GRA debate in Scot Parl set for Feb

[ArabellaScott]

I will now attempt a link to Holyrood magazine:

holyrood

'The Scottish Government’s controversial Gender Recognition Act Reform bill is to be published in a matter of weeks, Holyrood understands.

MSPs have been told to expect the proposals on February 24, with a full timetable for debate to follow shortly.

Changing the legislation “at the earliest opportunity” was a key part of the SNP’s manifesto at last year’s election, with the party promising to address concerns from feminist campaign groups and politicians “through informed and respectful discussion.”'

Brace yourselves, everyone.

Yes, I agree, @ArabellaScott

If it is not a medical issue it does not require medicalisation. Which should please Shona Robison, she can maybe claim back some of the 9 million Maree Todd has just committed to improving trans health care services.

Quite, @BuffysBigSister.

If I was trans I'd be worried about this. The implications for people who have transitioned or who are on waiting lists are pretty obvious.

GPs are not happy with the lack of guidance or guidelines to help them manage the spike in patients who present with gender issues. All they can do is refer to GIDS, which has a 3 year waiting list, which creates a frustrated and upset patient for the GP to manage, who usually starts self medicating illegally and then asking for bridging hormones on a harm minimisation basis.

My focus is on the women, but I wonder whether there is mileage in a increasing the pressure on the government to think about this legislation properly. Highlighting to the trans community what Shona Robison has said, and what that might mean for their services could encourage them to ask sensible questions?

I requested an appointment with my MSP to discuss my concerns. Waited ages for a reply and what date do I have? 25/02, the day after this is to be brought before Parliament. That date is not a coincidence.

It would seem that their stance is that the Equalities Act allows for single space provisions and up to each individual organisation etc to make their own rules. Why have a law if you're not going to enforce it.

I'm furious. Many women are furious. I've joined a group. I'm ready to fight back.

@NonnyMouse1337. Thank you for the twitter links. I’m not on twitter or Facebook or any of the other platforms. I’ve done a quick Google search on Scottish Feminist network but can’t find a way to contact them which doesn’t involve those platforms. Do you know where I could find more info on the Argyll group?

Hi @SolitaryBee I will send you a direct message.

Thanks Nonny.

@NonnyMouse1337 don't want to bother you but would you mind also giving me info via pm? I'm not on Twitter and the only Scottish Feminist Network group I can find on Facebook doesn't seem to fit.

@NonnyMouse1337 could you tell me where I can find out about the Perth group please? I'm not on Twitter.

@TeaForTheTillerMan

You can’t blame the SNP for everything, there are five parties with seats in the Scottish Parliament, four of them are of the progressive left and every single progressive left wing party has been absolutely clear that they support reforming the GRA to include self ID. Only the Tories seem to have reservations. The reservations on the progressive liberal left side of politics appear to be the exceptions rather than the rule.

People voted for these progressive parties (women and young people apparently voted disproportionately for them while older men were more likely to vote conservative) and the conservatives lost the Scottish elections, they did not get enough votes to form a government. If people didn’t want reform of the GRA then they could have voted conservative but they simply choose not to.

Elections have consequences and people will get what the majority voted for. After self ID is delivered I’m sure the majority will re-elect the parties that delivered it again.

I think progressive social change often tends to happen in Scotland before it does in England, but I think when England and the U.K. elect a left of centre government in Westminster they will follow Scotland’s lead and implement very similar policies in England too.

I’ve noticed lots of people here are very negative towards the Tory Party but if they are voting for parties doing these policies I can’t understand why they complain so much. I understand people might feel the need to spoil their votes but honestly I can’t see much influence coming from throwing one’s vote away.

I agree 100%.

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria

Thanks for that thread, *@BuffysBigSister*

I'm interested in the second tweet - Shona Robison said to the women's group that trans is no longer considered a medical issue?

Who decided that being trans is no longer a medical issue?

Does that have implications for the provision of services to this population?

Because, I don't think they'll stand for that.

It's very confusing isn't it. On the one hand trans activists have pushed for the demedicalisation of the trans experience. They don't want to be medically gate kept and they don't want it to be a health condition for the purpose of the GRA and demand that no medical diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria is required (because you don't need to be dysphoric to be trans).

On the other hand Trans activists want to be provided with all medications and surgeries on the NHS as "life saving" health care. They want all of this expensive treatment to to be available without any diagnosis necessary which would make it a unique condition in that respect.

Meanwhile we have TRA Kat Bristow on Twitter today complaining that Gender GP are attempting to make the business into a "lifestyle brand" rather than a "healthcare service" and it was pretty clear that was the case when HW gave her evidence at tribunal.

I wonder if trans activists are starting to realise that they can't have it both ways and demedicalisation could lead to health care services being cut to all but the most dysphoric cases.

Meanwhile we have TRA Kat Bristow on Twitter today complaining that Gender GP are attempting to make the business into a "lifestyle brand" rather than a "healthcare service" and it was pretty clear that was the case when HW gave her evidence at tribunal.

I wonder if trans activists are starting to realise that they can't have it both ways and demedicalisation could lead to health care services being cut to all but the most dysphoric cases.

Awwww.... Bless.... Imagine that.... Trans activists aggressively insisting there's no underlying mental health condition to be trans yet they want ALL the medical and surgical treatments (OR ELSE!!!). Which makes it nothing more than a lifestyle choice. And now that's a problem?

They can have the world's smallest violin from me. 🎻

Kat Bristow on Twitter today complaining that Gender GP are attempting to make the business into a "lifestyle brand" rather than a "healthcare service"

It's not a medical condition; there is no need for a 'healthcare service'. Gender GP are quite correct in this instance - plastic surgery or hormone therapy are lifestyle choices.

@Signalbox, that's very insightful of Kat.

Perhaps I was a bit quick to blurt out "what the fuck?" to her announcement on twitter that she was considering training to be a counsellor. I've spent a few weeks hoping it was a typo and we'd just land up with Kat in local councils.

Yes! So glad there are more women joining groups. I hope I get to meet you all some where. My group is lovely. We meet for coffee and cake, have a group chat where we brain storm stuff and those who feel more able get involved in more proactive stuff. You only commit to what you feel comfortable to do. I highly recommend joining in. So far it's been very rewarding and I've made good friends 😊

Nicola will get what she wants. The Scots voted the SNP in. It’s so sad but I struggle to see what can be done now. She is shutting down women. I am hoping the rest of the country are now waking up and won’t vote for this in the rest of the U.K.

@MiladyBerserko

I would suggest a protest on that day, but oops, the Scottish government banned protests outside the Scottish parliament.

Admirable democracy in action up here. Vote for independence to get more of the same.

That won’t stop us... 💚🤍💜

I've written to all my MSPs (a version of the standard letter on the For women Scotland website) apart from the Labour ones. I'm a Labour Party member so I've asked to meet with them. It's MSPs who'll be voting on this, so they need to hear from as many constituents as possible.

As I understand it, 24th February is the date the Bill is published, not the date it's debated. @Acatcalledprince I think it's good that you're not meeting your MSP until the 25th, because then you'll both have seen what's actually in the bill. At the moment the only people who know its detailed content are the ministers and civil servants involved in drafting it, and the LGBT+ groups who've been consulted all the way along and no doubt have their campaigns in place. I think we can have a pretty good informed guess at what's going to be in it, but we're still at a disadvantage through not being in the cosy inner circle.

I've asked to meet with my Labour MSPs asap after the bill is published, and presumably we'll also be given timetable for discussions at the same time. We have to be ready to act fast after that.