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Original poster

GRA reform

40 replies

Angryresister · 07/12/2020 17:54

In committee 9/12 apparently. Just looking at the witness statements published, there are many fewer than I would have expected from GC women. I suspect some may not be published by request. Has anyone noticed that their submission is not there? But thank you to those that have been published. I almost choked on some of the others, especially the one wingeing about having to pay for clothes and cosmetic surgery as well as for a certificate...

OP posts:
FeedTheSparrows · 07/12/2020 18:05

I co-wrote a submission and it has not yet been published.

I recall seeing it is up to the committee what gets published, but as you say there seems to be fewer GC ones than I would have expected inc. can't see any from well known GC women or groups.

Perhaps they received a lot on the last day and there is a backlog to upload? Although my cynical side doesn't believe that...

HecatesCatsInXmasHats · 07/12/2020 18:08

I don't think they've published all the submissions

spongedog · 07/12/2020 18:12

Mine isnt there - I uploaded on Friday 27th Nov. There hasnt been an update to the list of contributors in days. I dont know if they are required for Wed 9th Dec. I did notice there was a 1 hr time difference between time I uploaded and the time stamp from the acknowledgement.

What I am pleased about is that a lot of my submission included many of the points raised by the judges in KB's recent judgment. So I shall not be happy if my contribution is ignored or devalued as happened with the Corporation of London consultation.

JamieLeeCurtains · 07/12/2020 18:12

It should be possible to ask?

From the webpage committees.parliament.uk/work/658/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act/

"Email: [email protected]
Phone: (General enquiries) 020 7219 5113 / (Media enquiries) 020 7219 1708
Address: Committee Office, House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, SW1A 0AA"

nauticant · 07/12/2020 18:14

Mine isn't there either. It was a last minute submission.

334bu · 07/12/2020 18:15

Mine is not there ; submitted Wednesday evening.

testing987654321 · 07/12/2020 18:17

Mine not up yet. It's odd how long it's taking them.

Original poster
Angryresister · 07/12/2020 18:48

So what readers will see is not representative of our views. That’s very significant.

OP posts:
OhHolyJesus · 07/12/2020 18:49

I think they must be swamped to be honest. Mine is there, I know of others that aren't. I'm guessing that many are confidential rather than just anon so I'm not worried. Also those that were from templates or didn't meet the criteria would have been rejected.

Original poster
Angryresister · 07/12/2020 18:50

Is anything being said on Twitter about this? Sorry, don’t use it ...

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Original poster
Angryresister · 07/12/2020 18:52

Mine was in quite early but I said I wanted to be anonymous and they could publish. I noticed one from a member of the public had their name at the bottom.

OP posts:
Imnobody4 · 07/12/2020 19:23

I think they're supposed to notify you when they publish. I assume they read them all first and I suspect GC one's would be more detailed so am putting it down to amount received and workload at the moment.

anotherFOIrequester · 07/12/2020 19:40

Mine's not there. None published since Nov 25th which is very slack if they're in committee in 2 days!

Campervan69 · 07/12/2020 20:33

I'd recommend you email the following:

[email protected];
Liz Truss [email protected] [email protected] Emma Nicholson cc: [email protected]; [email protected];

Maybe ask some questions. Where is your submission? What number of submissions were judged to be sufficient? Were submissions rejected because of content? If so, on what basis? Why were such parameters not included in the public information about this call for evidence?

Seems like there is something amiss with this call for evidence.

Original poster
Angryresister · 07/12/2020 20:54

Another FOI there are some now put up on 1st Dec. But only about 20 more.

OP posts:
ConservativesForWomen · 09/12/2020 12:55

More evidence published today, including from Stonewall Hmm
Powerful piece from Manchester Women's Aid.

Don't forget first oral evidence presented today from 2.30pm live on Parliament TV.

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

HecatesCatsInXmasHats · 09/12/2020 13:12

Really strong submission from Manchester Women's Aid and quite right that they point out the lack of time available to consult with service users. I find it hard to believe that anyone could take issue with their very reasonable points borne out of experience in the sector. Totally support their call for funding in specialist facilities for transwomen.

spongedog · 13/01/2021 16:20

My submission still hasnt been published. Anyone else missing their's?

TheFleegleHasLanded · 13/01/2021 16:37

Big batch published yesterday spongedog

Someone on another thread mentioned they had emailed the committee and they had received c.2000 submissions so I think we are in for quite a wait.

thinkingaboutLangCleg · 13/01/2021 16:58

There’s a longer thread about it here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4089980-URGENT-Call-for-evidence-GRA

I posted this week:
Anyone know what's happening with the inquiry into reform of the GRA?
I've just written to [email protected] about the
evidence I submitted last November. It hasn't yet been published and I have received no further communication. I didn't ask for it to be anonymous or confidential.
Only 105 submissions have been published, most recently on 15 December, at committees.parliament.uk/work/658/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act/publications/written-evidence/?page=1.
Add message | Report | Message poster | Quote | See all

And when I heard back from the committee, I posted:

thinkingaboutLangCleg Mon 11-Jan-21 13:39:25
I've just had a very prompt reply from the Women and Equalities Committee to my email this morning:

"Unfortunately, due to receiving over 2000 submissions, we cannot say exactly when evidence will be published. It will likely be over the next few months. It’s also important to note that, whilst most evidence is published, it is at the Committee’s discretion to publish evidence."

spongedog · 13/01/2021 17:41

thank you for the update posts. I'll make sure I'm watching that thread.

2000 submissions. That will take some time to process. But interesting re Committee discretion. I am very much hoping we dont have a re-run of the City of London consultation where significant numbers of women's voices were ignored and rebutted.

TheFleegleHasLanded · 20/01/2021 14:28

More submissions published:

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

MerchedCymru · 20/01/2021 15:33

We're on p6, and LGBAlliance Cymru. Transgender Trend, Women Uniting and LGBA are on p5.

Interestingly, Liz Truss appears to have had a word with GEO. They have a new-found enthusiasm for single-sex exemptions according to their submission:
"It is also important that we protect single-sex spaces in line with the Equality Act. The law is clear that service providers are able to restrict access to single-sex spaces on the basis of biological sex if there is a clear justification."

Also very interesting to discover that the panel had 'training' from trans advocates in advance of the formal meetings, and were given an 'academic' overview of the Act by Prof Steven Whittle. That would have been appropriately evidence-led and unbiased then. Hmm

TheFleegleHasLanded · 20/01/2021 16:00

Women Uniting have helpfully put many of the important ones in a thread:
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1351921427839127552.html

MerchedCymru · 20/01/2021 16:22

Oh very helpful pixies indeed! Thanks Fleegle.