First trans peer a step closer as hereditary candidate claims seat

[ChristinaXYZ]

Interesting article in the Telegraph

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/05/20/first-trans-peer-step-closer-hereditary-candidate-claims-seat/

"Matilda Simon will contest the next by-election for one of the upper chamber’s 92 hereditary seats...

"...The House of Lords could shortly welcome its first trans peer and only female hereditary member.

Matilda Simon was this week given permission to contest the next by-election for one of the upper chamber’s remaining 92 hereditary seats.

If she wins, she will doubtless become the envy of peers’ daughters across the country, because the vast majority of titles may only be passed to a male heir.

However, because of a legal loophole, the candidate, born Matthew Simon in 1955, has inherited and retains the Barony of Wythenshawe, despite being in all other legal respects a woman...

"...Lady Simon winning a future by-election - which will take place upon the death or retirement of a hereditary member - would be likely to reignite the debate over the persistence of primogeniture among the aristocracy.

In 2013, in the aftermath of the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Parliament passed a law to allow a first born child to inherit the throne, but this principle only applies to the Royal Family, not the peerage.

In recent years, Lord Balfour spoke of his anger that his Earldom would pass to his younger brother upon his death, rather than any of his daughters.
Indeed, he joked that a cunning ruse to ensure one of them succeeds would be if they transitioned to become a man.
However, according to a source close to the current process, that would not work, as the case of Lady Simon proves....

"...And in what the source close to the process described as an “irony”, she [Matilda Simon] has a sister born two years earlier.

“If the title had been inheritable by a woman, it would have gone to Margaret, the older sister, rather than the younger sister,” he said..."

Read the full article on the Telegraph website.

So that Y chromosome was pretty important..

Interesting how peerages are exempt from equality legislation, isn't it. I can't think of another context where it would be legal to discriminate against one sex like that.

Also why the fuck, when even the royal family has ditched primogeniture is the aristocracy continuing with it and wtf are hereditary peers still in the Lords. So many things to be cross about I don’t know where to start.

I use this in an example in lessons on gender discrimination. Peerage and priesthood.

I was reading the other day about tw complaining (duh!) about being excluded from the Suffragette and Suffragists. Bloody hell, thought I, they'd have had the vote.

This is possibly completely irrelevant to this thread, but I had to put it somewhere.

*The House of Lords could shortly welcome its first trans peer and only female hereditary

If she wins, she will doubtless become the envy of peers’ daughters across the country, because the vast majority of titles may only be passed to a male heir.*

Don't get this? Born male so still male and not a female hereditary, and therefore still passing to a male hereditary?

"..

Man retains, enjoys and exercises his exclusively male born privilege while wanting everyone to treat him like a woman.

Men just want all the good stuff, no?

So much wrong with that. Am quietly fuming.

The House of Lords could shortly welcome its first trans peer and only female hereditary member.

Except it won't be the first female hereditary member as there is no such thing. The very fact that you have to be male to have a hereditary title proves this.

I'm rather fascinated that Matilda Simon hasn't renounced her title given that she is a woman and it's the height of womanhood to not inherit a title.

'Female'. No.

Don't get this? Born male so still male and not a female hereditary, and therefore still passing to a male hereditary?

Yes, exactly that. The GRA has a specific exemption for peerages. This transwoman has an older sister but inherits because she's male.

Male privilege.

Odd that Matilda should want to claim this title as it stresses that they are male . If Matilda feels that they are a woman why would they be pursuing a title to which a biological woman would not be entitled?

Stunning.

The GRA has a specific exemption for peerages

Cannot fund any suitable words for this.

Find!

@QuitMitheringMe Spot on!

When they say 'fraudulent self ID/GRA applications can be prosecuted', what evidence will they accept of a fraudulent application? Has anyone been prosecuted for fraud?

'Irony' is putting it mildly, isn't it?

I know I've said this before, but this really is called misogyny, isn't it.

Unbelievable. Handy that there's an older sister too. As if the point could be made any more clearly.

Bet older sis is thrilled!

So I have to be supported by a male rape counsellor, be imprisoned with a man, share my refuge, and facilities with men, compete against men in my women's sport, ignore that sex makes any difference, unless their is a title to inherit?

This ideology is very supportive of male supremacy. Trans men are in the news for giving birth, pretty much, while trans women are in the news for taking leadership in women's organisations, university gender studies departments, and getting accolades for being the 'first' woman ever to achieve something (Rachel Levine, appointed by president Biden, is the 'first' four star general appointed from the group that now is seen as women though she is a trans woman, and the 'winningest' woman on a US quiz show is also a trans woman) or winning over women in sports (surfing, skateboarding, weight lifting, swimming, cycling) and on shortlists.

Indeed, from some angles this does look like The Patriarchy Strikes Back.

I bet the older sister doesn’t feel like she has a real female new sister since said new sister still inherits the family estate.

So he expects to be treated as a woman and disregard his malehood in all aspects of life, except when said malehood allows him unfettered access to power and influence?