Where is the balance and how can we live respectfully with difference? Radical feminist (TERF) beliefs versus transgender beliefs.

Yes, but sex has always been about power, we're told.

It was a master stroke by Stonewall to put the 'T' in LBT, and then to add an assortment of other initials, so the whole gay movement was neutralised, just as they would like to do with the female sex. Doing that made the link with the gay movement, at a time when it had achieved much of what it set out to do. That gave Stonewall a raison d'être, and allied the trans movement with one that had gained public support. Pride marches were becoming mainstream, and adding 'trans' to the flags and banners, and calling them 'LBT' ensured that some of that support went to the trans movement.

But, TRAs will come and go, just as other subsets have done. They are already losing their grip on so much, thank goodness.

It was indeed a masterstroke of Stonewall's to add in the T and the following letters. Then the T started saying they had been the ones who'd campaigned for years for LGB rights and had secured them. Stonewall was launched in 1989, they added the T in February 2015. 26 years of campaigning by the Trans community and not a thought of being included until 2015. Would that they would consider being so self-sacrificing now and just live their lives without abusing women's single sex spaces and events. Stick to the sex boundaries where it is necessary for the fairness, dignity and safety of women and everything could rub along just fine.

Alan Baker (now calling himself Alexandra Stewart) was was jailed for life for the murder of John Weir in 2013, after stabbing him 16 times. He has been held in a women's unit in the prison since 2016. In April of this year he was been charged with the sexual assault of a fellow inmate at the women's prison.

Just imagine; you're young, female, frightened and vulnerable and someone, who decides that they put a man's "feelings" above a woman's safety, locks him up in your cell for 23 hours a day.

transgender rapist has been jailed for eight years for attacks on two women before changing gender.

But where Isla Bryson should serve that sentence has been the subject of heated debate.

There were concerns about the safety of any women held alongside a transgender sex offender placed in a female prison.

Bryson was initially remanded to Cornton Vale women's prison in Stirling, but has since been moved to a men's jail.

It ultimately led to a review and a change in policy which will see all newly-convicted or remanded transgender prisoners initially placed in jails according to their birth sex.

A transgender prisoner who sexually assaulted two inmates at a women's jail and had previously raped two other women has been given a life sentence.

Karen White attacked two women in 2017 while on remand at HMP New Hall, in Wakefield, for other offences.

White, 52, who is transitioning, was described as a "predator" who was a danger to women and children

The Scotland prison estate is separate to the England Wales Prison estate and harder to get figures. Not sure why Scotland is still placing male at birth transgender people with male genitalia in female prisons and what risk assessments they carry out on admission.

The Howard League for Penal Reform Panel researches England and Wales prison estate and estimates up to 5% of prisoners, (ie between 4,000 to 4,850 prisoners) are likely to experience sexual abuse as most incidents go unreported. Recorded (reported incidents) indicates roughly 2% inmates (around 1,850 prisoners) experience unwanted sexual activities. 1000 rapes in prisons were recorded in England and Wales between 2010 and 2023.

I'll leave it to posters highlighting Scotland prison incidents to post such data should they wish.

HMPPS (applies to England and Wales) Equality report 2022-24 published, March 24, recorded a 268 transgender prison population, most legally male, white and held in the men's prison estate. The 268 transgender prisoners were a proportion of 3,315 female and 81,057 male prison estate.

The majority of prisoners are heterosexual and the majority of sexual assaults occur prisoner on prisoner. All prisoners face a significant risk of unwanted sexual activity and risk of sexual assault and rape.

Being in prison custody evidently is a scary and violent place to be.

In England and Wales prions now, 9 years on since 2017, all prisoners with male genitalia are. in custody in male prisons.

As the majority of prisoners are heterosexual isn't that all the more reason to keep heterosexual men out of the female estate?

All heterosexual males are housed in the male prison estate in England and Wales.

All heterosexual males are housed in the male prison estate in England and Wales.

All? Source for this please.

As of 2026, UK prison policy generally houses trans women in male prisons if they have male genitalia or have committed sexual/violent offenses, regardless of Gender Recognition Certificates (GRC). The majority of transgender prisoners (over 80%) are housed in the male estate, with specific placements based on risk assessments

Data from March 2024 showed 295 transgender prisoners, with 244 (83%) in male prisons and 51 (17%) in female prisons.
Current Situation: As of early 2026, legal challenges regarding the definition of women in prisons under the Equality Act are ongoing, emphasizing the balance between safety and human rights

Five biologically male prisoners who identify as transgender women remain housed in HMP Downview, a women’s prison in Surrey, despite the Supreme Court ruling confirming that access to single-sex spaces must be based on biological sex.

Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones confirmed, in response to a parliamentary question from Conservative MP Rebecca Paul, that as of 1 August, five such prisoners were being held in Downview. Since July 2024, seven have been accommodated at the prison in total.

Thank you, Cardamom. It is important that correct information is available on this topic, as many people believe things that are simply not true, and as mentioned, reliable statistics are hard to come by.

The same applies to hospital wards, refuge hostels and other spaces that used to be reserved for vulnerable women. I think (and hope) that things are better than they were, but the goal should be that women's spaces are for women, to preserve safely, privacy and dignity. There are plenty of places that men and women can go in mixed company - single sex spaces are relatively rare, so this is not at all an argument for a segregated society.

Cardamom

Alan Baker (now calling himself Alexandra Stewart) was was jailed for life for the murder of John Weir in 2013, after stabbing him 16 times. He has been held in a women's unit in the prison since 2016. In April of this year he was been charged with the sexual assault of a fellow inmate at the women's prison.

Just imagine; you're young, female, frightened and vulnerable and someone, who decides that they put a man's "feelings" above a woman's safety, locks him up in your cell for 23 hours a day.

Apparently, upon his name change to Alexandra Stewart, his previous criminal records were mistakenly wiped clean last year.
He is also in a relationship with a child murderer and abuser, a female prisoner.
Why is this allowed?

It's very convenient for some of these sexual predators to pretend to be transgender.

It does a great disservice to other law-abiding transgender people. Why are the authorities so gullible that they believe them?

Cardamom

^All heterosexual males are housed in the male prison estate in England and Wales.^

All? Source for this please.

As of 2026, UK prison policy generally houses trans women in male prisons if they have male genitalia or have committed sexual/violent offenses, regardless of Gender Recognition Certificates (GRC). The majority of transgender prisoners (over 80%) are housed in the male estate, with specific placements based on risk assessments

Data from March 2024 showed 295 transgender prisoners, with 244 (83%) in male prisons and 51 (17%) in female prisons.
^Current Situation: As of early 2026, legal challenges regarding the definition of women in prisons under the Equality Act are ongoing, emphasizing the balance between safety and human rights^

Cardamon. It is indeed important to present correct factual information. Your sources for "GENERALLY?

See gov.uk for New transgender prisoner policy framework published 27 February 2023.

Press release: Transgender women with male genitalia will no longer be able to be held in mainstream women's prions, under new measures coming into force today."

The framework includes an automatic exclusion for Transgender women who had not undergone genital surgery were prohibited from being placed in the general women's estate.

Exemptions can only made in the most exceptional circumstances and only with the express approval from a Minister.

"Under the changes, transgender women in the future will not be held in the women's estate if they retain male genitalia or have been convicted of a violent or sexual offence, unless in the most exceptional circumstances. Exemptions will be considered for those currently held in the women's estate who are assessed as low risk"

Housing policy- "Over 90% of transgender women are housed in male prisons. Those who can not be safely managed in the general male estate may be housed in SPECIALISED units ( your example of one such specialised unit - E Wing at HMP Downview) Sources- Gov.uk and UK Parliament "Prisoner's Transfers- Written questions, answers and statements".

I'll leave it with you to find out more about the transgender specialised unit E Wing at Downview Prison. Sources for you? There are plenty to help you understand this unit, its purpose, design etc. Perhaps start with HMP/YOI Downview; Transgender People gov.uk May 2025.

You also may not understand the make up of some prison estates, that hold different prison populations entirely separately in locations side by side. That is for example a Youth Offender Institution, alongside an Adult prison, alongside a woman and baby prison for women. They do not come into contact with each other. You can investigate further if you so wish.

I do have previous England (not Wales or Scotland) prison experience in my professional portfolio, thank you. I was a member of three separate Prison Health Boards representing the NHS in respect of ensuring the health needs of the prisoners was equivalent, met and to the expected standards.

Cardamom

^Five biologically male prisoners who identify as transgender women remain housed in HMP Downview, a women’s prison in Surrey, despite the Supreme Court ruling confirming that access to single-sex spaces must be based on biological sex.^

^Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones confirmed, in response to a parliamentary question from Conservative MP Rebecca Paul, that as of 1 August, five such prisoners were being held in Downview. Since July 2024, seven have been accommodated at the prison in total.^

It is of no surprise that transgender people with male genitalia are housed in E Wing at HMP Downview as it is a dedicated specialised unit specifically to house transgender patients safely prisoners- see 15.20 post.

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Quite relevant I would think.

delete patients- should soley read transgender prisoners safely.