Press

Woman’s Place UK press release – 27 Feb 2018 – for immediate release

 

The largest public meeting so far to discuss proposed controversial changes to transgender laws will take place in London TONIGHT on Tues 27 February 2018 [1].

 

The meeting will discuss proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the impacts on women and girls. The government announced a consultation in July 2017, to start in ‘the Autumn’, about proposals to reform the Act [2]. Due to huge controversy, the consultation has since been delayed and has still not been announced. The proposals are to ‘demedicalise’ the process of changing ‘gender’, so that people can self-identify as the opposite sex and legally become that sex, without any need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, or to transition or have surgery

 

These proposals are controversial as organisations such as Woman’s Place UK [3] argue that self-identification of transgender people will disadvantage women and may mean the end of single-sex spaces. It will make it harder to gather accurate data on the pay gap between the sexes, domestic violence against women, and the health services they require. Self-identification may also mean the end of women-only hospital wards and other spaces where a male presence would be unwelcome, such as changing rooms and toilets.

 

Speakers will include:

• Pilgrim Tucker, a community organiser and campaigner [4]  • Lucy Masoud, London Regional Officer for the Fire Brigades Union and full time firefighter [5] • Steph Pike is a founder of Woman’s Place UK, and is a socialist and activist

 

Woman’s Place UK is one of the leading organisations who are speaking up to defend the rights of women and girls to safety, dignity and privacy. WPUK meetings have been growing in size and have taken place in Cambridge, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh. The London meeting will be the largest meeting to date.

 

Some transsexuals also oppose the proposed GRA reforms as they see them as a threat to transsexuals who transition and suffer from gender dysphoria [6].

 

Ends

 

For further information email awomansplaceuk@gmail.com, or tweet @Womans_Place_UK. Our website is at https://womansplaceuk.org/

 

Notes to Editors

[1] Venue details will only be disclosed today, on 27 Feb, as previous meeting venues have been harassed and intimidated by trans activists. It will be a central London location. It is vital media representatives book their place with Women’s Place UK by calling or emailing, as the event is likely to sell out, and there will security on the door. ID will be required. Event details are here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-womans-place-is-making-a-stand-tickets-42865237078

 

[2] Announcement by Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, 23 July 2017 https://www.gov.uk/…/ne…/new-action-to-promote-lgbt-equality  Amber Rudd has now taken over as Minister for Women & Equalities, and the consultation has now become her responsibility.

 

[3] Woman’s Place UK is a group of people from a range of backgrounds including trade unions, women’s organisations, academia and the NHS. We are united by our belief that women’s hard won rights must be defended. Follow on twitter @Womans_Place_UK

 

[4] Pilgrim Tucker is on twitter as @PilgrimTucker

 

[5] Lucy Masoud has been a firefighter for 12 years and is based at Chelsea fire station. As well as being a Regional Officer, Lucy is also the LGBT secretary for the FBU in London

 

[6] Transgender women criticise reform, The Times, 6 Nov 2017  https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/transgender-women-criticise-reform-xtp9n6mn0
and the Morning Star, 7 Oct 2017

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/gender-identity-debate-explored Watch transwoman Kristina Harrison speaking at a Woman’s Place UK meeting in Manchester: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPdhIjWgKFg&t=73s