Response from my MP

[Tiggering]

I wrote to my MP about my concerns about the removal of single sex spaces. I did not mention the article in the Times which makes me thing I got a copy-and-paste response. I’m disappointed that it doesn’t really say anything other than to dismiss the concerns. I’m tempted to write back.

Thank you for your e-mail.

I am afraid that there has been some misunderstanding on the part of the Times.

When Mrs May was Prime Minister a consultation was launched on the proposals to enable transgender people to change their birth certificate without a medical diagnosis. The 2018 consultation received more than 100,000 responses. The Government has not yet published its response. On 17 October 2019, Elizabeth Truss, Minister for Women and Equalities, said that the issue of the response to the consultation was very important and needed time for consideration.

There are no ‘laws’ in place regarding single sex lavatories or indeed changing rooms. It has been the custom to have them because many women and girls do not feel comfortable having men in such close proximity. Many shops and restaurants have unisex facilities already. Any establishment may choose to have single sex or unisex facilities and this will very much depend on the wishes of their clientele.

The stories in the media are speculation and should be taken as such. I understand that the Minister will announce the Government’s response to the consultation in late July.

Yours sincerely

[wellbehavedwomen]

I think my MP's response was good, honestly. None of them are ever going to be gung ho on such a contentious issue but he was very clear that he recognises this is a women's rights issue (that was his framing of my email - I didn't say that myself) and he's raised what was said and done to Rowling, and explicitly stated that he sees nothing in what she said that deserved vitriol, anyway. In the present climate, that's actually quite brave. I also believe him on the concern for single sex spaces, because he's been involved in getting the Domestic Abuse Bill through for a while.

He's aware of the issues and has confirmed the commitment to single sex provision being secured - not Labour's sleight of hand in saying that yes, they will retain single sex spaces; they'll just remove the exemptions and bring in self-ID. If we have clarity on that issue, then that could also help defend Scots women, depending on how the issue is framed. (The dream would be for it to be made unlawful, under the Equality Act, to deny funding to any women's provision that relies on Equality Act exemptions. That would mean providers could genuinely have the option to choose remain open to them. Very much doubt they'll do that - the SNP would go nuts - but it would protect women north of the border so much more.)

If Stonewall really cared about trans people facing domestic abuse, they'd use some of their money tree to fund dedicated provision. There's a huge shortage of spaces for everyone right now - why not create new provision, which meets specific needs to the best extent possible, and increase availability in the sector for everyone? Rather than increase pressure, and harm some women in the process? It really shouldn't be a zero sum game.

Politics is always about compromise. I was pleased with my MPs response, overall.

[Loveinatimeofcovid]

We should all probably write a letter to our MP and send them out in the same day. Maybe they’ll give a shit then.

[wellbehavedwomen]

Had a response from my MP.

Thank you for your thoughtful email regarding the Gender Recognition Act and women's rights. I have read it with care, and agree with a great deal of what you write.

On the issue of Gender Recognition Act reform, I know that colleagues in the Government Equalities Office have been doing a lot of work on this recently to formulate their response to the consultation. Understandably, the Coronavirus outbreak has complicated things somewhat, but I have received reassurances from the department that they plan to publish their response this summer.

Women's rights is an issue I have campaigned on in Parliament for many years, and I am proud of the Domestic Abuse Bill. Although domestic abuse can affect men too, it is overwhelmingly women who fall victim.

I am committed to protecting women’s rights and freedoms. I am particularly glad that the Minister for Women and Equalities has recently said that any reforms will ensure the protection of single-sex spaces.

I also want to touch on the subject of abuse that you have mentioned. I do not think anyone should face abuse at any time, and I am aware that JK Rowling has received dreadful threats. These are not acceptable in any circumstances. In any event, I don't see that she has said anything on the issue of LGBT rights deserving of such vitriol.

If you would like to meet to discuss this important issue, please do not hesitate to contact me and my office will make the necessary arrangements.

Should add that I've been to see him before, about SEND provision. He was really well informed, set a lot of time aside, and was genuinely listening and engaged. He's an excellent constituency MP.

My email said exactly what I say here on Mumsnet: that this is about a conflict of rights. Women need and deserve to retain our threatened separate provision, but the law does, and should, also protect trans people from hatred, discrimination and disadvantage, which I agree exists, and needs to be considered and addressed. It is, however, never acceptable for women to lose ground in order to serve the interests of another group.

I raised prisons, women's shelters and changing rooms, and sport. That the existing exemptions are being ignored, and should be strengthened, and that making GRCs too easy to obtain impacts us, as it lowers thresholds for those exemptions under the EHRC's own existing guidance. Pointed out that passports can be changed fairly easily, so alternative ID options are available. And also pointed out the abuse those raising these issues are subjected to.

[ThinEndoftheWedge]

Agreed - go and see her.

Show her the result (in these threads) which show the majority of the population do not think self ID is a good idea and support for TW in single sex spaces completely plummets when it is explicitly clear that it refers to full bodied adult males - changing alongside young girls.

[thehumanformerlyknownasfemale]

I am also aware that further concerns have been raised over reported proposals to set out new safeguards to protect female-only spaces.

I would question the intentions of anyone who was "concerned" about protecting female-only spaces, especially given that children are likely to be present in them. (If I've interpreted that bit correctly?)

That whole response is just trans, trans, trans. Women who?

What a fucking joke.

[ThePankhurstConnection]

Don't just write back make an appointment to see them. It is clear they a) don't read the letters and b) haven't a clue what they are talking about. Go to see them, be prepared, take visual aids and evidence of statistics. They can't get away with dismissing a constituent's issues like that because they, themselves are apparently ignorant of the issue and the law.

[rednsparkley]

I've had a response from my MP - it was exactly what I expected from her. I intend to respond thanking her for confirming my opinion of her and the Labour Party and reiterating that I will never vote for her again. I also intend to spread the word in our constituency.

Here is what she sent - it is garbage from start to finish!

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

I believe that reform of the GRA should be used to progress rights in this country.

I support calls for the Government to introduce a system of self-declaration for trans people. I also believe 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.

As you will be aware, in July 2017, the Government committed to review the GRA to examine “options to streamline and demedicalise the gender recognition process.” The Government committed to consulting on reforming the GRA and launched its consultation in July 2018. This consultation closed in October 2018 and the Government is yet to officially respond.

I am concerned that delays in reforming the GRA have created a hostile environment for LGBT+ people.

I am committed to championing the rights of the trans community who often suffer some of the worst violence and hate crime. There is more we can do to ensure this country is inclusive to all people regardless of their gender identity.

I am aware concerns have been raised regarding reports over the Government’s plans to scrap proposals to allow people to change their legal gender by self-identifying. I am also aware that further concerns have been raised over reported proposals to set out new safeguards to protect female-only spaces.

This is a nuanced and fraught debate, one which I do not feel is appropriate to handle through social media or through the leaking of review recommendations.

It is very important we work closely with others in scrutinising the Government’s proposals once they are finally published. These discussions must be conducted on the basis of fact and respect.

I am determined to listen and understand the challenges facing the trans community to help deliver change and put the right policies in place to protect and respect everyone’s rights.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue. I will continue to monitor developments closely.

[Awning10]

The thought is that the cut and pastes are coming from the GEO (Government Equalities Office).... at least 5 letters, all the same reply but from different constituencies.

[rednsparkley]

I've had no response from my female Labour MP as yet. She is spineless though so I am expecting either nothing or word salad nonsense

[Al1Langdownthecleghole]

I wrote to my MP and the response was a cut and paste that had also been sent out by other conservative MPs.

Do you get the feeling that they send out a standard response to "women's concerns" regardless of whether they answer the question?

[Awning10]

I wrote to my MP and the response was a cut and paste that had also been sent out by other conservative MPs.

[Tiggering]

He’s not one to shy away from controversy or bow down to public opinion. He has a Tory safe seat and he has always been unashamedly happy to justify his terrible voting record in the past.

[FantaOra]

From my experience of a meeting with my older male, very successful and properly down to earth in a working class town, that elder men have absolutely no idea how to respond to this. They are torn between the acceptance versus limits dichotomy and are not able to call it.

[transdimensional]

Others have said it before, but there are some of those who opposed gay rights who've now decided to support the TRA agenda because they incorrectly assume it means being on the right side of history.

[FantaOra]

What waffle. I'm not surprised though, the communication when it does finally happen is going to unleash the hounds of hell! Properly looking forward to it.

It's not often that men get pushed back on but sometimes middle England is right.

[Tiggering]

I have a conservative MP. He’s an old white guy who voted against civil partnerships, he is anti abortion and has a terrible track record for absence or voting against human rights protections but he seems a bit more woke on trans issues.

[PurpleHoodie]

Are you on the correct thread Al1?

[Al1Langdownthecleghole]

I had a wrongly C&P’d response to my concerns about the teaching materials for the new relationships curriculum from the autumn. A whole paragraph about why parents wouldn’t be able to withdraw children from the lessons. Except that I hadn’t mentioned withdrawing children from lessons.

Have replied and pointed out the C&P error and asked for a response to the question I did ask.

Please tell me you are not in NW Essex.

[transdimensional]

Any establishment may choose to have single sex or unisex facilities and this will very much depend on the wishes of their clientele.
That's a lie for a start. The vast majority of establishments will make their own decision without consulting their clientele. Granted, some may be forced to backtrack if they try to convert to unisex and the backlash is strong enough. But still.

[PurpleHoodie]

What Deltoids said.

[PurpleHoodie]

There are no ‘laws’ in place regarding single sex lavatories or indeed changing rooms.

This is Billy Bullshit right there. There ARE laws regarding female only provision.

SEX - Female is a Protected Characteristic in UK Law. Equalities Act.

Religious Belief is a Protected Characteristic. Equalities Act.

Females XX + people (with no Y) as a Protected Class may bring a class action suit against opponents in UK Law.

(Lesbians for example in UK law are female only same sex attracted people).

[Deltoids1]

They don’t seem to be aware of the Equality Act and the single sex provision contain therein. I’d be tempted to write back using some of the information on the Fair Play for Women/Women’s Place website regarding the Equality Act.

[Evelefteden]

Yes which party is your MP from?

[LardiLaLardiLi]

I would write back. This answer reads like a dismissal. What party's MP you have?

[AlwaysTawnyOwl]

I'd be tempted to write back.