Six years ago the Fawcett Society had an event with a group of female Parliamentarians to talk about progressing towards 50:50 representation of the sexes in Parliament. MNer @Anlaf was there and posted a transcript of the livestream afterwards. Several names we can add to the list as a result:
Audience member
Hello, I’m , my question is about the all women shortlists. Most of the all women shortlists are open to anyone who identifies as a woman. So in theory, taking this to this ultimate theorisable end, all women shortlists could be composed of all transwomen, which means parliament could see 50% male representatives, MPs and 50% transwomen MPs. Would everyone be happy with that as fair representation?
Baroness Sal Brinton, LibDems:
...On the issue about would I be happy with 50% transwomen. Absolutely. A transwoman is a woman. And in my party [lib dems] the issue about identification has been self-identification, it is not as has been whispered by some, something you can change your mind and do ten minutes beforehand [much nodding from Alison Thewliss of SNP] we all know who our transwomen are and we support them
Amelia Womack (Greens):on the point of transwomen – I absolutely believe that transwomen are women as well, and if we begin our movement as women with eliminating and trying to sideline women as part of the movement then I don’t understand how we can enforce the systems that we ourselves have been victim to for so long on another group. Because when I work with trans women, when we work with women on an intersectional basis , we all have different experiences of what it is to be a women – a woman, and transwomen are just one section of the different experiences that every single one of us have , because none of us have experienced being a woman in this world in the same way, whether that’s because of our intersectional aspects of being working class or being disabled or being a woman of colour, we all experience the patriacrchy, we’ve all experienced these issues in very different ways, and that’s why it’s important that every single aspect of engaging women is intersectional and engages trans women as well.
Maria Miller (Tory):…. In terms of all women shortlists, and transwomen: it’s not about a belief that a transwoman is a woman, it is the law. And it’s been that way for ten years. Transwomen are women and in my party they are treated that way. They are a group who endure some of the worst discrimination , some of the most despicable discrimination, that we ever see, and as a woman who has seen a little of that, they will always get my enduring support, and we will need more transwomen to think about standing for parliament;
Parliament needs a transwomen MP actually, and for the parliament to look like the country that we represent, there;s a deficit, so hey ho, live with it.
…
It's just wonderful to see you all here and thanks very much indeed for coming . I just want to make it completely clear that 50::50 parliament support all women, and some women, like transwomen, face multiple hurdles, so we want to help all women…
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3310443-Fawcett-Society-Live-stream-from-5-30pm-Courage-Calls-Ask-her-to-stand