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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?

Galaxy Tue 10-Mar-26 07:44:16

Single sex changing rooms have obviously a lower rate of sexual assault/opportunist stuff, the mixed sex changing rooms that are usually in place make that kind of thing easier.
Women are entitled to spaces without men. And vice versa actually.

mae13 Tue 10-Mar-26 06:12:20

PoliticsNerd

Grandmabatty

I feel quite sad for trans women who gave quietly lived alongside the rest of us for decades. However, this recent influx of aggressive males pretending to be women to hijack our spaces in order to feed their fetish has to be dealt with firmly. Every organisation has bent over backwards to accommodate them and god only knows why. It is about time this was sorted

Where can I find confirmation about this influx of aggressive males pretending to be women to hijack our spaces in order to feed their fetish? I, and I would guess, many others, think this is all in the heads of middle-age and elderly women on internet forums, etc.

That doesn't mean calling changing spaces unisex or whatever is a bad thing - perhaps it will finally stop the hysteria.

PoliticsNerd; I suspect you are a man. Hence the gender neutral username.

mae13 Tue 10-Mar-26 06:08:18

A man with a conviction for paedophilia trying to kid everyone he's a woman? And apparently a racist given to violence?

Throw away the key!

theworriedwell Mon 09-Mar-26 23:01:23

Mollygo

So as I said, enclosed cubicles for urinals. Toilets used for women and those needing more than a wee.
Much more civilised . . . Apart from the poor aim of some males, especially those struggling with tights!

Why would you need urinals? Last two places I worked it was fully enclosed toilets, just like the cloakroom you might have at home. Men and women used them, no need for urinals, we don't have them at home why would we need them at work?

Mollygo Mon 09-Mar-26 22:45:47

So as I said, enclosed cubicles for urinals. Toilets used for women and those needing more than a wee.
Much more civilised . . . Apart from the poor aim of some males, especially those struggling with tights!

theworriedwell Mon 09-Mar-26 22:30:57

Mollygo

Tww you said
Might not result in what people hope for.

I gave you examples of who might/might not be happy with mixed sex spaces.

The bottom line is that TW don’t want women to have safe spaces free from males.

But if you’re going to have mixed spaces, do you think that urinals should just be in plain sight when you walk in to the mixed sex area? And if not how would you deal with that without providing male only space?
Or should they use the cubicles and have no urinals?

Do you think employers will be happy to provide properly

The single enclosed cubicle in toilets or changing rooms. Solves all the policing it issues, the upsets and upset. Much more civilised.

theworriedwell Mon 09-Mar-26 22:29:15

Galaxy

It won't be the easiest thing in the workplace because it would break the law. You have to provide single sex facilities for your employees, it is a piece of legislation that the activists overlooked. Single sex or fully enclosed single cubicle.

Oh id always go for the fully enclosed cubicle. I have no more desire to strip off and change in front of other women than in front of men.

NanKate Mon 09-Mar-26 21:51:33

I’m fed up with how ‘some’ transwomen want to take over using the women’s loos as if it is their right.

Galaxy Mon 09-Mar-26 21:44:15

It won't be the easiest thing in the workplace because it would break the law. You have to provide single sex facilities for your employees, it is a piece of legislation that the activists overlooked. Single sex or fully enclosed single cubicle.

Mollygo Mon 09-Mar-26 21:27:30

Tww you said
Might not result in what people hope for.

I gave you examples of who might/might not be happy with mixed sex spaces.

The bottom line is that TW don’t want women to have safe spaces free from males.

But if you’re going to have mixed spaces, do you think that urinals should just be in plain sight when you walk in to the mixed sex area? And if not how would you deal with that without providing male only space?
Or should they use the cubicles and have no urinals?

Do you think employers will be happy to provide properly

theworriedwell Mon 09-Mar-26 19:50:23

Mollygo

theworriedwell

^Depends. If I was running a business I'd be inclined to say all spaces are mixed sex
as that seems easiest. Might not result in what people hope for.^

Certainly wouldn’t be popular with those TW who pride themselves in using female spaces.
If it resulted in changing rooms, toilets including each urinal etc. with compulsory cubicles so the pervs have no chance to ogle unwilling victims or, as I have experienced, flaunt the fact that they are a jock in a frock to the discomfort of women, that would be better.

If I was running a business obviously you would be happy to cover the additional cost of making changes to the facilities in order to provide safe areas for all the workforce.

What you’re actually implying is that you don’t feel women are entitled to facilities safe from incursion by males whatever they say they are.

No I didn't say that at all, you made it up. I said the easiest thing to do would be not having single sex spaces, no need to police them, no risks of someone being somewhere they shouldn't be. It would be the easiest thing to do

Mollygo Mon 09-Mar-26 18:24:13

theworriedwell

^Depends. If I was running a business I'd be inclined to say all spaces are mixed sex
as that seems easiest. Might not result in what people hope for.^

Certainly wouldn’t be popular with those TW who pride themselves in using female spaces.
If it resulted in changing rooms, toilets including each urinal etc. with compulsory cubicles so the pervs have no chance to ogle unwilling victims or, as I have experienced, flaunt the fact that they are a jock in a frock to the discomfort of women, that would be better.

If I was running a business obviously you would be happy to cover the additional cost of making changes to the facilities in order to provide safe areas for all the workforce.

What you’re actually implying is that you don’t feel women are entitled to facilities safe from incursion by males whatever they say they are.

Granatlast007 Mon 09-Mar-26 18:16:27

Mollygo yes! I agree with you.

Mollygo Mon 09-Mar-26 18:06:36

theworriedwell

You know there are trans men and trans women.

Of course I know.
The problems arose because some trans women (all of whom are in fact male), decided that not only were they trans women, but that they were women.

Then, they decided that their new persona allowed them to invade female safe spaces, prisons and hospital wards, and to cheat in female sports.
They also decided that anyone who declared that you can’t change sex, were deserving of death threats, cancellation etc.

This behaviour is not only detrimental to women (AHF) including Lesbians, who have, but to any of the trans who had been living quietly under the radar and to the many men who don’t cheat or offer violence.

Their concern about any of these effects just highlights the fact that they are male, and shameful examples of males as well.

sundowngirl Mon 09-Mar-26 18:04:09

If the bones of trans women, regardless of whether they have had surgery/medication or not, are dug up in 100 years time they will be identified as men. Similarly with trans men.
Nothing can change biological sex

theworriedwell Mon 09-Mar-26 14:17:33

Mollygo

Rosie51

So the scientific fact that there are two distinct sexes that are immutable is a problem?

For men it is. And also for other misogynistic or pro patriarchal people.
Now celebs and others have discovered that - (ludicrously even in early childhood) deciding their offspring are trans is another attention getter. Child abuse seems to be acceptable in that instance.

You know there are trans men and trans women.

theworriedwell Mon 09-Mar-26 14:15:14

Blossoming

Probably because the wording of the original Gender Recognition Act was not clear about sex-based rights. I’m sure there will be some initial problems but it’s a big step in the right direction.

Depends. If I was running a business I'd be inclined to say all spaces are mixed sex
as that seems easiest. Might not result in what people hope for.

Fallingstar Mon 09-Mar-26 14:11:28

Rosie51

I find it alarming how many celebrities and other high profile people have 'trans children'. The incidence appears much higher than in the 'ordinary' population. Sometimes it seems 'trans kids' has replaced handbag dogs as the latest fashion accessory.

I don’t like the term ‘trans children’. Children should not be making these life changing decisions. If they reach 18 or 21 and are hell bent upon becoming trans gender then fair enough. But children should be left alone to be children.

Blossoming Mon 09-Mar-26 13:54:12

Well said Mollygo, fortunately common sense seems to be prevailing at last.

Granatlast007 Mon 09-Mar-26 13:32:07

I think this thread may have been revived because with April 1st, as someone else above has said, the WI yearly membership fees will be due and I think many local WIs are going to be riven and some may disappear because of the ruling about members having to declare themselves biological women at birth.
It's not straightforward, I support the comments immediately above, I know that there are biologically, men and women who are 'intersex', I don't know the proportions but I think that it's those who push who have caused the 'problem' for 'quiet transwomen and transmen' and the pushers are often politically motivated mysogynistic people and the ramifications re sport, women's spaces and so on just add to the difficulties.
It disturbs me that many women (perhaps men) are reacting with a knee-jerk response which is about a notion of freedom rather than scientific understanding. The celebrities and high level people with their trendy trans-children are muddling the waters. I have no problem with having a lesbian daughter but the number of people who have immediately corrected me with the term 'bi' infuriates me.
Men and women have always lived quietly in same sex pairs, the armed forces have always had women who signed up as male and so on, in the 70s and 80s we had comedies like the Carry On series and various tv series which publicly acknowledged that some females and males feel different and behave likewise including how they choose to dress.
It's so distressing that this has become an issue for aggressive views, medical interference, attempts to make laws about gender and ultimately more and more unhappy people.

Rosie51 Mon 09-Mar-26 12:28:32

I find it alarming how many celebrities and other high profile people have 'trans children'. The incidence appears much higher than in the 'ordinary' population. Sometimes it seems 'trans kids' has replaced handbag dogs as the latest fashion accessory.

Mollygo Mon 09-Mar-26 11:57:18

Rosie51

So the scientific fact that there are two distinct sexes that are immutable is a problem?

For men it is. And also for other misogynistic or pro patriarchal people.
Now celebs and others have discovered that - (ludicrously even in early childhood) deciding their offspring are trans is another attention getter. Child abuse seems to be acceptable in that instance.

Rosie51 Mon 09-Mar-26 00:44:51

So the scientific fact that there are two distinct sexes that are immutable is a problem? Sorry I can't get exercised over that. I'm sad that I'm not a 5'8" super slim model without a wrinkle or stretch mark in sight, but my sadness doesn't change the reality that I'm an overweight 5'5" grandmother with more wrinkles and craters than the moon! The one constant is I was born a female and will die as a female, something no male will ever achieve no matter how loudly they shout!!!

Mollygo Sun 08-Mar-26 19:44:57

There are endless comments on social media about how unfair it is to say males aren’t women, and how distressing it is for some of the wannabes to be excluded.

Maybe they need reminding that the problems arose and continue to arise through the actions of some of their ilk.
Those actions brought about the need for rules to protect females and prevent their erasure by misogynistic men.

Blossoming Sun 08-Mar-26 18:03:32

Another old thread popping up!