisoners. Etc.

Anyhoo.

I'm very surprised to not see more SNP signatures...

Mhairi Black is a numpty, assuming she isn't I to female penis.

So disappointed in mhairi black.

Since 1999, the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations and then the Equality Act (2010) have recognised, in law, the right of the trans community not to be discriminated against on the basis of their gender reassignment. The right of trans people to access gender specific services is an already settled legal matter.

I also totally agree that the trans community should not be discriminated against but how is it discriminatory to deny males access to female spaces if every male is being treated the same?

Here's ForWomenScotland's response to the letter. Worth reading.

forwomen.scot/27/02/2019/sex-matters/

Remember when Emma Thompson signed that petition supporting Roman Polanski and then when she actuallly bothered to find out what she had signed, wanted her name removed?

I guess none of us should be surprised at this considering she's happy to put her name to supporting a child abuser. I wonder how much actual research she has done on this subject.

Paris identifies as a lot of things she is not...

emma thompson I have gone right off you
bandwagon jumping/virture signalling bullshit

Very disappointed in Emma Thompson. Always thought she was quite sensible.

Here's ForWomenScotland's response to the letter. Worth reading.

YES!! It all comes back to the conflation of sex and gender. GENDER IS NOT SEX.

I don’t think this has hit twitter yet.

We, the undersigned, are a large and diverse group of women who are committed to ensuring that men are centred in our thoughts and actions.

Recently there has been a rise in illuminating articles and commentary, where writers have continually insinuated that reality prevails. These same pieces misrepresent current legal statutes, equalities policies, and public attitudes in Scotland because they put forward a view that is not 100% aligned with ours.

Since 2004 the Gender Recognition Act has realised, in law, the rights of trans women as women and trans men as men. Since 1999, the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations and then the Equality Act (2010) have recognised, in law, the right of the trans community not to be discriminated against on the basis of their gender reassignment. The right of trans people to access gender specific services is an already settled legal matter. We won't of course mention that adopting self ID will have a huge effect on the Equality Act, as it will effectively render the term "woman" meaningless, as anyone who proclaims they are a woman will be treated as one.

Many national and regional news outlets routinely fail in their pages to recognise this legal reality. As it currently stands. Let's not worry about what will happen when the anyone is allowed to call themselves a woman and be treated legally like one without being able to be challenged. Instead, it is our perspective that some writers rely on recycling outdated arguments (of those old fashioned things like safeguarding, class analysis and material reality) in an uncomfortable attempt to shoehorn trans identities into much needed conversations about gender-based discrimination and violence. But let's not mention sex-based discrimination because reasons.

We believe that national conversations about gender-based discrimination and violence are necessary, however these conversations should not in any way attempt to roll back the rights that trans people already have in Scotland, nor spread misinformation. And by misinformation, we mean facts, statistics and that pesky material reality again!

In the Scottish Government's recent public consultation on reforming the Gender Recognition Act (2004) a majority of respondents supported gender self declaration, as well as recognising non-binary people. As a collective of women, we urge that trans-exclusionary writers do not suggest that their narrow and archaic arguments are in any way representative of the women of Scotland. They do not speak for us. We however, speak for you all.

This is not an issue of Freedom of Speech. Both sides have a plethora of platforms to outline their position. However, it is imperative that these platforms should not be used to spread misinformation or misrepresent the law or the facts in this area. This is why we will rely heavily on inflated suicide statistics and use the violence against trans sex workers in Brazil to falsely claim that trans people in the UK face similar risks and an average lifespan in their 30s.

When this conversation is reduced to allegations of "shutting down debate" whenever misrepresentation or misinformation is challenged, the result is to purposefully discount the position of many women - like us - who support the trans community. We will be heard. But we don't want you to be so can't you shut up. It's definitely not our side who are no-platforming events and trying to shut down women's meetings.

Trans people Women have played an integral role in every civil rights movement to date; from LGBT equality to women's causes. Attempts to airbrush trans people women from conversations regarding equality and human rights, or to exclude them from advancements for LGBT and women's rights, have happened before. Such efforts may have re-energised, but they are nothing new, and we say as a collective of women: they are not representative of us. We support trans women's rights.

Outlets and commentators have an ethical responsibility to consider the impact of their reportage, analysis and commentary particularly on the mental health of trans young people. Recently, data from Stonewall Scotland revealed that over half of trans people considered ending their lives last year. Trans people continue to face unlawful discrimination and violence. Routine misinformation and sensationalism is contributing to a cultural climate where this is legitimised. This has to stop. You women, trying to stop the erosion of your rights, are responsible for everyone else's well being but absolutely cannot invest that energy on yourselves. Has centuries of being socialised to put other's needs first not taught you anything?

Journalists, commentators, and publishers have a central role to play in ensuring Scotland is a welcoming and inclusive place for trans people. But fuck women.

The conversation has to change stop.

I reckon Christine Burns went through h** address book asking for a few favours.

There’s so much mixing up of Sex and Gender in that letter, it makes little sense.

Oh I didn't see there was a response from For Women Scotland! It's much more constructive than mine

Trans people have played an integral role in every civil rights movement to date

Remind me, who were the trans people who played an integral role in the Suffragette movement?

Also, when we see the equivalent letter from a group of men wanting to ensure trans people feel welcome and safe?

SNP/ Green MSP and councillors, academics, LGBTQ advocates,those in the arts and other assorted wokesters - so far so predictable, I'd expect nothing better from those who routinely perform the wokey-cokey for cookies and head pats.

The inclusion of a police representative and those from Women's Rape And Sexual Abuse Centres is really concerning however...

As to what the letter says, it's the usual yawnsome virtue signalling bs that centres men at the expense of women. ^

TWAW!!!! TMAM!!!!! All the laws say so!!!!!^

you haters are so old fashioned/ behind the times/on the wrong side of history!!!!
^
Centre brave and stunning trans people because they are sooo oppressed and are the most bravest and stunningest of all people ever!!!!! and if you don't they will kill themselves....
^
There is nothing new here.

Since 1999, the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations and then the Equality Act (2010) have recognised, in law, the right of the trans community not to be discriminated against on the basis of their gender reassignment. The right of trans people to access gender specific services is an already settled legal matter.

Why should 'not being discriminated against' equal 'accepting someone has changed sex'? In law they are SEX specific services not gender specific services.

How many of the women that signed that letter are actually transwomen?

At least one name jumps out

Quite why anyone ever had any regard for the ridiculous histrionic Emma Thompson is beyond me.

Mhari Black is interesting. She trades on being a plain-speaking no nonsesne working class voice with little time for outdated rules about addressing comments through the chair etc. Wonder what her plain-speaking constituents think of White, McKinnon et al?

Trans people have played an integral role in every civil rights movement to date

If you are someone who is willing to ignore a millennia of biology and trans the dead in pursuit of an ideology then rewriting civil rights history is a cakewalk.