Update the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex

[Sidaway]

There's an active petition you can sign to this effect, if you're so inclined.

I'm not sure if we're allowed to link to it directly? Anyway, if you enter this thread's title into Google, it should come up.

The proposal is to clarify that a Gender Recognition Certificate does not change a person's sex for the purpose of the Equality Act 2010.

There is no legal problem with defining sex in law. It is either (A) biological sex or else it can be (B) including sex as modified by a Gender Recognition Certificate.

This was made clear in Parliament this year

questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-05-23/hcws47

This proposal is to make clear that for the purpose of the Equality Act it is option A

What is the point of this?

To argue that 'biologically female' is impossible to identify in law in a way that successfully allows them to be a sex class free of biological males?

Thank you for that helpful answer. When you say there is no legal problem with defining sex in law, and that one option is biological sex, I thought that currently all references to sex in legislation were to legal sex, and there is no concept of ‘biological sex’? So I think you are arguing that for the purposes of the EA a person’s sex should be their legal sex, ie sex recorded on their birth certificate, but disregarding any GRC?

If you want to know what a female and a male are…. Look at your mum
and your dad. The one who pushed you out of her body is the female, the one who provided the sperm is the male. I assume you got a U in biology @aseriesofstillimages

So how long before the first mention of VSD? Im guessing 5 posts…

I’m not sure it would work for the EA to say “woman” means “your mum”….

You’re also making a lot of assumptions there about my family, and even that I wasn’t born by c-section.

So your dad gave birth to you? Are you a medical miracle? Surprised that want in all the papers!!!

If I had two mums the fact that only one of them gave birth to me (whether by ‘pushing me out’ or otherwise) wouldn’t make the other one any less my mum.

Thanks for keeping the thread bumped @aseriesofstillimages !

😁

No problem. I think it’s an important discussion. Although so far Maya is the only person to actually engage with my question in a sensible way.

Bump!

28000 already!

I think Maya has answered the gotcha question perfectly clearly.

Let’s keep this going 💪🏼

I'm number 28,329

So many ordinary people just know nothing about sex and gender and how it is all messed up. Keep sharing and enlightening people!

Bump!

Just taken the leap and shared.

Signed. My area is dark orange (although only 85 signatures). But is usually quite woke so pleased about that!

My area is one of the Edinburghz. I want the party.

if you want that party you have better start sharing the petition.

I definitely agree with this. It rarely comes up in conversation with friends & I think people just aren't aware.

I shared the link on Facebook with @MForstater wording, it will be interesting to eee what (if any!) engagement I get.

I feel sure most people have no idea of gender meaning social stereotypes, mores and appearance, or gender identity as separate from a person’s sex. They think it means sex as in the U.S, euphemism for sex (male female biology).

So they may not know what this petition is about, or how conflating sex and gender causes ambiguity Re the Equalities Act 2010 protected characteristic of *Sex.- whether. the protected characteristic Sex^ refers to sex, or to gender identity?

(Even though there is already the other, separate, Equalities Act protected characteristic of Gender reassignment”, And Sexual orientation^)

Update the Equality Act to make clear the characteristic “sex” is biological sex

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/623243