Government call for evidence on variations in sex characteristics

[heresyisthenewblack]

"The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has launched a call for evidence to provide everyone in the United Kingdom, especially people with variations in sex characteristics, with an opportunity to engage with Government and to tell us in detail about their experiences and what they think Government could or should be doing to improve their lives."

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/variations-in-sex-characteristics-call-for-evidence

This closes on 28th March

From the survey:
"This call for evidence is aimed at three respondent groups:
A – those who have variations in sex characteristics. We are interested in hearing the views of anyone who thinks they meet this definition.
B – those who look after people who have variations in sex characteristics in a personal capacity, such as parents, legal guardians, carers.
C – those who work with or provide services to people who have variations in sex characteristics in a professional capacity. This could include healthcare professionals, academics, teachers, employers, support services and service providers."

Any people with lived experience or professional knowledge of variations in sex characteristics/intersex issues may wish to take a look and decide if they want to complete the survey. It's so important that women who are affected by variations in sex characteristics have an opportunity to make their voices heard. I believe the survey is anonymous.

I also think I noticed the link being shared by transactivists previously, which made me concerned about who is self-identifying writing in.

Have any intersex advocates given advice on participation in this call for evidence?

Thanks!

Previous thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3482584-The-teeniest-glimmer-of-hope-in-new-government-consultation

Poor form bump my own thread, but still wondering about my question. Anyone?

I don't think there are many intersex or people with DSD on here to be able to respond to the survey but hopefully these people are aware of it.

everyone in the United Kingdom

If WE don't respond, others will for us. I'm feeling like I dropped the ball on this. When does it close?

Yikes - 28th March

It is entirely possible that there will be attempts to self-identify as having a DSD on the grounds that they have a wrongly sexed brain for their body.

Thanks for the replies.

There has been so much going on here!

But yes, this call for evidence closes in about a week. If we do have any women with variations in sex characteristics lurking or posting here, it might be worth responding to the government with your thoughts!

I think each respondent group gets their own set of questions, and I believe it's anonymous.

Now, I don't want to trample over this call for evidence, as I don't have a medical variation affecting my reproductive system, but it would be good to know whether it's worth doing some sort of solidarity response as a signal-boost to encourage the government to disregard any gender ideologues. As I say, my concern is that this call for evidence may get derailed by transactivists.

Because PinkNews covered the story, and said:

The Government Equalities Office told PinkNews at the time that the call for evidence was launched as part of its LGBT Action Plan.

There are many different ways that a person can identify as intersex, which is an umbrella term encompassing those who are born with sex characteristics outside of the binary “female” and “male” definitions.

www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/01/17/government-intersex-evidence/

(What does intersex have to do with sexual orientation or gender identity? Can you just "identify" as intersex now?)

This closes next week, so am gonna try to keep it on the first page.

My sister asked me to post this when she heard that MN were interested in the consultation.

'I am a woman with Turner Syndrome – a common chromosomal anomaly in which one X chromosome is deemed to be missing or damaged. It is associated with many challenges, with small stature, lack of puberty and infertility being the most common. Turner Syndrome is named, with many other conditions presented as intersex, at the outset of the government questionnaire inviting evidence on ‘variation[s] in sex characteristics that I recently completed. I was disappointed to see that the questionnaire seems to be very largely directed at gender dysphoria and transsexual issues. I felt that therefore the underlying premise of the questionnaire was skewed and lacking in clarity.
I feel that sex is a binary matter of biology and genetics and have always known myself to be a woman. Indeed, as a woman, I consider that I have experienced a rich life. I believe that any variations in sex characteristics are either in the ‘male’ or ‘female’ domain. I am really worried that this consultation will be used to support the premise that sex is not binary and that people like myself will be seen as not belonging to either.'

Thank you, Mamello, and many thanks to your sister for that brilliant and informative post.

Really concerning that this was her experience of filling in this call for evidence...

From the technical paper on scope:

The call for evidence focuses on the following areas:

• terminology – we know there are a wide range of views on the terms used to describe people who have variations in sex characteristics. Therefore, the first chapter invites respondents to share their views on what terminology Government should use in the future
• healthcare and medical intervention – we are interested in whether people have undergone medical interventions/procedures, people’s perceptions and experiences of accessing, or considering healthcare services and how healthcare services could be improved to better work for individuals with variations in sex characteristics
• experiences in education – there is little evidence in this area and we want to understand whether respondents have disclosed their variation to their educational institution, experiences throughout life in education and how the education system could be improved
• support services – we recognise that support services play a vital role. We want to understand the kind of support people who have variations in sex characteristics access, their experiences of doing so and whether the services could be improved
• workplace, benefits, sport and leisure services – we want to gather evidence of people’s experiences in the workplace, of claiming benefits and of using sport and leisure services. Stakeholders have raised concerns in these areas and we want to understand more about the issues they have raised
• sex assignment, birth registration and correcting birth certificates – some stakeholders have raised concerns with the process for amending sex markers on birth certificates where these were incorrectly assigned/registered because of their variation. We want to understand what people’s experiences have been of this process and their views on whether this needs to be improved
• other issues - there is an opportunity in the final section of the call for evidence for respondents to provide further information on any other issues that they might feel to be relevant

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/variations-in-sex-characteristics-call-for-evidence/variations-in-sex-characteristics-technical-paper

Stonewall has tweeted about the call for evidence...

twitter.com/MRKHvoice/status/1109042700165222400

Had a look at the survey (don't worry, didn't submit). It looks like they are trying to tailor each group's questions so that anyone who doesn't know about intersex issues may find it harder to respond. A little bit reassuring?

I'd gently ask that especially those women with lived experience of the medical conditions listed in the call for evidence consider taking a look and completing the survey.
Also mothers/guardians of children with variations in sex characteristics, and any women-centred-women who have relevant experience of intersex issues from their professional lives (that category looks to be the most "free form").

Will keep this bumped as an attempt to keep awareness up for any women who may want to respond.

Closes in 4 days.

Closes in 2 days!

The potential for misinformation is worrying.

Why on earth would this be advertised in pink news?

Have fair play for women had a look?

I don't know if FPFW have taken a look, tbh. I'm just hoping to keep this on the first page in case any women with experience of intersex issues might want to respond.

It's the phrase "identify as intersex" that I am troubled by....

It's entirely in keeping with the prevailing ideology. And yes, a fair few TRAs claim to be intersex by virtue of having the wrong body for their brain. Worth keeping an eye on.

TRAs claiming to be 'intersex' is insulting unless they actually have some form of variant sexual characteristic. Many people with these variants have a host of other very real health issues which they have to deal with and many do not see themselves as 'intersex'. It is quite possible to be female or male but not to have exactly the 'right' chromosomal configuration. This is where other factors come into play such as genitalia etc. But the difficulties and challenges faced by a few people who have a particular congenital condition and who have often been badly let down by the system, should not be used to validate some ideological stance on the ability to move from one sex to the other.

But the difficulties and challenges faced by a few people who have a particular congenital condition and who have often been badly let down by the system, should not be used to validate some ideological stance on the ability to move from one sex to the other.

When has that ever stopped TRAs appropriating another group's issues? I'm not convinced the government will make much effort to weed out those answers either.

Last day!