I have heard it say that the older one gets the more intolerant you become. I am the opposite of that belief. As I have aged, I find I am becoming more tolerant, maybe it is having grandchildren that does it. Lifestyles that in my youth were unacceptable and indeed illegal in some cases are now rightly, perfectly acceptable societal norms. I have become more critical of those that are still in the dark ages and show no tolerance. Intolerance is a curse that needs confronted everywhere. I try in my own tiny way to call it out whenever I am able.
I am old enough to remember when jokes about or referring to fellow human beings as Poofs, Pakis, Niggers, was really quite mainstream and acceptable. A lot of top comedians appearing on television, radio and theatre all had jokes on these topics in their acts. People laughed and clapped oblivious to the pain this may be causing others. From 1958 right up until 1978 the big BBC Saturday Night extravaganza was the very racist Black and White Minstrel Show. It was the Strictly Come Dancing of those decades. It is horrific looking back now that this was seen as acceptable entertainment. I can only imagine the reaction to any producer today trying to pitch that idea to the BBC. Fortunately, those days have long gone and there is little or no chance of society going back and tolerating this kind of racist entertainment. Legislation, education and enlightenment have helped reduce these attitudes massively. I am not for one second trying to say that all racism or homophobia has vanished. Sadly, especially in England racist behaviour and attacks are back on the rise.Those that brought us Brexit will, of course, deny there is any linkage, I disagree!
I also remember when smoking was a norm. When driving home with a belly full of beer after a night in the pub was not really frowned upon. Again, these two once socially acceptable behaviours are now almost things of the past.
I am a boomer and come from a generation where mums were supposed to stay at home. Their sole purpose was to please and care for others. It was expected that a woman should attend to every whim of her husband, raise his children, cook his meals, serve him first, if he was not at the pub with his mates of course. An obedient wife was to be grateful for whatever money she was given for housekeeping. Those that make the laws were as self-absorbed as nowadays. In Westminster Women’s Rights were not a priority for the male dominated Parliament. It was only poor women and lower class women that went to work anyway and even if doing the same work as men they were paid less. This was justified because the lucky little lady had a man to provide for them. The term pin money still exists and is still offensive. Those single women in the workplace, well it was their own fault if they couldn’t ‘catch a man.’ Whatever money married women earned many found their spouses deducted the same amount from their housekeeping. That extra was his right and not her right. He was after all the man of the house. He was never to be questioned. That sadly was the way it was in lots of homes.
UK law has moved in an emancipatory direction in terms of how it controls women. Men even controlled where women could spend their money. Before 1982 women trying to spend their money in English pubs could legally be refused service!
I merely write this to expose to many of the younger people the struggles that have been endured by women. Women have had to fight every inch of the way to get the rights they have today. I am sure there are some of you already wanting to write a comment saying you lived in The Little House on the Prairie and Ma and Pa lived idyllic lives. I am happy for you, but irrelevant to this blog. This is just a generalisation to make a point.
The SNP has introduced many policies to improve health and society in general. I am proud of all of these achievements. THE SNP up until now has also been exemplary in its pursuit of equality and fairness. On 28 September 2009, legislation allowing same – sex couples to adopt children included at the same time same -sex couples so that they could become foster parents. The SNP Government introduced the laws that made same-sex marriage legal in 2013/2014. This allowed many couples that had civil partnerships from 2005 onwards the ability to marry legally. It removed another stigma specifically aimed at loving gay couples. In both 2015 and 2016 Scotland was recognised as the “best country in Europe for LGBT rights. IN June 2018 the Scottish SNP Government passed an historical piece of legislation. The law pardoned men that had been convicted of having consensual sex with other men before it was decriminalised.
One of Nicola Sturgeon’s first acts as First Minister was to introduce a gender balanced Cabinet. She has kept to that ethos her entire tenure. I applaud all of these wonderful equality measures and other pieces of legislation like minimum pricing, free prescriptions, free care for the elderly, etc. I have talked and written of it with pride and I will continue to do so in the future. I have to admit I am not entirely comfortable with engineered outcomes. Positive discrimination to me is still discrimination. A Cabinet of talents irrespective of gender, sexual preference or religion should not be engineered. I think it is a false premise however not enough to get me mad or have me raising motions at conference. It is all well intentioned.
While I have identified legislation and actions I applaud I have to comment that as it stands the proposed GRA seems totally unacceptable to many SNP members and voters. Till now I have tried to keep out of this entire debate. In all my years in the Party, I have never seen such a contentious, toxic matter. The Party hierarchy seems oblivious to the groundswell of opposition to this bill, especially with SNP female members. When Section 28 was being discussed there was none of these horrible vicious attacks on fellow members that held different views on that topic. Anyone nowadays that raises concerns on female safety resulting from this legislation is immediately set upon by what can only be described as an organised pack of viscous little attack dogs. The denial of science and gender is the stuff of idiocy. This desire to be seen as the beacon of equality I think has clouded too many minds to reality. I wrote earlier this week that most things in life are simple, it is people that make it complicated. This GRA is the ultimate confirmation of that.
I mentioned my tolerance, let me expand upon that statement. I have no problem if you are gay or straight, black or white, brown or in between. I am relaxed if you are heterosexual, bisexual, transsexual or celibate, Protestant or Catholic, Muslim, Jew or Atheist. I would interact, befriend, socialise, march, have a pint, stand on the barricades with any and all of those mentioned. Personally I only ask this of you, respect my views and my lifestyle in a reciprocal manner.
I am a simple man, and I try at all times to be logical. The entire trans thing has gone nuclear, and it seems so unnecessary. I struggle to see what rights those that choose to switch genders are being refused at present? Nobody has ever explained properly what human or civil rights are being denied to them. Anyone that tries to deny that there are two distinct genders is either an idiot or has an ulterior motive in all this. There are males and females, men and women however you want to describe it. One sex donates their sperm, the other, an egg and womb. It takes one of each gender to continue humankind. That surely, is undeniable? The biggest contention it seems is that trans intending persons should be able to just decide if they are male, or female. I assume it is a two way process? This can be done without any medical testing or verification. The proposal being that as soon as they self-identify it is their right to have the exact same access and rights as the sex they have chosen. Again I am not sure just how far this self-identification goes. For example if I decide on Friday night to become female, can I change my mind and self-identify on Monday to be male again? The people most opposed to this present legislation are not anti-trans as some are trying to portray.Most are more tolerant than those attacking, members, MSPs and MPs that are concerned about the Bill as drafted. They are just concerned people that are worried about women’s rights and safety. Those two different things are not being acknowledged by those supporting the Bill.
It seems to me that in all this it is the females in our society that are once again the ones in danger of having their rights diminished. It is not male to female trans that are being endangered, either physically or by loss of rights. There are very few people who oppose anyone wishing to transgender. The only concern is women’s safety something that apparently you cannot question. Those that do can expect vile attacks by this coterie of bigots. There is a tiny clique in the SNP that have behaved abominably. They have been trampling over everyone else’s rights to disagree. They are demanding total acceptance and silence on self-identification. Surely an accommodation can be reached that protects women’s rights and safety as well as the rights that the trans community suggests are being denied? Personally I believe until the penis, is not functioning as a sex organ male trans people should not be allowed into female only spaces. I also believe that post transgender questions on sporting participation need to be carefully examined and discussed.The pro GRA lobby may want to deny science and nature the rational among us know it exists. Setting aside the winning or losing because of gender anatomy^ there are huge safety implications for example when it comes to women’s boxing and rugby.
The Party needs to halt any further progress on this Bill immediately. There is a feeling amongst many that irrespective of the consultation process this Bill will be pushed through in all circumstances.The only way to avoid huge splits within the movement is to bring everyone on board. A free and open debate at the Spring Conference would be a good starting point. An announcement that further progress on the Bill has been halted until the entire Party has spoken not just the loudest voices in the inner circle!
As a matter of urgency the Party needs to rein in these attack dogs that are causing massive harm and disruption within the Party. Their bullying and threatening behaviour has gone well beyond reasonable debate. Our Party more than any other should find bullying unacceptable in any form.
Let me end by telling a related type anecdotal story.
When I was living and working in London I put in an offer to buy a flat that had as part of the deal a dedicated resident only parking place. It put several £thousands on to the cost of the property. Here’s the thing, until the entire transaction was complete and they had my money in their bank I was not allowed to use that parking space. I accepted that then as the fair thing, perhaps those wanting to share female only spaces might want to adopt a similar attitude. Once they have, we can maybe get back to winning independence, hmm?
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I agree the whole GRA thing is toxic and I don’t know enough about it to make a call, yet.
As to ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ though, it appears to be more complex than just ‘male genitals = man”.
What’s your thoughts on this?:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001669.htm
And this, from a Professor of Biology:
It means you may be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally male/female/non-binary, with cells that may or may not hear the male/female/non-binary call, and all this leading to a body that can be male/non-binary/female.
https://twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm
Perhaps you don’t know enough or perhaps you are engaging in sophistry.
Nobody is claiming sex and gender are the same thing.
Gender is like religion, it is a human construct – sometimes forced on people, sometimes (even when clearly ludicrous) believed in by choice.
Intersex people are not trans people. They are mostly two entirely different groups.
Trans activists are literally conflating sex and gender. Some stating Trans women are female
But therein lies the beginning of the problem. The sex chromosomes are only the blueprint for development. It is how these genes are transcribed into to proteins within the environment of the person as they develop. There are many factors that affect the levels of hormones that control sexual characteristics – everything from stress experienced by the mother while the fetus is developing through to chemicals in the environment that mimic the effects of estrogen – which teenage males are particularly susceptible to. After all that it’s not surprising we have a fluidity of outcome in how male or how female people are.
So why given the apparent acceptance of fluidity in sexual preference, by society, after a long and bloody battle in which many people paid a severe price do we end with this mess.
Why has the personal identity battle taken place over sex? Why not height or race or handedness or rd-hair or any other physical characteristic which has been used to denigrate groups of people?
There is no fluidity.
People previously called ‘intersex’ now known as Differences in Sexual Development, are either male or female. Chat to the folk on @dsdfamilies for more info
I don’t get why GRA and women’s safety are grouped.
If someone is going to attack a women, do you really think them having or not having a GRA will stop them?
They don’t care, they have already decided to step outside of the law and attack someone.
As for they want to get into women’s spaces to persecute ex etc, how do you think they handle it when the victim and perpetrator are the same gender? Systems are already in place for this.
This is not a woman’s safety issue, and only the intolerant are making it such, so they can push their intolerance. This intolerance has, on occasion hurt some individual women especially butch lesbians who get harassed for using the ladies, because some people are so filled with hate they think the woman is trans.
Some extra info
https://time.com/4322953/north-carolina-mississippi-bathroom-bills/
https://www.vox.com/identities/2016/5/13/17938102/transgender-people-bathrooms-locker-rooms-schools
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I sincerely hope this eminently sensible blog doesn’t get you the kind of hate that those of us that oppose the changes to self ID get whenever we challenge the issue.
Like others, I do not understand why these changes are coming about or what rights trans people have that are being eroded. To me, the current process for transition appears correct. Certainly the two trans women I know are uneasy about the proposed changes believing that those who choose to transition need the safety of a medical diagnosis and time to discover what it’s like to make the change. It seems they feel as threatened by the proposed changes as many other women do, and for the same reasons.
That said, for a political party that is generally pretty smart in its handling of issues, the SNP handling of this one has been abysmal. From the first consultation, which was not well publicised to the current one, where Shirley-Anne Somerville appears to be saying that regardless of any criticism the Bill will go ahead, there has been no consultation with women or any engagement to allay concerns. There also appears to have been no risk assessment about potential hazards or how those hazards would be dealt with. Schools are already moving towards unisex toilets, with no consideration of how girls will cope with periods while sharing spaces with boys. What about safeguarding? How do we protect women and girls in this scenario? We already know about male sexual predators in women’s prisons and other women’s spaces. My main concern Is that there will be no alternative for women and girls. We have to like it or lump it, regardless.
You raise the issue of women in sport. Current research demonstrates that the physical advantage of being male continues after hormone treatment with heavier bones an a different skeletal structure. The advantage is obvious when you look at what has happened in the US in athletics, where males who were very average performers in male athletics win over natal women – and take their sports scholarships too. Here we have a cricketer who plays one year for the male league and isn’t anywhere close to the leading batsmen, who the following year in the women’s league leads the batting by over 200 runs. Then we have the 6’3” trans rugby player, who has already injured women, and of whom the coach says proudly, “she’s a beast! She just flattens anyone in the way”
There has been no consideration given anywhere in the world to aspects of differences between natal and trans women. There just seems to be an acceptance in government that it’s fine if women cannot compete or are injured. It’s fine if sexual predators have access to women’s spaces. It’s hard luck if abused women do not want a male in a refuge, and tough if women don’t want male body in a women’s shower room. This person has declared themselves female so their rights override all else.
Biology is biology. All cells have male and female components. Even intersex people are predominantly one or the other. The movement to allow transition via puberty blockers to children is appalling. No child even at 16 can make an informed decision about the rest of their life, particularly one that is complex or impossible to change.
I am angry than the word “woman” is being changed to womxn. I am angry that women are being hurt and excluded from sport they enjoy, prevented from pursuing sport at higher levels and representing their countries. I am furious at being called a “breeder”, cis or TERF. Most of all I am furious that the party I am a member of is allowing the abuse of women daily, especially high profile women like Jo Cherry and Joan McAlpine who dare to raise concerns.
I still support Independence, but I’m certainly having second thoughts about voting for the SNP. I know I’m not alone. I’m astonished the SNP, which I have always thought of as a smart organisation, don’t understand or can’t see the damage this issue is doing.
You have said it all and far better than I in my attempts.
Thank you for this excellent article, with which I totally agree. Both you and Ann Christie confirm my thoughts and feelings around the whole debate and express it better than I ever could!
I feel so strongly about this I have sent the SNP this communication below:
Just in case you even care why I am cancelling my SNP membership it’s because:
I am against your rolling out of GRA reform and opening the consultation to other countries than Scotland, which I find unacceptable.
I am against the SNP government coming out against women and children’s rights by steam-rollering this through.
If you care what the people of Scotland think about this whole debate, perhaps you should hold a referendum on GRA reform – that would be a fair and equitable way to establish the level of public support for this and would be wholly democratic.
I am against the woke dei that seems to have taken over the party, who seem to hold such sway that representatives are afraid to speak out against GRA reform or to promote women’s rights.
I am dissatisfied with the SNP suspending Neale Hanvey for alleged antisemitism and Mhairi Black’s recent actions go totally without censure.
I find I can no longer recognise the party I have supported my whole life.
There are many supporters like me – do you have no idea how ordinary people are viewing this action?
It is going to cost you the election next year.
And finally but most importantly, I am dissatisfied with the lack of proactive pursuit of independence within the SNP hierarchy.
To think that our chance of independence will be scuppered by this ridiculous and obsessive pursuit of GRA reform that there is little demand for is incredulous to me.
You fiddle while Rome burns and I am no longer prepared to support you.
I will wait to see if I can support another party who stands candidates for the independence list seats or I will sink my resources into the YES movement.
I am just an ordinary woman, a solid supporter who contributes what I can financially, I’m not an activist as I have caring responsibilities that limit my available time, however I have passionately followed the SNP my whole life and have to this point been fiercely proud of all the party has achieved over the years.
I too am ‘mature’ and very tolerant but find I am constantly asking ‘what on earth is going on???’
This needs dealt with URGENTLY and I fear that the politicians in their bubble seem to be impervious to the untold damage this is doing and that they are disenfranchising a large percentage of their female support.
Nicola Sturgeon is not stupid – again I ask ‘what on earth is going on???’
Thank you Barrhead Boy for raising your head above the parapet – I always enjoy your very well written and analytical articles
Thank you for your kind words and your very brilliant comment
“viscous little attack dogs” are you saying that they are a bit thick? :).
I agree with every word written. The trans agenda is simply misogyny and relentless, shrill bullying. I am extremely disappointed in those SNP politicians supporting the trans agenda.
I remain a member of the SNP. And I will happily fight to retain women only spaces.
Just also like to add my thanks to you for ‘sticking your head above the parapet’. Leaving aside the very obvious issues of safeguarding, gatekeeping & the effective child abuse that is positively encouraging children to transition before puberty (i.e. before they have any real clue about who they actually are) that you have already highlighted, the single most chilling & abominable aspect of the ‘proposed’ reform & TRAs MO is the outright refusal to engage & debate through ongoing hate speech, threats of physical violence, no-platforming, redefining words & terms, denying demonstrable biology & screaming NO DEBATE. That more than 50% of the population are being asked, nae demanded, that they deny the evidence of their own senses & even existence beggars belief. And I speak as a life-long supporter of Indy for Scotland, a WASPI woman & formerly active SNP member. There is absolutely no question that the public at large are waking up to the woke & that it will cost the party exceptionally dearly at the polls. I personally will spoil my ballot paper before I’ll vote again for a party which I no longer recognise
Fiona I suggest you do some research.
Children are not transitioning before puberty in the UK.
All that happens is they get blockers, once someone is taken off these they will enter puberty like everyone else.
This is not permanent, no surgery, if they change their mind they can continue their life with no consequences.
They get blockers before they reach puberty and that makes it fine? I think you scare me.
Absolutely brilliant blog. I still do not understand all the ins and outs of this debate, but to me it came from nowhere and suddenly was passing through the parliament. I had not witnessed any pre-political discussion on this issue. It sadly is becoming the new “Offensive Behaviour” bourach. Ill thought out legislations can often be worse than no legislation. I must admit that I have not formed an opinion on this subject, purely because it seemed well underway before I heard anything about it. However, I do agree that women’s rights were hard fought for and should not be relinquished lightly. Also, I do feel as if there are dark forces moving on this one. People who know that this is an Achilles heal moment and wanting to exploit it to try and undermine the Scottish Government.
To actually return to your discussion of women’s place in the home etc, when we were growing up and that women were controlled by a male dominated world. It was not only men that re-enforced this. I remember a conversation with a woman I work with back in my early career. She had never been married and as we spoke about employment or the lack of towards the end of the 70s, she share her view that the reason the number of available jobs were going down was all because married women were going out to work and they filled jobs that other could have had. After all they had a husband to look after them. Yes I kid you not this was a single woman’s opinion.
Stockholm Syndrome!
Another excellent article.
I am starting to think that the British state has compromised some SNP members or have long term plants who are now being activated. Others who are more interested in their pet policies/causes and not independence but joined the SNP because they have power.
The SNP seems to be losing its way re independence just as the polls are showing a majority for independence and very favourable circumstances for achieving independence. But until there is an alternative party of independence to vote for – one that truly has its primary purpose as independence then those people who say they will not vote for the SNP are just giving the British state and their operatives exactly what they want. In effect they are being played. Divide and conquer is the British way.
Resigning from the SNP is not the way forward either. Stay and change those in power. Put in power SNP politicians who truly want independence.
I think perhaps the proposed List Party being successful might get their eyes back on the prize.
It may well do but that of course assumes they want to win the prize in the first place.
Like you I have been willing to go along with the SNP but now I have serious doubts about what is going on. Robertson via Cherry – totally unnecessary in a united party. Both could become MSPs with all the MSPs that are retiring but it looks more like a stop Cherry move to me.
I do not believe you and other people opposed to this know enough about it , how could you ?
We all have experiences in life , I am sixty four I have plenty myself , I do not intend to say that this new legislation is good or bad I don’t know enough about it but I have read thee various reports that have have been written by the Scottish government showing that they have consulted experts widely in this country and overseas.
I trust government until there is evidence to not trust , I do not think there is evidence to not trust at present so I keep an open mind.
We will see.
The Scottish govt has consulted only with groups that support trans self-id. Some of whom are at risk of losing their govt funding if they disagree. Govt have pointedly avoided talking to grassroots women’s groups, and have (in some cases) labelled them as “hate groups”.
Anna, I’m afraid that what you say (“the Scottish govt has consulted only with groups that support trans self-id”) is simply untrue. Quite to the contrary the Scottish Government is at this moment conducting an open public consultation to which everyone is welcome to contribute. A previous pubic consultation was held in late 2017 and early 2018 which again provided the opportunity for all individuals and organizations to make the views known.
https://consult.gov.scot/family-law/gender-recognition-reform-scotland-bill/consultation
https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Justice/law/17867/gender-recognition-review
I was sent an email as an SNP member asking for my opinion on a range of issues including this one. It was a fairly obscure questionnaire actually but I gave my opinions anyway.
Gordie, If you’re worried that you’re not keeping up with the public consultations which the Scottish Government holds quite regularly on a wide range of topics, then you might want to bookmark this page, which lists all public consultations: https://consult.gov.scot/consultation_finder/
If you only care about this one, then the link is in my previous post on this thread, and you have until Monday to complete the survey.
Not true
Anyone in U.K. anyone in the world was allowed to contribute to the consultation here is the application form
https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/consultation-paper/2019/12/gender-recognition-reform-scotland-bill-consultation-scottish-government/documents/respondent-information-form/respondent-information-form/govscot%3Adocument/respondent-information-form.docx
I think what ppl are saying is that during consultation Scot Govt met with those bodies that it funds to get their views on GRA reform. This invitation was not on offer to other Women Groups, but only via online consultation paper.
It has been said, without any evidence to back up claim, that some groups would have funding suspended or stopped if they did not agree to GRA reforms. This does not mean it is not true, but only no evidence has been forthcoming to back said claim. A bit like Saville, inuendo abound about being paedo, but no evidence brought forward to back up claim. Either through fear or belief no one would believe them. Fear of losing funding is a good reason for being quiet, especially when it is others who will lose the most. So i dont rule it out nor do i rule it in either.
You may be right, Bob, however, comments opposing trans rights often seem to be marked even more than most political debates by a tendency to assert something which may contain a grain of truth, but which then goes well beyond what is factual, in order to make the issue seem much more scary and unreasonable than it is. So as a result, I like to stick to the exact facts as they are, and perhaps give a little less leeway than I otherwise might. And the facts in this case are that the Scottish Government has consulted very widely, holding not one but two completely open public consultations, one of which is still ongoing.
It’s only 24 hours since I discovered that I’m no longer a woman. Apparently I’m now a woman with one of a variety of prefixes. We see throughout world history, the oppression and subjugation of women and just when things seem to have reached a tipping point in equality, here we go again. Just when you thought it might be safe to be female…
Fiona, could you say a bit more about why you feel you are “no longer a woman”? I’ve seen other people say things like this in reference to the word “cis” as in “cis woman”. Is that what you are thinking of? If so I’m confused why this word is so offensive? Maybe you’re a tall woman, maybe you’re a outgoing woman. If so, surely the fact you are tall or outgoing doesn’t make you less if a woman, it’s just saying something about the kind of woman you are. And the fact that there are also short or introverted women doesn’t take anything away from you does it? The word cis just means that someone has always felt on the whole comfortable that the gender people see them as is the right one. If that describes you, why would it be any different from words like tall, short, outgoing, etc that might also describe you?
Men across the world are in danger more often than women ,men are attacked and killed more often than women everywhere across the world that is fact , true it’s men that endanger men but when you talk of safety as a female you have to consider what can be done to improve your safety.
GRA has not endangered females wherever it has been introduced .
I’m all for protecting people from danger from violence but we have to do it sensibly we have no evidence that GRA increases risk or violence towards females
A hunch, an opinion , isn’t enough
I cannot see any new law being introduced that will endanger females
“Personally I believe until the penis, is not functioning as a sex organ male trans people should not be allowed into female only spaces.” This! Absolutely this!
A great many trans women *desperately* want hormone therapy or gender confirmation surgery, but are left waiting for years and years because the few clinics which provide these services are understaffed and underfunded. In fact, lack of access to these leads to pain, negative mental health outcomes and even suicide. The most useful thing to do if this is how you feel would be to support better access for trans people to NHS services for transition.
I don’t know if you are intentionally trying to redefine this article or not. The entire thrust of this article is the lack of communication and consultation by the Scottish Government. A great many women have expressed reservations at the GRA Bill as proposed just now. They want assurances on safety for themselves and their sisters, mothers daughters, granddaughters.Till now when expressing their concerns a certain faction within the Party attack these women suggesting they are transphobic because they do have genuine safety concerns. You with this comment are now talking about hormone treatment and surgeries which is absolutely nothing to do with the topic of the blog. You would be as well discussing Gregor Townshend’s tactics at Murrayfield tomorrow. This is about SNP not listening and some youngsters in Party bullying and harrassing concerned females. The majority of these bullies I might add are male. So please either comment on the actual articled or don’t bother to comment at all
Your article is probably a bit less tightly focused that you are making out. For example your comment, “[p]ersonally I believe until the penis…” has nothing to do with the lack of communication and consultation by the Scottish Government and is simply a statement of your own opinion. I’m responding to that opinion, which you expressed and which Sue R seconded. Your blog, your rules, but I don’t agree with your characterization of my comment.
So true the waiting lists for GCS are so long at the moment.
Excellent points throughout. Thank you.
It is not as simple as stating I am male this weekend and tomorrow I am female. The whole point of the act is to allow people who have trainsitioned to be able to have their birth certificate changed, at present this is not a very easy process and can be denied even if all surgery has taken place. The act is not about self identifying at all.
A birth certificate is an historical wtitten record of the facts as they were at the time. It shouldn’t be allowed to be changed or we might as well just start re-writing history to suit how we feel. A certificate of transition could be issued instead. Should I be allowed to change the date of birth on mine so that I can overcome the physical and psychological pain I feel at being denied my pension at 60? Should I be able to self ID as 66 and claim the money being robbed from me? I “feel” like a pensioner and being forced to continue to work makes me, on ocassions, feel suicidal. Why is my case any less less worthy?
There will forever be a record of whether you were born female or male your birth certificate records this , it is possible by application to have the birth certificate changed but that doesn’t and never will delete the original record it will merely adjust it to help the individuals transition
Trans Inclusive bathrooms are safe here is the data. And transition regret is a a myth
https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/23/dont-believe-what-you-read-about-transition-regret-10961836/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna911106
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/identities/2016/5/13/17938102/transgender-people-bathrooms-locker-rooms-schools
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.axios.com/study-transgender-policies-bathroom-safety-lgbtq-9c149e23-26d9-47c0-bfb9-e9f44c847eb3.html
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2016/5/18/11690234/women-bathrooms-harassment
List of science based articles on gender.
1. UCLA – Challenging Gender Identity: Biologists Say Gender Expands Across A Spectrum, Rather Than Simply Boy And Girl
https://socgen.ucla.edu/2015/03/01/challenging-gender-identity-biologists-say-gender-expands-across-a-spectrum-rather-than-simply-boy-and-girl/?fbclid=IwAR2GRgsWskQCl_dbG2hMsax2IKfkalTnJaj4YCE-U7b34GYHthUox1SXzxU
2. NY Times – Anatomy Does Not Determine Gender, Experts Say
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/22/health/transgender-trump-biology.html?fbclid=IwAR22AFU0GZuN5NS_8-p4N0VhVVSGamaIOWppkNnCIxK733TTARcqgmmgbII
3. Discover Magazine – Skeletal Studies Show Sex, Like Gender, Exists Along A Spectrum
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2018/11/16/evolution-human-body-skeleton-sex-gender/?fbclid=IwAR301BHx3-OUsfBttixf491El8oAKjaCjzfEreGin9xMkwzZbNlOXWwPrjg#.Xbkh-ppKjIW
4. National Geographic – How Science is Helping Us Understand Gender
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/how-science-helps-us-understand-gender-identity/?fbclid=IwAR0AoubR8ZHLqqntK6Wa3XajasXSEzTsMTM1S1rN4QVdPJmvb2v5GGwV7ro
5. Scientific American – The New Science of Sex and Gender
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-new-science-of-sex-and-gender/?fbclid=IwAR14TXeQaORpFgyfln9sRVcR2L33BW9NbK-HfbMeFMedDV8lqqSqgtjwA-4
6. Harvard – Between the (Gender) Lines: The Science of Transgender Identity
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2016/gender-lines-science-transgender-identity/?fbclid=IwAR1k_3weEmpo7E7t-1ytU5el5Z7JheBU0ZZD437pcwm1kezmXLmjm5qcW_k
7. AP News – Sciences Says: Sex and Gender Aren’t the Same
https://apnews.com/2a67da6515aa48e68e56cd97817b097a?fbclid=IwAR0AoubR8ZHLqqntK6Wa3XajasXSEzTsMTM1S1rN4QVdPJmvb2v5GGwV7ro
8. World Health Organization (WHO) – Gender and Genetics
https://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/?fbclid=IwAR1z7BqZoV2fwwnDkVDe3_DgzTV_d8TZ4SzJmvCn1id6PkPa6SFL3ibVbUQ
9. World Health Organization (WHO) – Genetic Components of Sex and Gender
https://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html?fbclid=IwAR0AoubR8ZHLqqntK6Wa3XajasXSEzTsMTM1S1rN4QVdPJmvb2v5GGwV7ro
10. Medline Plus Encyclopedia – Intersex
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001669.htm?fbclid=IwAR0AoubR8ZHLqqntK6Wa3XajasXSEzTsMTM1S1rN4QVdPJmvb2v5GGwV7ro
11. Scientific American – Where Transgender is No Longer a Diagnosis
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/where-transgender-is-no-longer-a-diagnosis/?fbclid=IwAR301BHx3-OUsfBttixf491El8oAKjaCjzfEreGin9xMkwzZbNlOXWwPrjg
12. American Psychological Association (APA) – Answers to Your Questions About Transgender People, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression
https://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/transgender?fbclid=IwAR38ToNUF21wGGrCvnXMuddKL57f9ZEOxUljdOUMyeO4J3WSq1FYdJexZ8s
13. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – Suicide and Suicidal Behavior Among Transgender Persons
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5178031/?fbclid=IwAR1waD5vVWez7BoxgVOvQl7XCdZQSFyUxL-JK8Ymk08OCiQYeza9l4TR_S0
14. Disrupting Dinner Parties (Blog) – Take the Red Pill: The Truth Behind the Biology of Sex
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15. https://www.openlynews.com/i/?id=ccf27eed-f4dd-45fd-a033-11f94d07bb83
I keep bringing this up & as yet find no satisfactory answer to the Q.
Manchester University did a survey on TransMen & TransWomen. It found both groups did not use Male & Female toilets on campus due to fear of assault & verbal abuse.
Why if this is the case, do both TransMen & TransWomen feel the need to share the very spaces they fear, with the very ppl they are afraid of.
Answer i previously got was Women have nothing to fear from TransWomen,as this survey shows, but are scardy cats themselves & using as excuse to fear monger those against GRA reform.
This itself is no better a response than one gets from Scot Govt to those Women in need of assurance.
Why the need to share a space(s) that Trans ppl themselves fear ?
Is it due to costs of making a 3rd safe space available ?
Who would pay for those 3rd spaces ?
Government ? Local Businesses ?
A 3rd safe space would be the logical solution, but it seems to be overlooked.
Of course GRA reform opens up a number of issues surrounding the definition of a Woman itself, and everything that comes with it.
Entitlement comes to mind.
Sorry BBfor going on a bit. Great article & says much about how ppl feel within the party & outwith the party on the direction of SNP & on how the GRA reform is a major factor in that direction.
Probably your best one to date.
I think one of the problems is that the “vicious little attack dogs” have grown up in a world where nobody has ever said “no” to them before. They’ve always been used to getting their own way and haven’t learned a civilised method of being able to accept that they may not get their own way. It’s the postpubescent version of the terrible twos. As Bob says “entitlement comes to mind”. Thanks for the article – a keeper.
Anne, I have contributed a few posts to this thread defending trans rights and so you may perhaps regard me as a “vicious little attack dog”. I grew up in Scotland in the 60s and so I remember quite clearly that the vicious attack dogs of those days were mainstream media and society mocking, assaulting, and discriminating against all LGBT people. The most vicious homophobia and transphobia was quite acceptable in TV and everyday speech. Throughout my childhood and teens same-sex relations were illegal in Scotland. Clause 28 literally forbade councils from saying anything in anyway positive about LGBT people. You could be fired and discriminated against in every way for being gay or trans. So I think perhaps LGBT people of my generation have actually heard “no” said enough that we may be forgiven for being a little tired of it.
History proves that there are always “ vicious little attack dogs “ on both sides
That’s as a good and balanced an article I’ve read on this subject anywhere, but for some I know it will be attacked in the absence of logic or reason. Thank you for taking the time to articulate what many of us are thinking but hitherto afraid to voice.
So your logic is that there are men thinking, “I am going to dress as a woman, then go into toilets, and attack a woman. Oh wait I don’t have a GRA, I can’t do that.”
The kind of person who is going to do that doesn’t care about the law, or GRAs, because if they did they wouldn’t do that.
This is just fear mongering, the arguments are the same that was used against gay and lesbian people in the 80s.
So your logic is that there are men thinking, “I am going to dress as a woman, then go into toilets, and attack a woman. Oh wait I don’t have a GRA, I can’t do that.”
The kind of person who is going to do that doesn’t care about the law, or GRAs, because if they did they wouldn’t do that.
This is just fear mongering, the arguments are the same that was used against gay and lesbian people in the 80s.
So your logic is that there are men thinking, “I am going to dress as a woman, then go into toilets, and attack a woman. Oh wait I don’t have a GRA, I can’t do that.”
The kind of person who is going to do that doesn’t care about the law, or GRAs, because if they did they wouldn’t do that.
This is just fear mongering, the arguments are the same that was used against gay and lesbian people in the 80s.
So your logic is that there are men thinking, “I am going to dress as a woman, then go into toilets, and attack a woman. Oh wait I don’t have a GRA, I can’t do that.”
The kind of person who is going to do that doesn’t care about the law, or GRAs, because if they did they wouldn’t do that.
This is just fear mongering, the arguments are the same that was used against gay and lesbian people in the 80s.
Why can’t we wait for the end of the consultation and the decision made thereafter surely we can then look critically at proposals .
Shooting down a consultation before it’s conclusion surely is not the way to go
I found your article balanced and well-researched. Nevertheless, as a teacher who has taught in a number of schools up and down the country I can tell you that there is a lot of strong opinions in schools about the proposed ‘reforms’ to education within the GRA, most of it hostile.
I cannot speak for parents as I am now a grandparent but teaching six-year olds about anal sex (sodomy) and using a banana and a tub of marmite as teaching tools (please correct me if I’m wrong) will be viewed by many as being perverse and almost akin to child abuse. Sodomy is viewed by many in the medical profession as being unhygienic and unclean (though I realize that both heterosexuals and homosexuals indulge in it).
We hear all about the rights of transpeople but what about the rights of a child?
Should a S6 young adult male be allowed access to the same toilet or changing room as a S1 girl? I don’t think so. The girl has a right to a safe space and I think that is what this is all about.
And for the SNP to pursue the trans agenda relentlessly will cause it big trouble, electorally. Why they don’t see this is simply bizarre.