URGENT Call for evidence GRA

[TalkingtoLangClegintheDark]

Note to self: the deadline for submissions to the Women and Equalities Committee is this FRIDAY.

I know there are other threads about this but I just want to remind myself and anyone else who hasn’t got round to doing it yet that time is fast running out.

I can’t say I’m looking forward to it because from the headings they’ve chosen, it doesn’t look like they’re really interested in hearing from women, or considering any of it from women’s perspective at all. There still isn’t a real acknowledgment of the impact all these decisions have on women’s and girls’ lives; they seem to be coming at it overwhelmingly from the perspective of exclusively trans people, and it looks to me like they are looking for a way to shoo in self ID regardless of Truss’s statement.

Even the (one) bit about single sex exemptions feels to me worrying like they’re looking for reasons to get rid of them.

But I do hope I’m being paranoid here.

Anyway.

To arms, sisters! I’m looking forward to it like I look forward to doing tax returns, with a side order of existential misery, but I’m girding my loins thinking of the greater good. And I’m going to try not to post on any other threads till I’ve actually done it.

Priorities.

Any encouragement gratefully received!

Done. So much more I could have said. Hard to know what to focus on.

Done!

Well done, wims! Just under 2 hours to go - time yet!

I must admit I didn't wrote a huge amount, and drew inspiration from the LAWS reply; I thought it was important just to get something down that didn't sound mass produced tbh. Mine only came to 800 words in total but hopefully was enough to count as another GC voice

Wrote a quick personal testimony about an edge case situation at work that would have been even more fucked up than it already was if self-ID / younger age GRC had been available.

Had some success in talking to a non-GC feminist amount this situation in the past, so hopefully the safeguarding concerns are clear.

Did someone on here say the evidence was already being posted online? If so, could anyone post the link, please? I can't find it. Thanks.

Did anyone else freak out a bit about the 'you can ask to be anonymous but it's up to the committee' bit?

Mine is personal testimony to do with a friend and a family member, both of whom I'd consider to be vulnerable. Totally identifying if my name goes on it.

committees.parliament.uk/work/658/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act/publications/written-evidence/?page=1

posted upthread, thinkingabout

committees.parliament.uk/work/658/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act/publications/written-evidence/

I included my reasons for wanting my evidence to be anonymous/confidential. My evidence included intimate and sensitive personal info that I do not want shared publically - ever. I actually think this is part of the problem - the reasons women don't want to share single sex spaces often relate to experiences of rape, abuse, etc that we really just do not want to discuss publically.

And those that do discuss this history can be accused of 'weaponising their trauma' - by an MP ffs.

Transwomen afraid of being attacked - accede immediately at all costs, move them in with the women. Women afraid of being attacked by males - shut up, dear, you're being hysterical.

Anyway. Done. Next!

Phew! Did a really poor job of it but at least I said something.

I was struggling how to formulate a response Coatandhat but I was inspired by reading submissions by transtrenders saying "my trans identity must be validated" and pushed on and contributed to counter the narcissism.

My difficulty was that the Committee's call for evidence is about how the announced GRA changes are insufficient to validate trans identities.

Done.

I managed 1500 words (including the Q I was replying to). I decided not to read any of the previous evidence submissions but to answer and challenge as best I could. I had made a short list of the points I wanted to include eg regarding the harm done to data collection. I even mentioned autogynephilia at one point - do you think that was Ok! I felt it was important just to voice again the concerns.

I’ve done mine too.

@nauticant

I was struggling how to formulate a response Coatandhat but I was inspired by reading submissions by transtrenders saying "my trans identity must be validated" and pushed on and contributed to counter the narcissism.

My difficulty was that the Committee's call for evidence is about how the announced GRA changes are insufficient to validate trans identities.

Did you read the one from the person who’s just got a GRC and is actually afraid of being executed for being trans, here in the UK?

I am still boggling over that one.

I’ve done mine, that was quite hard. I hope it helps. Thanks to all the sites that had guidance. x
What’s next?!

I was going to say I am sorry I didn't know some of the evidence submitted was online. But could have ended up responded to them.

But am surprised it is only showing 51 submissions.

@ArabellaScott

posted upthread, thinkingabout

committees.parliament.uk/work/658/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act/publications/written-evidence/

I included my reasons for wanting my evidence to be anonymous/confidential. My evidence included intimate and sensitive personal info that I do not want shared publically - ever. I actually think this is part of the problem - the reasons women don't want to share single sex spaces often relate to experiences of rape, abuse, etc that we really just do not want to discuss publically.

And those that do discuss this history can be accused of 'weaponising their trauma' - by an MP ffs.

Transwomen afraid of being attacked - accede immediately at all costs, move them in with the women. Women afraid of being attacked by males - shut up, dear, you're being hysterical.

Anyway. Done. Next!

This is so true, re not wanting to disclose.

Phew... I hope we don't have to do that again again, ever!

At least I don't think any of the other upcoming ones on the to-do list look as difficult, the ones I glanced at seemed to have more specific questions to answer, which I find easier than the vaguer and more open-ended ones like this. (But if they are, please don't tell me yet!)

Phew, did it!

Well done to everyone who wrote and submitted evidence before the deadline!

I did mine. Well done everyone who did.

I wasn't aware of all this when the Maria Miller enquiry happened, but I had understood by the gra government consultation. Maybe it will be a national tradition every 2 years. God I hope not.

Maybe it will be a national tradition every 2 years

Then we shall have to start creating some traditions to surround it. I propose 'Dooking the witch', perhaps, and a sort of advent calender countdown-of-dread, a big consultation-eve party with communal stoning, vegan fondue, Woke bingo, and a collective rending of clothes and gnashing of teeth.

I've been reading the submitted evidence. It's fascinating really. All the different arguments and viewpoints. What is noticeable, but not surprising, is the emotive language used by those who want elf-id.

There was one who said that gender dysphoria should not be diagnosed as part of the process but that gender dysphoria should be described as gender euphoria anyway.

That got me thinking about what gender euphoria actually is and then I went down an online rabbit hole.

Again, it boiled down (for TW) to shaving body hair, wearing feminine clothes, getting wolf whistled etc., you know, the usual stereotypical tropes. I'm glad that these things make TW euphoric but it still doesn't mean TWAW.

I wrote a submission and got it in on Thurs evening - I think that was before the deadline. Not really sure whether it's acceptable, but it will at least add my voice to others.