Anyone free for a Women's Equality Party hustings in Basingstoke (Hampshire)

[NimbleScroller]

I am very concerned at the continuing erosion of women's rights, we are victim to an ideology that is happy to twist the truth and bully and belittle people. Here in Basingstoke, we have a very active Women's Equality Party that infuriatingly pushes that very same agenda and has been openly critical of those of a progressive nature who hold a Gender Critical position. Their candidate was asked to sign the Green Party's Declaration for Women's Sex Based Rights and they were openly hostile to the requester.

They are holding a hustings event on the 6th April and it would be amazing if we could push their candidate on their commitment to real equality for women and ensuring that women are not erased from society in pursuit of an ideological stance. Unfortunately sensible voices are drowned out by those who shout the loudest.

Sign up page is on eventbrite and questions can be emailed in.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-election-hustings-2024-hatch-warren-beggarwood-ward-tickets-845095793267

How is equality for women eroded by including men?

Well, have a think about it.

Their safety and protection isn't irrelevant, but it shouldn't occur by risking anyone else's safety and protection.

Most people won't ever be violent to another person. Most cars won't ever be involved in a crash. Most people go up and down stairs without much thought. It doesn't mean we don't take any measures to protect against personal violence, nor put in places rules and engineering and test driving standards to reduce the chance of crashes, nor refuse to put up bannisters/guard rails on stairways, because most people manage without. We do try to put things in place that reduce the risks for all people, not just some of them, and we tend not to take measures that will increase risks for some while only making it safer for a few.

Well bless your heart. Not what I said but clearly you’re gonna do you.

Well bless yours too.

I wish I had the luxury of being so naive.

In your view, LoveSandbanks, what is the difference between a man and a transwoman, and how does that difference affect women?

Given the phrasing and lack of engagement with any substantive points, I'm not sure about the naivety.

I know lots of men who aren't violent but they still shouldn't go into the women's changing room.

Women are not human shields. If there is a risk of violence in the male facilities (I've never seen any evidence that there is) then the solution is a third space.

it doesn’t affect equal pay

Let’s just think about this. Male heavy company (IT) with only 5% women employees, and high number of men who identify as trans (10%). Men paid more than women. Women go to court for equal pay. Company says ‘you are paid the same’ because men who identify as trans are recorded as women distorting the statistics. Women lose equal pay claim.

Do you have evidence of this? As far as I remember, trans people in the UK are far less likely to be victims of murder than the general population (From https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-how-many-trans-people-murdered-uk).

There is also a significantly higher proportion of trans-identifying males in prison who are sex offenders than the general male population (from https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/18973/pdf/). Presumably some of them would have been placed in female prisons as well.

You personally not caring about the issue does not mean it’s not a very real one for many women. Single sex spaces are simply not yours to give away.

it doesn’t affect equal pay

Alice Sullivan is excellent on this on Twitter today:

https://twitter.com/ProfAliceS/status/1501475643099422724

That report predates the census statistics too, which show males who identify as trans (transwomen) are several times more likely to be sex offenders than other males.