Response to letter to Minister for women and equalities - Lesbian Rights Alliance

[IwantToRetire]

Not sure if the original letter was ever posted on FWR but you can read it here:

Letter to Kemi Badenoch MP Minister for Women and Equalities
The Inclusion of ‘trans people’ in the Conversion Therapy Bill
lesbianalliance.org.uk/feminism/7607/

Within one week of despatching a letter to the Minister for Women and Equalities the Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, the LRA received the following reponse to our letter to Kemi Badenoch MP from the Minister of Equalties Stuart Andrew MP. Mr Andrew is also the Minister of State for Prisons and Probation
lesbianalliance.org.uk/feminism/response-to-letter-to-minister-for-women-and-equalities

Just posting for anyone who might be interested.

Seems surprisingly intelligent, professional and articulate for the current government.

Thank you for this. I didn't know this organisation existed (or have forgotten!) and the letter is spot on. The response reads like a gordian knot.

The BACP and NCS (psychotherapeutic bodies) are fully captured, unfortunately. There is a good chance that it will become almost impossible to frame one's therapy service as 'exploratory'. Witch hunts happen quite frequently on Twitter. Here's one from the last couple of weeks:
twitter.com/aclientfirst/status/1621547411771461632?s=48&t=byPLnRKxds7CkcBRzYU1hw

Not a terrible response. They do seem to be aware of the pitfalls and at least they are analysing the responses to the consultation. However the big problem remains that if any bill is passed, however strictly and tightly drafted, it will have the effect of putting gender identity on the statute books by the back door, which is the number 1 aim of the TRAs. Then we will never be free of gender ideology - it will be dragged into everything, perhaps even the EA2010.
The best result would be no bill at all, IMO.

Good reply. That at least means they have taken on board the original feedback/campaign by Sex Matters etc which caused Boris to back away from including 'trans' in the Conversion Therapy Bill.
I think it is an unneccessary bill and it is unlikely the trans activists will be happy with a watered down version. They want nothing less than affirmative care which is harmful to children.

BellaAmorosa 'However the big problem remains that if any bill is passed, however strictly and tightly drafted, it will have the effect of putting gender identity on the statute books by the back door, which is the number 1 aim of the TRAs.'
Yes although maybe a Bill drafted by Labour would be worse as it would criminalise parents etc. I agree it is problematic for 'trans child'/gender identity to exist as a concept in law as it has no basis in reality.

Sensible reply with what appears to be a decent grasp of the concerns. Doesn't nec mean the Bill won't have flaws but I'm pleasantly surprised.