AIBU to ask if you are aware of the petition on gender identity and women's rights?

Getting on my high horse a bit too soon (not like me at all). Justin Roberts, the founder of Mumsnet, has made it clear that they're not going to be browbeaten. Also, no advertisers have pulled out yet, so hopefully this action is a storm in a teacup. But it is true that meetings to discuss the issues have been cancelled as a result of threats by the aggressive supporters of self ID, which is very worrying.

And MN have hidden their Feminism threads, for a trial period apparently. I think we here on GN should contact every advertiser on MN and say we're going to boycott them if they continue to be browbeaten by the TRAs. I'm going to anyway! Pleased to hear Tara Woolf has been convicted.

Reading The Sunday Times this morning it seems that transgender activists have contacted advertisers on MN to say that they will boycott their products if they don't remove their advertising from MN. Realistically radical trans gender are a small minority as opposed to the female sex per se who make up 51% of the population. They appear to have an inflated sense of their numbers, I can't imagine their withdrawal of support would amount to much compared to a boycott of a large body of women angered by any advertiser's stance who acted on the whims of a few. Justine Roberts has said she has been approached by three significant advertisers who have been threatened by these groups she also said "What is worrying to me is the thought police action around speech and shutting down the right to be able to disagree and immediately labelling it as transphobic"

Last week, Tara Woolf, an aggressive trans woman in his 20s was convicted of assaulting a feminist (who I believe is a woman over 60) at a rally relating to issues around protected female spaces.

^^ Possibly I should have used the word 'sex' instead of 'gender' in that post, as sex is a physical reality while gender is socially constructed.

Yas Necati, the writer of that article in the Independent, feels that the ManFriday women who went for a swim were mocking transgender people.
And that Lucy Masoud is wrong to think that a man might one day wake up and decide to be a woman.

In fact, they are trying to draw attention to the fact that, if self-identification becomes law, it will be legal for anyone, of any gender and any appearance, to enter any space.

And it will be illegal to exclude anyone from anything, based on gender, if they claim to be the gender required eg Guide camps, girls' and women's sports.

Yas Necati wishes to be able to speak with the ManFriday women and I hope that happens.

Signed.

Part of the problem Moocow is that politicians are aware it’s a hot topic issue, but it’s so difficult to discuss at all as there is a powerful lobby to liberalise the laws without wider discussion - so everyone is wary of wading in and getting it “wrong”.

Scotland have just passed a law which changes the definition of “female” almost by stealth.

Surprised still need over 2,000 signstures just to get it brought to the MPs attention

Signed

The petition is heading towards 8,000 now, but it would really benefit from being discussed in a wider forum than MN.

If any Gransnetters are members of women’s groups - Mother’s Union, WI, Townswomen’s Guilds, book groups etc - then it would be wonderful if it became a discussion point.

I fear this is being portrayed in the media as a “middle-aged feminist” issue and it’s much much wider than that.

This segment on the Today show was interesting, with the female firefighter Lucy Masoud

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p061vb3g

Then there was this reaction in the press:

www.independent.co.uk/voices/lucy-masoud-fbu-lgbt-trans-london-fire-brigade-union-today-transphobic-a8267096.html

It’s really quite worrying how “transphobic” is being thrown around in the mainstream to discredit any discussion.

The petition is now over 7,500 signatures.

Many more signatures are needed, to show strength of feeling in the public.

If people are aware of these proposed changes and are happy with them, then fair enough.
I think most people are unaware of them, or believe that the 'person in the street' will not be affected.

Thank you all. If you feel you can share with others, please do. We need as many voices as possible that law change that affects women’s rights cannot be brought in by the back door. It’s not transphobic to ask fur debate.

Thanks for alerting me to this petition NoSquirrels

It’s an extremely important issue and I feel Women’s rights are in danger of being sidelined in favour of p.c. transgender issues.

Yes, I would agree that the Today programme interview today is worth a listen. Even having concerns which need to be listened to and debated can have you being labelled as transphobic!! I think Lucy Masood put her point across very lucidly indeed.

Signed.

Signed.

Signed. Getting on for 7000 signatures. Thank you NoSquirrels

Well said Marieliza and FarNorth

Just listened to Lucy Masood discussing this issue on Today programme. She was impressive & lucid - explained the situation clearly, concisely & calmly but with conviction. Worth a listen on I-player.

Signed the petition and received email confirmation.
Thanks to OP for this post - I will share info with friends.

Well put FarNorth

Well done Mumsnet

Signed previously.

The important point is that, if self-identification becomes law, it will be legal for any male to enter any "safe space" which has previously been female only.

There will be no need for a male to even attempt to "pass as a woman". Any male can declare himself to be female and can gain entry to women-only spaces. Or to girl-only spaces such as school dormitories, guide camps etc.

(The Guides organisation has already said that this is their policy and that parents will not be informed if a male-bodied guide is included in a group.)

It won't matter how uncomfortable, or even afraid, girls and women might feel about this. The male's right to feel comfortable will have legal priority.

This situation will clearly be wide open to abuse by some males who are not trans at all but are simply voyeurs or sex pests.

If you hope to avoid giving opportunities to predatory men and boys, please sign the petition named in the OP.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/214118

genes are not pseudoscience malarkey
pseudoscience malarkey would be....oh, I don't know, talking about 'male brains' and 'female brains' with a atraight face.
No one is suggesting there aren't people who feel uncomfortable with the gender role they are expected to conform to. Boys who are gentle and artistic, girls who are sporty or sciency. But it's the ROLES that are the problem, not the genitals, let boys and men be however they want, wear whatever they want and likewise girls and women.