Eddie Izzard not chosen to be Labour candidate for Sheffield Central.

sigh...I dont feel erased, nor in danger of it.
groan. . . Well that's great for you, but there's no need to dismiss the concerns of those who feel differently.

We've had all the digs about the issue being for old people who are also homophobic (many times, sometimes with added accusations of racism thrown in), but please remember that you know absolutely nothing about any of the posters on these or any threads, whether that is their age, race or sexuality. Also, constantly harking back to the 70s (which were 50 years ago) is hardly a sign that the harkers are forward-thinking youths .

Agreed, Galaxy. IMO much, if not most of the homophobia is coming from the TRAs.

very small number of transwomen (as in genuine)

In Scotland, we are likely very shortly to have law that says anyone can be legally recognised as a woman - completely on their own say-so and with only 3 months wait.
Somehow, I don't think the number will continue to be 'very small'.

No, FN, unfortunately I think you are right.

I'm afraid it reminds me rather grimly of some of the things said about gay people, men in particular, in the early 1970's when those were the issues that divided people and such hate and disturbance came out.

The difference is, those things were based on prejudice whereas our concerns are based on known facts about abusive men.

FarNorth

^very small number of transwomen (as in genuine)^

In Scotland, we are likely very shortly to have law that says anyone can be legally recognised as a woman - completely on their own say-so and with only 3 months wait.
Somehow, I don't think the number will continue to be 'very small'.

Shall we have a bet on it, then?

I don't gamble, but this is one I won't lose, so it might be worth it.

Somehow, I don't think the number will continue to be 'very small'.
It’s not the number, it’s what that number do with it. We’re told there have been multitudes of TiM for ages.
The number that has already increased is the number of TiM who have used it for unpleasant or harmful purposes.
E.g. accessing female spaces, cheating in sport, claiming the right to be in female prisons even when they’re convicted of rape etc.
That’s the number I think will increase. Oh yes, and the falsification of records, e.g. TiM rape being recorded as female ‘rape’ crimes.

But who cares about that in Scotland?

Not most of our elected politicians, clearly.

FarNorth

I don't remember seeing anyone saying that transmen must use female facilities.
What has been said is that female facilities should be for females only.

Transmen are not a risk to men, so there's no problem with them using male facilities, unless they prefer female ones because they don't pass as male.

Exactly equal treatment for both sexes doesn't really work, in many situations.

But FarNorth are you saying that female facilities must be for females only? And don't some people believe transmen are female? So wouldn't they be allowed to use them? And if so what is to stop any man accessing them and just saying they are a transman if challenged?
It is just as likely as the masquerading as a transwoman scenario. So it really gives no protection from men intent on accessing women's facilities.

Yes, they could but not as a consequence of transwomen staying out of women's toilets/changing rooms/hospital wards etc.

The two things are not equivalent and the situation you suggest is far less likely than the fake transwoman situation that is increasingly being ushered in.

The hospital ward situation would be helped, of course, by the NHS not pretending that people's sex is a matter of choice rather than fact.

Yes of course transmen are female , it's not just that 'some people' say they are.

Any people who say transmen are not female have completely lost the plot.

FarNorth

Yes of course transmen are female , it's not just that 'some people' say they are.

Any people who say transmen are not female have completely lost the plot.

Very true, FarNorth.

Thank goodness common sense prevailed.

FarNorth

Yes of course transmen are female , it's not just that 'some people' say they are.

Any people who say transmen are not female have completely lost the plot.

Very true!

What I struggle with is that women are very unequal in society and we still fight to get parity, and I find it unpleasant that someone who has lived as a man for many years and gained that social, economic, hormonal, healthcare etc advantage can declare themselves to be female.
It takes more than a frock, some falsies, a bit of slap, and medical treatment to make someone understand what it really means to be a woman. And allowing anyone who has had testosterone advantage in earlier years to compete against those born and remaining female in competitive arenas seems wrong. Yes nature plays bad tricks on some people, may be some are fluid, what about getting rid of either male or female and creating 4 categories of male,female, male now female (post puberty), and female now male.
What is vitally important is that women (who are the most likely sex to be preyed upon) have safe spaces to be.
This is going to be an increasing problem but I hope that those undergoing changes do not regret that choice.

I don't care about Eddie Izzard's choice of gender. I do care about their self-identification onto a woman-only shortlist. We can do without that kind of colonisation.

FarNorth

^I'm afraid it reminds me rather grimly of some of the things said about gay people, men in particular, in the early 1970's when those were the issues that divided people and such hate and disturbance came out.^

The difference is, those things were based on prejudice whereas our concerns are based on known facts about abusive men.

Yes! So much this.

In that case I've completely lost the plot!

GreyhairedWarrior

I don't care about Eddie Izzard's choice of gender. I do care about their self-identification onto a woman-only shortlist. We can do without that kind of colonisation.

Now maybe it's just me, but...

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-drops-use-of-all-women-shortlists-general-election-legal-advice-unlawful_uk_622226fbe4b03bc49a9a2420

www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/oct/27/eddie-izzard-rules-out-appearing-on-all-women-labour-mp-shortlist

Any abuse, should be punished. I don’t know ant trans people but if I did I would treat them the same as anyone., if they have a penis use the Mens facilities, not the ladies, I would not like to bump into Eddie coming out of a cubicle. It’s weird anyone wanting to do that in the first place. Those that think it’s ok would they use the Mens?, I think not, but let them try it for a few weeks and see the response,,

He’s doing a sterling job. The Conservatives are going to need all the help they can get.

Its true that Izzard wasn't on an all-women shortlist and Labour may not be using them at all, at present.
However, he gives his reason for never being on one as "I'm gender-fluid" not the much more obvious "Male people shouldn't push their way into things intended for female people."

From the Guardian interview :
"Izzard said she had suffered a “torrent of transphobic abuse” since announcing her candidacy, including being photographed by a gender-critical feminist using the women’s toilet."


He was photographed coming out of the toilet into a public hall where a number of people were waiting for a meeting to start- he was not photographed actually using a toilet!

I do wonder why he went to that toilet at all - surely there were backstage facilities.
It almost seems he wanted to draw attention to himself.

Yes, people are making things up about Izzard to paint him in a bad light but I don't agree with this thing he said and ...

Oh look over here! Look over here!!

You can't cope with more that one point per post volver?

Glorianny

Eddie Izzard has a track record of activism and support for the Labour Party. Hopefully she will continue to support and campaign for them. What some of the comments on this thread reveal is how biased some people are and how they can ignore not only a successful comedy and acting career but a life of activism and fundraising simply because they don't like someone's choice of gender.

Choice of gender? Dear lord. Trouble with Eddie Izzard is that he's a woman when it suits him and also a man when it suits him professionally. Womanhood isn't about dress-up or putting on heels or (and I find this nauseating in a man pushing sixty) deciding when he's in 'girl mode'. I liked him well enough when he was an honest cross-dresser, which is a fine enough choice but as a 'woman'? No. He simply isn't.

Kellie-Jay Keen is going to launch a new political party.

twitter.com/standingforxx/status/1600235830475653123?s=61&t=wZvZRIfIqBkkL1Ut6RLHCw