WRITE TO YOUR MP

[GeneticTest]

I work for an MP.

We’ve had very few emails about GRA in the last few years- mostly against self ID.

We’ve had 4 emails in the last few days all outraged at this attack on transgender people.
All very similar. It’s a campaign.

We must keep emailing so MPs don’t think everyone agrees with the TRAs.

(My MP is GC)

Please- email your MP and let them know your views.

Written to my MP today. Meant to do it last week hey ho!! Perhaps Liz Truss and Keir Starmer next. I think my MP will be on side.

I've emailed mine again. Last time, she told me TWAW and that I need to consider them more... this time I have been rather more blunt. Every single thing I have said is a statement of fact, rather than opinion. I'm interested in how she tells me I'm a bigot this time!

I don't really give a fuck if she thinks that. I don't see that as a good reason to stop sending emails. Actually, it seems to mean she is so outraged she replies personally, rather than staff doing so, so one of these days, she may yet see my point...

Today's point being: I've been raped enough times. Trans women offend at the same rate and pattern as men, including in matters of rape and sexual assault. Sex based protections are there to prevent attacks like this. Don't get rid of sex based protections, or more women will be attacked, it's statistically obvious. I would like to limit the likelihood of yet another rape against my person.

Might email her about the dice thing too in a minute.

I am writing to my mp today, have finally got round to it. Have written to my previous MP a few times and was discouraged by his responses but going to cross my fingers that the new one is better.

I am very nervous in writing, I have a disability that is slowing down my brain and am on strong medication which doesn't help. I get into a flap even posting on Mumsnet sometimes. Would anyone please be able to read through it before I send?

Dear my mp,

I was very reassured to hear the statement from Liz Truss regarding the GRA reform, particularly her committment to protecting single sex spaces and protecting under 18s from making irreversible decisions that they may come to regret. However, I have become aware of mass campaigns against these proposals, one of which is being orchestrated by Google. Considering Google are an American based technology company I am dubious of their involvement in British politics, and I am concerned these campaigns may affect the government's decision on this important matter.

The right of everyone to single sex toilets, changing rooms, hospital wards, women's refuges and other facilities must be maintained, for the sake of dignity, privacy and safety. I believe this is especially important for women and girls, and as the mother of a young girl I want her to ensure her rights and boundaries are not under threat.

I hope that you will pass on my support to Liz Truss, and I hope that you will support her in making sure our country remains a place where this important right to single sex spaces is upheld.

From me.

*Unsure whether to add another paragraph about my personal concerns regarding autistic, abused and lesbian and gay children, and the newsnight on the tavistock. My dd is autistic, as am I, and I was also a victim of CSA.

Though from the little I know of her, I suspect autism and abuse are not high on her list of priorities.

I've emailed my MP about the sex dice RSE game too. They've passed it on.

That's a great letter bluebooby.

Thank you I have sent it now. Fingers crossed they listen to us all.

I wrote to my MP got a standard but positive response

I have just received this response from my local MP. Kim Johnson the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside She replaced the hounded and bullied Louise Ellman last year, and has firmly hitched her wagon to the Momentum bandwagon. the response is generic, and does not address many of my points directly at all. No surprise. I have responded further with direct invitations to meet with women in her constituency:

"Thank you for contacting me about reform to the Gender Recognition Act (GRA).

I support reform of the GRA to introduce self-declaration for transgender people, and the full roll-out of LGBT+ inclusive education across our schools.

I am further committed to eliminating remaining areas of discrimination in law, ensuring that LGBT+ people can live in safety and dignity.

LGBT+ people still face widespread discrimination, and it is clear that we must do more to enhance their rights and protections.

As you will be aware, in July 2017, the Government committed to consulting on reforming the GRA and launched its consultation in July 2018. This consultation closed in October 2018. The Government has yet to publish the findings or respond.

In May 2020, the Government said it is planning to publish its “response this summer, subject to the Government's COVID-19 response”.

As you will further be aware, in April 2020, the Women and Equalities Minister outlined three principles that the Government would be putting in place. It was stated that this includes: “the protection of single-sex spaces”, “making sure that transgender adults are free to live their lives as they wish without fear of persecution, whilst maintaining the proper checks and balances in the system” and “making sure that the under 18s are protected from decisions that they could make, that are irreversible in the future.”

It is vital that there is no rowing back on trans rights. The Government must protect the rights of the trans community in its response to its consultation on the GRA, which has already been significantly delayed.
Additionally, it is important that the Government does not interfere with protections under the Equality Act, which ensure that trans people are not wrongfully excluded from single-sex spaces.

Furthermore, it must be ensured that LGBT+ people are not disproportionately affected by coronavirus, and that all communities are protected equally.

I have received dozens of representations from my constituents on this issue, and you are the only one who has opposed the reforms to the GRA. I understand that this is an issue which evokes strong feelings on both sides, and it needs to be discussed and addressed seriously. That is why I thought JK Rowling's mocking tone was inappropriate and offensive. It was very instructive that some of the actors who made their names in the Harry Potter series felt they had to come out in support of the transgender community and distance themselves from her words.

I respect the fact that you are passionate about your viewpoint and thank you for taking the time to write to me on this important issue"

My further response to the above:

^There is no logical consistency in arguing that TWAW but then suggesting that single sex spaces, services and sports can be protected; because if anyone can self identify as a woman and TWAW, then 'single sex' no longer has any meaning. Are you suggesting, therefore, that you don't really believe that 'transwomen are women', that you are saying so just to " be kind"? Kindness is also required towards women and girls. Many teenage girls, for example, in schools that have converted the girls' toilets to unisex toilets, are avoiding drinking water during the day, because of the discomfort they feel about using mixed sex facilities. How is this fair? Girls who have worked hard and excelled are now losing out on medals and scholarships intended for them, to trans identified males. This is clearly not fair either.

You have not addressed the fact that trans people have the same civil and legal rights as anyone else in the U.K - what you are seeking is additional rights, and what you are seeking is to enforce and impose into spaces, services and sports designed to cater for women and girls; which would undermine their needs for dignity, privacy and safety. Not all LGB organisations are in agreement with your position either, because they are deeply aware of the implications of trans ideology for many young lesbians and gay men.

I suggest that the reason you have not received much correspondence on this issue, except from the very well resourced trans lobby, is that you have not consulted very widely at all with your constituents; nor has there been any open debate in parliament. Indeed, when 'A Woman's Place U.K' held consultations last year,in Westminster, only a handful of MPs even bothered to turn up, and then Angela Raynor declared them a 'hate group'.. I wonder whether you are open to meeting with representatives from WPUK in your constituency, or whether you would welcome an invitation to consult and discuss further on this issue? There are women from all walks of life and professions who meet to discuss this issue; regular conferences and so on, and you could meet with some of the growing numbers of young detransitioners; as well as with parents of trans identified children; and women married to AGP ( Autogynephillic) men, who now identify as trans.

JKRowling's tone was not mocking at all. It was eloquent, reasoned and informed. Have you seen what women who speak out on this issue get subjected to? Even at the Labour party fringe in Brighton last year, a meeting set up to discuss this issue was subject to screaming abuse and the continued kicking of windows all throughout the meeting. And the Labour party did not condemn this. Indeed, meetings of professionals from around the country, having travelled to liverpool for meetings, have had venues cancel at the last minute due to malicious calls from trans activists; and so having to wander the city trying to locate suitable new venues at the very last minute.

I met with your predecessor, Louise Ellman to discuss this issue, and she was both open and amenable. I hope you too decide that you'd like to consult more widely and to that end I invite you to meet with local women's groups - which I am happy to arrange.
Until I determine that the Labour party is dedicated to listening to all of its party members and constituents, especially on this issue , which is to me the single biggest and most primal issue there is right now - then there is absolutely no chance I will be voting Labour again. And I say that as an ex Labour party member. This is an issue which is not going to go away, and there is no sense in just rebuffing people who have genuine concerns on many different levels. The job of politics is to face and deal with conflicts of interest, and this issue is certainly one of those^

Excellent letter. I've written to my MP, have no idea where she stands on this (female Labour MP), haven't heard back yet.

I've heard absolutely nothing from mine so I assume he's ignoring me.

I had a reply from my female Lib Dem MP today. It apologised for the delay in responding, and made clear that she supported the reform. She linked to where she had written about her views online. Whilst it was polite, she didn't actually respond specifically to any of the concerns I had raised in my email. Should I write again?

Marplemead

Yes - ask her to specifically reply to your concerns.

Or ask for a surgery meeting - telephone/zoom etc

Response from my MP Male Tory:

I am absolutely committed to protecting women’s rights and freedoms. I completely understand that reforming the GRA is a complex and sensitive issue, which is why it is important for everyone’s views to be heard and listened to. I am especially glad that the Minister for Women and Equalities has recently said that any reforms will ensure the protection of single-sex spaces, which I recognise is extremely important.

I know that many people also have concerns about the impact of this legislation on children. I have raised this with colleagues in the Government and Equalities Office who have assured me of their commitment to ensuring under 18s are protected from making decisions that are irreversible in the future. I believe strongly that adults should have the freedom to live their life but I do think it is very important we protect young adults, who are still developing their decision making processes and capabilities, from taking action which they potentially cannot reverse.

This is a complex area to reform and I want to ensure that the Government gets the balance right.

@Binterested

Sorry to @ you.

Is the Seymour leisure centre in Westminster? It is a very important place for swimming lessons (and has gym and other classes) and is next to Edgware Road which almost is a little Middle East in London. I cannot imagine that Self-ID would help to get little girls from those families involved. They already have several woman only activities (probably to accommodate these minorities).

Mine has informed me that she has had 61 letters supporting changes and 6 against. Get those letters out!

ThinEdgeOfTheWedge that's encouraging!

[quote CoffeeTeaChocolate]@Binterested

Sorry to @ you.

Is the Seymour leisure centre in Westminster? It is a very important place for swimming lessons (and has gym and other classes) and is next to Edgware Road which almost is a little Middle East in London. I cannot imagine that Self-ID would help to get little girls from those families involved. They already have several woman only activities (probably to accommodate these minorities).[/quote]
What have they done? I knew a school swimming teacher there and she said that she taught little girls who wouldn’t swim if they didn’t have single sex lessons and had their all-covering swimsuits (including the hair).

I can imagine!

They haven’t done anything yet, but I think that is a very strong argument against self-ID for the local MP. If this group start to encounter self-ID trans women, they will stop going.

Hmmmm. I’m a member so might call and ask.

I posted about my MP’s irritating identikit ‘all about the trans’ reply about 3-4 weeks ago. I have now received a much more considered, nuanced reply which directly addresses the points I made about safeguarding and upholding sex-based rights. I strongly suspect the first reply was the party line response and the follow-up reflects my MP’s personal views. It was still incredibly carefully worded, understandable with the current ‘burn them!’ mobbing of dissenters, and says the GRA should be reformed “to create a simpler, less medicalised process”, but the fact my MP wrote again and directly addressed the single sex exemptions gives me hope there will be appropriate scrutiny of any reforms.

My MP is Penny Mourdaunt, any tips on how I should phrase my letter to her would be greatly appreciated!

@ThinEndoftheWedge

Response from my MP Male Tory:

I am absolutely committed to protecting women’s rights and freedoms. I completely understand that reforming the GRA is a complex and sensitive issue, which is why it is important for everyone’s views to be heard and listened to. I am especially glad that the Minister for Women and Equalities has recently said that any reforms will ensure the protection of single-sex spaces, which I recognise is extremely important.

I know that many people also have concerns about the impact of this legislation on children. I have raised this with colleagues in the Government and Equalities Office who have assured me of their commitment to ensuring under 18s are protected from making decisions that are irreversible in the future. I believe strongly that adults should have the freedom to live their life but I do think it is very important we protect young adults, who are still developing their decision making processes and capabilities, from taking action which they potentially cannot reverse.

This is a complex area to reform and I want to ensure that the Government gets the balance right.

That's a really, really good response. Freedoms, balanced by impact on other groups. Which is how it should be.