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.