Campaign in Scotland

[Cismyfatarse]

Please, if you live in Scotland, get the message to your MSPs.

forwomenscotland.eaction.org.uk/MSP

Follow the link and it is all very easy. If you can share far and wide, that would be great.

Done, thanks for this!

Anyone heard from the Lib Dem leader? He is on my list…..

Thanks for the link. I'll do this later.

@dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby

Scottish Labour said: 'Thank you for your email. Please accept this automated response as confirmation that your email has been received.'

Fuller reply has had some consideration inserted I feel but still quotes the 'suicide statistic': Thank you for contacting me about your concerns regarding reform of the Gender Recognition Act.

I agree that legislation should consider the needs of women and girls but do not believe reform to the Gender Recognition Act necessarily threatens these rights.

I am a member of the Scottish Labour Party because Labour is the party of equality, committed to achieving a world free from all forms of bigotry and discrimination.

Trans people are one of the most discriminated groups in society – two in five young trans people have attempted suicide. It’s within this context that reform to the Gender Recognition Act is needed because the current process for obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate can be lengthy and traumatic for individuals who wish to change their legally recorded gender.

That’s why Labour would work with people to update the Gender Recognition Act to enable a process for gender self-identification while also continuing to support the implementation of the Equality Act, including the single sex exemption which allows the provision of women only spaces. This law rightly assumes the inclusion of trans women, except in specific circumstances.

Thank you for raising your concerns with me about this very important matter. I hope this clarifies my position on this issue.'

It was of course the UK Labour Government in 2004 which started this off with the 'Gender Recognition Act'.....what is now proposed in Scotland is part of the process described in Helen Joyce's book 'Trans' i.e. you start off with medical oversight and then campaign to drop it and hey presto women's boundaries are infringed and it's totally legal.

Conservative response (only one)
I share your concerns as do my Scottish Conservative colleagues which is why we will not be supporting the current proposals. As you say, it is wrong to conflate sex and gender and there are serious issues raised about the rights of women when it comes to the use of single sex spaces.

As you will know, this issue has caused a very great deal of controversy and I am sure it will lead to robust exchanges in parliament when the time comes. In any contribution I make I will also be focussing on how the potential legislation would detrimentally children.

They've got my vote now!

The Tories are definitely getting my vote. At least the Labour response is a bit more thoughtful but WTAF about that suicide stat. I would challenge them on that -source?

The Greens response is so dismissive and patronising. I am still angry and am going to calm down before I respond. . I wonder what the press would make of her response….

Really worth replying challenging some of the more egregious nonsense.

Obviously, Lorna, Maggie, Paddy & co won't budge, but worth showing them that they are not opposed by idiots (all that "misinformation" rubbish). Something may permeate some of the Lab lot who have probably not thought too deeply about this!

@Viewfromtheisland

Anyone heard from the Lib Dem leader? He is on my list…..

No, he's on my list too but nothing.

From Katy Clark

The rest so far are, "we are too busy/go away etc etc"

dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby I got the same response from my labour msp (she/her......). I'm going to go back and challenge the suicide stats, I'm getting really hacked off with the way that gets thrown around. I do think the response is hedging a bit though, it does at least acknowledge excluding transwomen from single sex spaces in some circumstances so maybe there's something there, or at least an acknowledgement that someone has actually looked at the Equality Act.

I've had the awful Lorna Slater reply too. I actually found it really upsetting, and I'd thought I was hardened to all this by now. I think it was her sanctimony that got to me.

Is it worth replying? I know she's not going to change her mind, she's in too deep.

Angus Robertson MSP has responded and flat out denied there is any conflict between trans rights and women's rights

*Thank you for your e-mail of November 10th.

It is a source of considerable regret that the issue of gender recognition reform has become so polarised and plagued with misinformation. The gender recognition reform proposals simplify the process of obtaining a gender recognition certificate for trans people. This has no legal or practical implications for the established rules around access to single-sex spaces.

For further information, please see the Scottish Government’s consultation analysis which addresses the concerns you raise.

Yours sincerely,

Angus

Angus Robertson MSP
Edinburgh Central*

Basically go away and don't bother your pretty little head dear!

"On behalf of Gillian Mackay MSP, and the Scottish Green Party, I would like to wholeheartedly reiterate our support for the rights of trans people including that of self-identification. Trans rights and women’s rights are not in conflict, as all humans have the same human rights. The human rights of minority groups should not be open to debate and interpretation, they should be accepted."

Not even an attempt to pretend they are interested in women.

What a shower of S::t:es!!!

Greens response is obnoxious

Thanks for the link I'll do this later.

Got this below. Nowt from slater so far just an automatic

Thank you for contacting me. This is an automated response to let you know that your email has been received.

There is a strict Parliamentary protocol which states that an MSP may only deal with enquiries and cases on behalf of their own constituents. Please ensure that included in your e-mail is your name, full postal address, including postcode. We require this information in order to deal with your email.

Please note that I am receiving an unprecedented volume of correspondence presently. My office and I will aim to respond to you as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your patience and please bear with us.

Please stay safe and follow the Government’s guidance.

Best wishes
Foysol Choudhury MSP
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Lothian Region (Labour)

From sue. Don’t even know who sue is actually 🤦‍♀️

Sue Webber MSP

Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Lothian Region

Twitter: @SueJWebber

Facebook: @SueWebberMSPLothian

Website: suewebber.uk

Thank you for your email.

I am currently receiving very large numbers of emails and letters each day. I will try to reply to you as quickly as possible.

Please note that all communications, including emails, are dealt with in the order in which they are received.

If you are one of my constituents, please ensure you have included your full name and address.

If you haven’t, please resend your email with this information as Parliamentary convention prevents regional MSPs dealing with enquiries from out with their region.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Just googled. A Tory wonder what she will say

I am wondering if there is about to be an uptick in support for Scottish Tories.

I wanted to say that even if you only get an auto respond, or a crap response, it's still so important to contact MSPs so that they know that women care, that women are aware, and that we are not happy to let them wave away our rights.

It takes less than 10 seconds to send an email via that form, if you are happy to use the existing text.

Don't let them Jess Phillips on this. Make sure they know that this is an issue that people care about.

My plan is to send hard copy letters to the ones I got an OOO reply from if I have heard back from them in a week.

Yeah arabella let them know we are here

I added a few bits to the letter

Well that was super easy to do - took 2 seconds will see what comes back .....

@Lucienandjean

I've had the awful Lorna Slater reply too. I actually found it really upsetting, and I'd thought I was hardened to all this by now. I think it was her sanctimony that got to me.

Is it worth replying? I know she's not going to change her mind, she's in too deep.

I think Lorna Slater has well and truly swallowed the Kool Aid, so there's probably no point in replying - although it might be worth it just to annoy her.

The reply upset me too, knowing there are women who just give out the blanket statement of "be kind" etc. Without any debate, without any thought, without the desire to engage in communication.
They've swallowed the propaganda hook, line and sinker.
She's probably a lost cause.
Its scary that she's in a position of 'power'.