The myth of 'bathroom bans' harming 'cis' women

[ItsCoolForCats]

What can we do to put this nonsense to bed?

Marie Goldman, the Lib Dem MP, has written to Bridget Phillipson about the leaked EHRC code of practice, and has posted this on her Facebook page:

"Imagine being turned away from a bathroom, a hospital, or even a cinema just for “not looking female enough”.

That’s exactly what the leaked EHRC guidance on single-sex services could lead to. Along with over 40 Lib Dem colleagues, I’ve written to the Minister for Women & Equalities to raise serious concerns.

The draft could have staff questioning anyone’s sex based on appearance and refusing access if there’s any doubt. That risks putting trans and non-binary people – and all women and girls – in unsafe, humiliating situations.

It’s confusing, unworkable for businesses, and a backward step for equality. We urgently need new, inclusive, practical guidance that protects everyone’s rights, safety, and dignity".

The comments under her post are pretty wild (with a smattering of common sense). And when you click on the profile pictures of some of the 'women' claiming this will harm 'cis' women and is unenforceable, it is apparent within half a second of looking at their profile pictures that they are male. And of course there are the usual compliant women saying it's "cis het" men that are the issue.

Why can't people see this for what is? Emotional manipulation and blackmail designed to allow men to keep accessing women's single sex spaces. I find it astonishing that intelligent people fall for this.

Public loos for ladies in department stores were part of the story of women's liberation-now middle class women shopping could stay out for longer. A small point but an important one.

Sorry haven't rtft and also apologies if this has been suggested before but a media campaign on how to tell the difference might be in order.? That way the overwhelming majority should be able to correctly sex the overwhelming majority.

I can only imagine how much the TRAs would hate that 😭

A friend has been challenged as to whether she is a woman (she is) when using the ladies’ loos. It does absolutely happen and she was quite upset by it, much as it was resolved quickly.

But I completely agree with PPs: the answer is not to allow anyone in for fear of causing offence, it’s to be bloody angry with the men who shoved their way into women’s spaces and made women question who is using their spaces. I don’t think I would have ever thought of whether or not I’d find a man in the women’s loos (except by accident) until the last 10 years or so.

I was once in a public restroom with a colleague who was mistaken for a man from behind. As soon as she turned around the woman realized her mistake. There was some awkward laughter and that was it. This was before the toilet issue had become so contentious and all I thought at the time was “that was weird.”

The social contract kept men out of women's spaces until trans arrived. We go back to that. If you are over the age of 8 and have/had a penis you use the men's facilities. Not a problem at all.

The discussion's over. As the judgment yesterday proved: even if you really don't believe in or agree with women's rights, they exist and cannot be overridden.

Men and activists' main issue is in being able to accept that women have the right to single sex spaces and to not participate in this belief system, or that they cannot simply continue to force and control as they have been used to.

Where single sex spaces are provided, men are going to have to stay out of them. However they feel, whatever they believe. They are just going to have to learn that women have rights as well as them, and that other people's boundaries and inclusion have to be respected as well as theirs.