The SRA seems to have seen the light!

[SigrunGard]

Hi - long time lurker definitely radicalised by this forum 😁

Not posted before but felt this was worth highlighting. Every 2 years the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority require all solicitor’s firms to ask their to complete a Diversity Questionnaire, and report back their diversity data.

In 2019, the questions were

• what gender do you identify with?
• do you consider your gender identity to be different from your registered sex at birth

The new questions this year are:

• What is your sex? (Options of male, female, other preferred description , prefer not to say)
• is the gender you identify with the same as your sex at birth?

Small changes I know but important! Apparently the changes have been specifically made as a result of “considering the research undertaken by the ONS in preparation for the 2021 census and listening to a range of voices on the matter”

Push......

Sex : "other preferred description"
Eh? Humans are male or female there are no other sexes. Two gametes two sexes that's our lot.

If we are adhering to the strictly sex as in biological, then shouldn't it be Male, Female, Intersex. The last may be a tiny group of people but better they are recognised as part of the biological reality of sex than being something that the rainbow umbrella can appropriate (ie increase their funding screen).

@stumbledin- as I understand it, intersex people are still male or female. What they have is differences in sex development ( which is why it’s often known as DSD rather than intersex)

@Spero- absolutely. There are 5 possible responses to the sexuality question ( which includes “prefer not to say” and “other description”)

*@stumbledin- as I understand it, intersex people are still male or female. What they have is differences in sex development ( which is why it’s often known as DSD rather than intersex)

Most people with DSDs have completely conventional XX or XY genotypes. The DSD is usually caused by abnormalities in hormone production/response.

A minority of people with DSDs are not XX or XY. However, they are not on some spectrum between the two. The best way of thinking of this type of DSD is probably as a male or female with atypical chromosomes.

as I understand it, intersex people are still male or female. - yes I know, but for some the lived reality is different. And I am basing this on what intersex (as opposed to trans / queer) campaigners say. ie that the simple M/F does not acknowledge them.

It acknowledges a biological reality that frames the life of those who live with this.

As opposed to some sort of identification system.

And if they are to be named for data purposed it should be in the catergory of sex - not the rainbow identity coalition - in the same way that LGB is not part of it it either.

Thanks to Fair Play For Women and all the people who gave little sums to enable FPFW to take the ONS to court. Just another couple of heaves with the SRA & BSB will see them getting things right. Maybe.

Just got an email from the BSB - they have taken legal advice and they are junking the 'I prefer a different term' and reverting to 'male, female and prefer not to say'.

Anyone who has contacts with the SRA might want to let them know. Seems pretty clear that this current position is unlawful.

😁 that sounds like a step in the right direction Spero

@Spero- that’s great. Unfortunately I have no contacts at the SRA but I might just try an email anyway.