Lesbian community groups and legislation

[MuthaFunka61]

Hi.

I'm a steering group member for an older lesbian community group and we've applied for funding but have been asked about our inclusivity policy towards trans women. As a relatively new membership led group this is something that hasn't yet been decided but we're aware that we'll need to have this discussion amongst the membership sooner or later but the consensus amongst the steering group is that we are for women born lesbians.

A couple of the members are looking at different sources and I offered to ask here.

So what we need is specific legislation regarding the maintenance of sex specific spaces and whether there is anything which may be of particular reference to lesbians.

Any thoughts?
Thanks

Absolutely, Michelle.

For what it's worth, I was worried to be seen to be encroaching on lesbian territory because of the aforementioned issues (my sexuality is best described as celibate for self-care, men fuck off, will deal with my habit of falling in love with women later). I was accepted as a woman-centred woman. Which, right now, is all I need.

I've said before but it bears repeating: "woman = adult human female" is the feminist fix for female dysphoria.

@MuthaFunka61
Your issue looks like exactly the sort of evidence that the consultation on the (yearly attempt) to reform the GRA should be made aware of.

Call for evidence open until 27th November:
committees.parliament.uk/work/658/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act/news/

In seeking to answer these questions from their terms of reference:
-Are there challenges in the way the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the Equality Act 2010 interact? For example, in terms of the different language and terminology used across both pieces of legislation.

-Are the provisions in the Equality Act for the provision of single-sex and separate-sex spaces and facilities in some circumstances clear and useable for service providers and service users? If not, is reform or further guidance needed?

Thanks @AI77.
I'll take a look and pass this to the SG too

A post about LGBA Cymru's twitter thread 'LGBACymru explain the problem' has been taken down for breaking the guidelines. Can someone tell me how to contact a moderator to find out what I did wrong?

I'm not sure which is the official way but you can add a message and include @ mnhq (no space!) or you can click on your own message above where is says "report" and send a message that way.

Thanks Stumbled, I'll give it a go.

Hi all.

I was asked to post an update about the funding bid.

We've been refused, but are questioning the decision for clarity before deciding whether to take this further.

Sorry to hear that. Do appeal

@PurpleHoodie, thats very kind and my first Mn flowers!

Thank you.

Sorry to hear that OP. I hope you still go ahead with the group even if you can't get the funding.

Are your members willing to pay subs?

Avoid the funding trap if you can, too many strings will mean your energy will be used up on arguing to the woke. Maybe try crowdfunding or as someone else said a subscription ...

Sorry to hear that, MuthaFunka61. I hope you can make a successful appeal, using the information posted here and now coming into the light from many sources. Especially about the false interpretation of the Equality Act that’s been spread by lobby groups.

Thanks for your replies of encouragement.

Our members pay a small yearly subscription @SapphosRock.

I'll put forward the suggestions to circumnavigate funding made here,
and in the meantime the steering group is taking advantage of the holiday period to consider our options.

We're certainly wanting clarification of why we've been refused as, as you say @thinkingaboutLangCleg, we know that the EA supports lesbians as a protected group and how the legislation is being mistakingly interpreted.

I'm a steering group member for an older lesbian community group and we've applied for funding but have been asked about our inclusivity policy towards trans women

So they base funding, on whether a group allows males into it or not?! Shocking. Why on earth would anyones immdeiate thought, especially when talking about groups for lesbians..be 'but what about the men?!'

Sorry to hear you were turned down, and good luck with any possible appeal. I hate that things seem to be sliding quickly backwards, in the name of 'progress'

Yup,pretty much @VulvaPerson.

I think they've forgotten that we're the generation who fought Section 28, created support systems during the AIDS crisis and campaigned for same sex marriage.

We may not have the same energy these days to get things done,but we're not easily dissuaded from our goal.

I think they've forgotten that we're the generation who fought Section 28, created support systems during the AIDS crisis and campaigned for same sex marriage

It's the AIDS crisis thing that really boils my piss. Lesbians had so little skin in this game and they fucking went all out to support their gay brothers in terms of shoulders to cry on, putting their own issues on the backburner, making tea, holding hands, marching in support, debunking myths and raising funds. Now lesbian women need support so many gay men are like 'who? what? why?

Chiming in with my support. Again, no skin in the game but you deserve this space. Pre-Covid I attended a lot of festivals and camp-meetings, many of which were female-only. The energy and social responses are very different when no men are present.

Sadly so YetAnother

Gay men and hetrosexual women really should be supporting lesbians now.

Morning.

The latest update is that we've received funding from the national lottery and've sent the details through to LGB Alliance.
We've also sent the info out in our monthly newsletter so a member can pick this up if they choose as we realised that it's a rabbit hole that we'd rather not go down as we preferr to continue developing the group.

Thanks for all your time and advice.

That's a bit of good news for a Friday! Congratulations. Being in all lesbian spaces when I was younger - groups and bars - was so important and so much needed at a time when it was challenging to even walk down the street holding hands.
If the National Lottery are finally complying with equality legislation then maybe this is another small sign of Stonewall law being overturned?

Good news! Well done for persisting. Let’s hope it is indeed a sign that things are changing

Brilliant news

Good to hear!

That's really good news. Well done to you and your group for persisting.

Quite a step forward (or rather regaining a place we always used to have!) to get funding for a lesbian only group!!

I’m glad to hear this.