We are in a safe but seemingly not invincible Tory seat. I received the following reply from our Labour candidate and almost fell off my chair.
"There are two sexes which are observed, not assigned at birth. Very rare chromosomal abnormalities do not change this basic fact of biology. One may not change one’s sex. Gender is a social construct and changes over time and between societies. The two should not be used interchangeably.
I feel very strongly that the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sport is wrong. A male bodied person should not be able to use women’s changing spaces. Women’s services like prisons, counselling services, hostels etc. should be for women only.
The equality act should make very clear that ‘woman’ and ‘girl’ are biological categories that must be protected if they are to have any meaning.
Freedom of speech is critical. Throughout history, men have made demands of women, and when women do not meet these demands, men resort to violence and threats. His is misogyny. My position on the ‘trans debate’ has been evolving over time. It was a website called ‘terf is a slur’ which really cemented my position. Page after page of the most horrible language, often violent and of a sexual nature directed against women merely for expressing an opinion. Add in assaults against women, women losing their jobs and reputations. I’ve always been a feminist. I simply can’t stand on the side of those who abuse and threaten women for exercising their right to free speech.
I’ll be happy to meet with gender critical groups.
Young children don’t need trans education. They certainly shouldn’t be encouraged to go behind their parent’s back!
I recognise the right of transgender people to live in freedom. I certainly don’t hate trans people. I recognise the cynical moral panic being spread by very unpleasant elements of the right.
Speaking to friends and family, many people in Labour feel the same way I do. People are worried about being seen to be a bigot or far right. People want to be understanding and supportive of minority groups. I feel like we are turning a corner though. People are waking up to some of the more unpleasant elements within trans activism. A more balanced debate is going to emerge I believe.
If sex is fixed, but gender is constructed, surely the more progressive thing to do is to challenge what it means to be a ‘man’ rather than pretend that a man can be a woman and vice versa.
Finally, Labour’s manifesto was released yesterday. I hope you will agree that it balances the rights of trans people and women. We pledged to protect single sex spaces, retain the need for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria from a qualified doctor before being issued a gender recognition certificate and implement the findings of the Cass report."