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News & politics

Trans women and single-sex spaces

(955 Posts)
RosieandherMaw Mon 14-Apr-25 07:58:00

Is this common sense at last?
From ‘The Times’ this morning
Organisations will be told that they can no longer call a space single-sex if they admit transgender people who do not have a gender recognition certificate.
Updated guidance from the equality watchdog will say that services described as being single-sex will not be able to make the claim if they also allow transgender women to use them on the basis of self-identification
Last week the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) sent ministers its updated code of practice, which guides organisations on how to apply the Equality Act. It is expected to be presented to parliament before the summer. The Times understands the recommendations include an overhaul of how single-sex spaces are defined.
A source said of the guidelines: “The upshot [of the guidance] means it's not lawful to have a self-ID service. The fact is that if you let a man in, it's no longer a single-sex service, and that includes trans people without GRCs [gender recognition certificates] .”
The change would prevent those who rely on self-ID from being able to access women-only care homes or domestic abuse refuges without an exceptional reason

My question is just why has this taken complicated legislation - and so long?

Luminance Sun 20-Apr-25 18:24:27

Doodledog

I fully understand why you won't want to say anything that might be 'outing', but would suggest that 'doctors believe' is meaningless, and that anyone working in counselling or psychology would realise that. Without revealing your own involvement, maybe you could let us know the specialism of the doctors with whom you have these conversations?

If you are supporting patients and their families, I assume that you have qualifications in counselling and/or psychology, and my understanding (a close family member is a psychologist) is that there is a lot of disagreement and feelings that 'the jury is still out' on the subject of gender dysphoria, as the numbers are so small that it is difficult to find a representative sample that will exclude other causal factors for people claiming to be 'in the wrong body'. Biological reasons are difficult to put forward as the phenomenon is new, which suggests that societal factors are likely to be in play.

I wonder why your experience is so different?

All I can tell you Doodledog is that yes counselling is part of my role, as is advocating for my patients and their rights. Treating my patients with compassion you must understand is paramount. It's a difficult job where I cannot let my opinions in any way impact individual patients even where there is much I don't understand so seek support and clarity. So clearly you can see why this subject might be important to me. Any studies done on the subject I don't have any more access to than you but Doctors generally do and I believe some are available online.

Galaxy Sun 20-Apr-25 18:07:36

And when recovering from domestic violence situations women sometimes need space away from men. That's why it is important to have single sex domestic violence services which we can now provide without worry that men can access them.

Galaxy Sun 20-Apr-25 18:05:34

Transwomen are men they are in the same group.

Glasweegran Sun 20-Apr-25 18:01:59

Rosie51

Luminance

Listen up, I understand this topic is important but the insinuations are getting tiresome. I do not really know anyone well on gransnet yet and I am not part of any group here to cause any issues. You have my word. I am simply looking for a middle ground. Perhaps we can all agree that death threats are not ok against any person. I do know that trans people have been threatened, assaulted physically and sexually and even killed. I might not be up on the jargon but I do feel I have something to add in this discussion and would hope I am welcome to do so.

Are you aware that more than 3 women a week are murdered in England and Wales? The figures over the last 14 years have ranged from a low of 157 in one year to the high of 222 in 2018/2019.

From factcheck channel4 www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-how-many-trans-people-murdered-uk

According to these figures, there was one trans person murdered in the UK in that time, and a total of nine trans people were murdered in the UK between 2008 and 2017. That’s an average rate of one victim per year.

That's one a year too many but hardly an epidemic.

The insinuations are because you keep posting from a viewpoint of expertise in the area of transgenderism yet claim ignorance of so much and especially the impact on the lives of women by transwomen and the activists.

You are as entitled and welcome to post as anybody else on these forums but don't be surprised if you get challenged on your content.

... and if you average that out by how many transpeople there are to how many women, (on a quick go at my calculator) you are something like 7 times more likely to be murdered as a transwoman.
I could also point out that the number of women murdered by a transwoman in the UK, is zero.
So when the rate of murder of women by men, particularly in domestic violence situations is so high, and the rate of murder by transpeople is nil, why is it that the big campaign is against all transpeople?

Rosie51 Sun 20-Apr-25 17:58:36

LizzieDrip

So Rosie the transman engaged to your relative, which public toilet does she use?

Genuine question.

I honestly have absolutely no idea! I do know that a transman on X that I follow Fionne Orlander (who incidentally looks very pretty and feminine) always uses the mens. I notice you refer to 'my' transman as she, I do hope you're consistent and refer to all transwomen as him I'm in full agreement with your accuracy by the way. {smile]

Mollygo Sun 20-Apr-25 17:57:59

If the rule confirmed by the Supreme Court is that you are your biological sex, then a transman is a woman.
Why would I put a woman in a male prison, any more than I’d put a man in a female prison.
If there are trans units in prisons, TW should be in units attached to male prisons and TM in units attached to female prisons.

Galaxy Sun 20-Apr-25 17:35:24

Do you think women who identify as men should be placed in mens prisons? They aren't ( I think there was one exception) because of the risk.

LizzieDrip Sun 20-Apr-25 17:31:43

So Rosie the transman engaged to your relative, which public toilet does she use?

Genuine question.

Carlotta Sun 20-Apr-25 17:22:18

No MollyGo it's on YouTube. Try this one:

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DxA7cCHnO62Y&ved=2ahUKEwjglueLgueMAxX6ZkEAHVdSGuwQwqsBegQIFxAE&usg=AOvVaw3ZYAYjMOwhtWv_YLYLfQfa

Elegran Sun 20-Apr-25 17:17:32

Luminance

I saw some criminal damage, no hate crimes committed, I am sure I could be wrong. Intersex people were also represented, I am sure it is a struggle for them too finding appropriate facilities and having sex assigned at birth potentially incorrectly.

Sex is not "assigned" at birth (that sounds like the midwife deciding that since they had delivered six baby girls already this morning and only three boys, the next one was going to be a boy".

If there is the least doubt whether a baby is male or female, a DNA test is done.

Mollygo Sun 20-Apr-25 17:16:23

I couldn’t open that Carlotta.
Is this the same?
www.transgendertrend.com/interview-az-hakeem/

Carlotta Sun 20-Apr-25 17:10:47

This YouTube video was posted on MN and is well worth watching. Dr Az Hakeem is a clinical psychiatrist with over 25 years clinical experience treating trans patients. In this video he discusses the Supreme Court ruling and explains the trans position on a clinical footing. A lot about the trans behaviours he talks, why they behave as they do and the clinical reasons behind it. It's an easy watch/listen.

www.drazhakeem.com/specialist-psychotherapy-for-gender-dysphoria

Elegran Sun 20-Apr-25 17:04:37

Luminance

I have indeed posted to ask why this would need to impact trans people who are not TRA. I have been told several times now that TRA make trans people in general look bad!

How do you suggest that someone should go about finding out whether the trans person they are considering is a TRA or a trans person who is not a TRA? Do they have any visible distinguishing features?

Doodledog Sun 20-Apr-25 17:02:54

I fully understand why you won't want to say anything that might be 'outing', but would suggest that 'doctors believe' is meaningless, and that anyone working in counselling or psychology would realise that. Without revealing your own involvement, maybe you could let us know the specialism of the doctors with whom you have these conversations?

If you are supporting patients and their families, I assume that you have qualifications in counselling and/or psychology, and my understanding (a close family member is a psychologist) is that there is a lot of disagreement and feelings that 'the jury is still out' on the subject of gender dysphoria, as the numbers are so small that it is difficult to find a representative sample that will exclude other causal factors for people claiming to be 'in the wrong body'. Biological reasons are difficult to put forward as the phenomenon is new, which suggests that societal factors are likely to be in play.

I wonder why your experience is so different?

Mollygo Sun 20-Apr-25 16:56:29

Thank you so much Doodledog, especially for your last few posts.
As you know, we don’t always agree about every subject, and that’s allowed.
Thank you in particular for your clear explanation of déjà vu, passive aggressive comments and how they relate particularly to some posts on this thread, where they are so reminiscent of tactics used before when trans are discussed.

Luminance Sun 20-Apr-25 16:53:03

I do not know what percentage, it is of course, as most conversation, entirely anecdotal. Just doctors I have spoken to on the subject. I feel rather disinclined to reveal any personal information at this point about my circles. Just that I am a MHN. Simply as my role involves supporting patients and their families, talking to people and listening to them. That's it. I claim no scientific knowledge there of my own.

Doodledog Sun 20-Apr-25 16:50:04

Luminance

I really do not understand the comments about deja vu. Do I have opinions similar to another poster? Please be assured this is my only account and I don't know anyone else here on a personal level.

We all have opinions similar to those of others, so I'd be surprised if you didn't share yours with other posters - there are a lot of us about grin.

Deja vu is a feeling that someone has done something before. In this case going over similar arguments that lead nowhere, Virtue Signalling posts about how the poster is kind and tolerant, with the passive aggressive implication that the rest of us are the opposite of that, and protestations of well-intentioned naivety.

Doodledog Sun 20-Apr-25 16:46:12

What percentage of doctors 'believe that there is a biological reason for gender dysphoria? Can you link us to the study that shows this, please? I wasn't aware that 'doctors' had been asked to confirm their beliefs in this regard.

Are you talking about GPs, psychologists, neurologists or a different specialism, or are you saying that all doctors have been surveyed?

On what experience are you basing your beliefs, if you have a 'rather too varied caseload to specialise'?

Luminance Sun 20-Apr-25 16:43:45

I really do not understand the comments about deja vu. Do I have opinions similar to another poster? Please be assured this is my only account and I don't know anyone else here on a personal level.

Luminance Sun 20-Apr-25 16:40:27

I'm do not claim any expertise on trans people, I am trying to understand this issue and how it may impact those I ok with Rosie51. The only, I suppose medical thought I have shared, I am not a doctor, is that doctors I work with do believe there is a biological reason for general dysphoria. I believe that too based on my own experience but my job is a support role and my case load is rather too varied to specialise in any one area. I simply do not want to get things wrong.

Doodledog Sun 20-Apr-25 16:39:54

Who are the 'we' that you keep talking about?

'We' might or might not agree, and I have no idea what 'we are going to persevere in doing.

Also, as you are, apparently new here, listen up - there is no 'group' on GN. We are individuals who agree on some things and disagree on others. Each and every poster is speaking for herself. One thing that a few of us do have in common is an uncanny sense of deja vu, however.

Luminance Sun 20-Apr-25 16:34:05

Neither do a lot of the comments addressed to me so I suppose we must persevere.

Rosie51 Sun 20-Apr-25 16:32:15

Luminance

Listen up, I understand this topic is important but the insinuations are getting tiresome. I do not really know anyone well on gransnet yet and I am not part of any group here to cause any issues. You have my word. I am simply looking for a middle ground. Perhaps we can all agree that death threats are not ok against any person. I do know that trans people have been threatened, assaulted physically and sexually and even killed. I might not be up on the jargon but I do feel I have something to add in this discussion and would hope I am welcome to do so.

Are you aware that more than 3 women a week are murdered in England and Wales? The figures over the last 14 years have ranged from a low of 157 in one year to the high of 222 in 2018/2019.

From factcheck channel4 www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-how-many-trans-people-murdered-uk

According to these figures, there was one trans person murdered in the UK in that time, and a total of nine trans people were murdered in the UK between 2008 and 2017. That’s an average rate of one victim per year.

That's one a year too many but hardly an epidemic.

The insinuations are because you keep posting from a viewpoint of expertise in the area of transgenderism yet claim ignorance of so much and especially the impact on the lives of women by transwomen and the activists.

You are as entitled and welcome to post as anybody else on these forums but don't be surprised if you get challenged on your content.

Mollygo Sun 20-Apr-25 16:28:11

Luminance

I believe it works both ways, perhaps now my point shows it has relevance.

No.
Doesn't make sense.

Luminance Sun 20-Apr-25 16:17:14

I believe it works both ways, perhaps now my point shows it has relevance.