Scottish women! Please write to your MSPs!

[ArabellaScott]

Info and templates from For Women Scotland on the proposed introduction of self ID in Scotland:

forwomen.scot/08/10/2022/gender-recognition-reform-bill-stage-1-action/

To find your MSPs:

www.writetothem.com/

Please spread the word!

The replies I received from my SNP MSP's have strengthened my resolve that I will never, ever vote SNP (or Greens) again.

100% Waitwhat.

Women have been told not yo speak about single sex spaces at an event organized by Zero Tolerance in Edinburgh today to spare the blushes of one of the speakers, Nicola Sturgeon! It’s in the Times.

Received a reply today:

Gender Recognition Reform Bill

Thank you for contacting me regarding the SNP Government’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill.

The Scottish Conservatives do not have a collective opinion on the Governments Gender Recognition Reform bill.
My colleagues and I voted as individuals in this instance.

Having read both the proposed bill and the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Stage One Report, I have concluded that I will oppose the reforms at Stage One for the following 3 reasons.

I oppose the removal of the requirement for a medical diagnosis to legally change an individual’s gender.
Without a medical diagnosis, it is difficult to understand what objective standard can be used to assess people’s needs. Removing any kind of standards in the process increases the likelihood of a person not receiving the correct help and opens it up to the possibility of abuse. Additionally, to de-medicalise the process would deprive a most vulnerable group that is disproportionately affected by suicidality of much needed contact with health professionals.

I oppose the lowering of the legal age at which an individual can legally change their gender.
There are a number of studies that show that cognitive maturity isn’t reached until the around the age of 25, meaning that at the age of 16, the concept of one’s identity can still be in flux during the teenage years. For this reason, I believe that to encourage young people to make a decision of this magnitude before they have reached maturity is irresponsible.

I am concerned by the effect the legislation will have on single sex areas and the safety and comfort of women.
Blurring the lines when it comes to single sex areas provides a level of uncertainty to women. Many who have experienced trauma at the hands of men are uncomfortable with the idea of sharing bathrooms and changing rooms with biological males. Additionally, women from particular faith groups could be excluded from public life and who may no longer go to the swimming pool, the gym or the library as they cannot be confident that accessing changing rooms or toilets are single-sex spaces. The bill also raises questions around prisons, specifically the dangers of people using Gender Recognition Certificates for nefarious purposes. Safety of all inmates must be prioritised. Finally, I am concerned about the effect on sport and the ability for someone with a GRC to compete in women’s sport. Ensuring that women and girls have access to sport that is fair and safe must be a priority.

I therefore voted against this bill on Thursday 27 October 2022.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me on this issue.

Kind regards,

Jeremy R Balfour MSP

There's a petition just launched for Repeal The GRA. If that gets enough interest it could help to further encourage the MSP's to rethink what they're doing.

1 response so far. Murdo Fraser understanding the issues and voting against.

this legislation progresses through Parliament. It is crucial that no individual or organisation should feel excluded from this process, regardless of their views.

As I understand, these concerns relate to the relationship between the Equality Act 2010 and this new legislation and the lack of clarity that the bill provides in its current form. It is essential that any improvements made to the process for transgender people do not come at the expense of women’s rights and safety. This Bill puts vulnerable individuals and young people at risk, while undermining hard-won protections for women and girls. The SNP Government should redraft this Bill so that it does not end up doing more harm than good.

The Scottish Conservatives have a free vote on this issue, but the great majority of our MSP, myself included, voted against the Bill at Stage 1. We submitted over 100 amendments to the Bill for Stage 2 (all sadly defeated). The Bill will now move to Stage 3.

Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me on this issue.

Kind regards,
Murdo

Me too. Never voted SNP but have voted Green in the past.

Same. I've always been SNP/Green.

Spoiling my ballot until parties wake tf up.

twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1597668739222474753

Just had to share this wonderful woman's brave and pithy speech.

This was my reply from Labour's Katy Clark.

Thank you for contacting me about the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill which is currently going through Parliament. As you may be aware, this Bill passed the Stage 1 vote on 27 October following a debate on the general principles of the Bill. Amendments to this Bill are now being considered. The Committee has spent two days considering amendments which have been put down by MSPs. The Bill will then return to the full Chamber where all MSPs will get the opportunity to vote on further amendments. This is normal parliamentary practise.

Many of the concerns being raised about this Bill, its causes and consequences, relate to Scottish Government policy rather than the legislative framework. As a Labour MP in 2010 I voted for the Equality Act in 2010 which brought together various equalities legislation and provided protection for single-sex spaces and continue to believe this Act provides the correct framework. The Bill, now being considered, does not change the definition of sex but alters already existing gender recognition laws.

The proposals the Scottish Parliament are currently considering are a modernisation of gender recognition laws. The legislation that relates to gender and equalities is reserved. In itself, this Bill does not change the definition of sex but alters already existing gender recognition laws. I have included a link to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s guide on the Equality Act sex and gender reassignment provisions. This guide provides more information on the way the Equality Act protects single-sex spaces through exemptions. Please see here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/separate-and-single-sex-service-providers-guide-equality-act-sex-and-gender  

I will continue to listen very closely to this debate.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch again about this or any other matter.

With best wishes,

Katy

Katy Clark MSP

Hope you don't mind but I've linked that petition here:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/petitions_noticeboard/4688427-repeal-the-gra

Shame on every woman who sat and clapped when this brave woman was closed down. Complicit.

Not at all, that's great!

It's great they all clapped when the mic woman took over? I find it shameful a room full of people did not 'hear hear' or support the woman speaking up for women. They sat grimacing and looking deeply uncomfortable and were mightily relieved when she was shut down.

I think Erin was thanking the poster who added a link to the petition and it cross posted with your post.

Sorry, Quinnloveseris not Erin!

now we are so dangerously close to the passing of the Bill, I'd suggest we all put a poster in the window saying something like "defend the safety and dignity and privacy of all- ban the GDA bill."

Ah sorry, thanks!

Sorry, I'm new and thought I was responding to the person who quoted me. I'd clicked on 'add message' without realising I needed to use the quote function.

No response from my MSP Annabelle Ewing!
Can we gather at Scot Parl to protest?

This response from Neale Hanvey's office

With your permission, I would like to forward your email on directly to Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Shona Robison MSP ([email protected])

The more people who express their concerns about the GRA Bill direct to Scottish Government minister the better.

Please keep writing and emailing them. They can’t ever say “ no one told us” if you keep on telling them. This appalling bill is just the start up here, it will be all over the UK soon.

I’ve only had one response. The others didn’t bother to reply. Speaks volumes.

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