Sex Matters - urgent action - email your MP! Re Scotgov's gender self ID

[ArabellaScott]

'The UK Government has to decide what to do about Scotland’s Gender Recognition Bill by 19th January. Email your MP today!

The Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill will effectively bring sex self-declaration into UK law, backed up by criminal penalties against “disclosure” of someone’s actual sex, even where it is obvious. This will have significant impacts across the UK including on the operation of the Equality Act and on the fundamental human right of freedom of expression.

The UK Government can take action to challenge this using the Scotland Act, and Alister Jack, the Secretary of State for Scotland, has indicated that he is considering all options. Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for International Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities, has also announced that the government plans to update the list of countries which are included within the GRA’s overseas track so that only countries which have similar criteria to the UK are included.'

sex-matters.org/take-action/email-your-mp-say-no-to-gender-self-id-by-the-back-door/

Takes less than ten seconds (depending on your typing speed and if you know your MP's name!)

If you don't know your MP use this tool:

www.theyworkforyou.com/

Given the supportive responses from Cons MPs I’m inclined to believe The Times article which says the Gov is getting ready to oppose it. Think they are gathering constituent concerns to back up their move as it’s going to cause unholy hell with the SNP.

I did it, making it more personal, Conservative MP.

Here's the response:

"Thank you for your email, and I hope you had a restful Christmas and New Year.

I appreciate the concerns that some people have raised over this Bill in Scotland, and the implications it may have for wider society. I understand that the UK Government has said that in order to understand the potential impact of the Bill on the rights of people across the UK, it will continue to monitor its progress. I am aware that the UK Government has made no decision on any potential action at this time.

I am determined that everyone in the UK should be free to live their lives and fulfil their potential regardless of their sex, gender identity, race or disability. This is a complex area to reform and I do believe that the UK Government is getting the balance right.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me, and as always, if there is ever anything I can do to help as your local MP, please do not hesitate to get in touch."

It doesn't fill me with confidence regarding his stance on this issue.

I agree @FannyCann , this kind of response usually means I am pro ‘enabling men who would like to live as if they were women to be free to live their lives and fulfil their potential, regardless of how this impacts the protected characteristics of sex, religion or disability’ - yours sincerely, Heavily Stonewalled MP

Haha. Perfectly summarised @YouSetTheTone
I ought to send that to him really. 😉

'regardless of their sex, gender identity, race or disability. This is a complex area to reform and I do believe that the UK Government is getting the balance right.'
There is some hope in that it actually mentions 'sex' separately from 'gender identity' and that it acknowledges complexity and in that it states that the UK Government (which stopped self id) has the balance between the overlapping rights correct.
Ir is a good fudge of an answer lol.

I've done it. Unfortunately my MP is SNP 🤮 so unlikely to have any effect but it took 10 seconds so why not. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Well done #SexMatters

#WeBackAlisterJack

Meeting with @DavidLloyd in York today. Will be asking if my 11 and 13 year daughters should expect to see a naked, adult man's penis in their changing rooms.

Let us know how you get on @HardyEM 😁

Got a fancy letter back today, from the House of Commons, from my MP (seriously high quality paper).

She acknowledges I have concerns, but the Scottish GRA does not pose any issues to the EA, and she feels that trans people need more rights and protections (paraphrasing). We'll just have to disagree.

Didn't even expect an answer, but it is exactly the answer I would have expected. She's renowned for saying that trans people are the most oppressed/marginalised. She's also part of a totally captured party.

Pity.

I can copy out the letter in full, or photo is, if anyone fancies having a look?

Well here's my response from my MP, conservative, who did vote aye on the section 35 thing the other day which considering this was his reply to the please stop Nicola's Bill email i sent him rather surprised me.

You'll note no mention of Scotland but all about the GRA which I'd mentioned in the same email.

I am tempted to reply asking why he felt the urge to inform me that he was part of the many letters+ group. He's G by the way, but what has that got to do with what I Asked him. I didn't feel the need to inform him of my sexuality when i wrote to him. Whilst ignoring what i had actually asked him about.

My MP Julian Sturdy's reply was spot on. He fully supports Section 35 in order to safeguard women and girls.