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This has directly affected sex and gender politics in Wales. Just three examples illustrate the point.
In 2021 Welsh Government set up an ‘Expert Panel’ to discuss their Plan to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and services. A Freedom of Information Request stated the ‘volunteers were drawn from discussions with LGBTQ+ organisations in Wales.’ The Chair, shown as ‘independent ‘in that response, was Chair of Pride Cymru for seven years and a Labour activist in her constituency. There was – crucially – no attempt to ensure diverse opinions.
Grassroots groups, notably Lesbian Gay & Bisexual Alliance Cymru (LGBAC), repeatedly asked to be involved, most recently just two months ago in response to a further statement by the Minister. These requests have been completely ignored or directed only to the public consultation.
In March, feminist organisation Merched Cymru published ‘Hung Out to Dry’, a detailed study of how schools approach gender questioning pupils. Their report should be studied by politicians, councillors, parents, and anyone concerned about how our schools teach sexuality and gender. So far, not one politician has asked to meet with them and discuss the issues.
Last week, the Senedd Committee on the Reform Bill heard evidence from Women’s Rights Network Wales about the stealthy introduction of selfID in the government’s proposals. It is startling to realise that this is the very first time a gender-critical group has been able to publicly engage with Senedd processes without picketing, abuse or ghosting.
Most egregiously, on 1 May, Jane Hutt was asked by that Reform Bill Committee whether she had consulted women’s groups with concerns. She covered herself by asserting engagement with ‘established networks’ – exactly those networks which have ejected women from hustings, refused meetings and insulted gender critical voices.
Many groups with concerns about the direction of travel by Welsh Government on these issues have found it impossible to participate in democratic processes. ‘Established networks’, Ms Hutt, are groups who tell you what you want to hear in exchange for continued funding.
Both sides are not the same
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It is disingenuous of Senedd members to talk as if the toxicity in this debate was evenly distributed. It is women’s meetings which are barracked. It is lesbians and gay men speaking up for same-sex attraction who are vilified and abused. Parents, teachers, clinicians and others cannot protect in the best interests of those they care for. Time after time, it has been the expression of gender-critical views which have cost people their jobs. Yet those same views have been upheld in Court, mostly recently in the exemplary and aggravated damages awarded to Rachel Meade.
We do not hear about similar cases required by those arguing for selfID – because they do not happen. No-one is being hounded out of their work because they support basic human rights, or even for supporting gender self-identification. I do not accept that ‘misgendering’ is literal violence: not when the streets of Cardiff are regularly littered with stickers saying ‘Terfs get the Wall’ of ‘F-k off Terf Scum’."
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https://nation.cymru/opinion/no-debate-has-damaged-welsh-democracy/