A Woman’s Place is a Safe Port

A Woman’s Place is a Safe Port – Labour Party Fringe Event (Unofficial)

Public Meeting in Liverpool
Tuesday 25th September 2018 (Venue to be announced) 

Doors open at 6:30pm, for 7.00pm start.

Speakers:

Ann Sinnott – Former Labour Cllr, Cambridge City

Helen Watts – Rainbow Leader, Girlguiding UK

Debbie Hayton – Science Teacher and Trade Unionist

Lucy Masoud – Fire Fighter

Ruth Serwotka – Co-founder Woman’s Place UK

Chair:

Megan Dobney – Trade Union Organiser and Socialist

Ann Sinnott was a Labour Councillor at Cambridge City Council for four years and was re-elected in May 2018. Eight weeks later, having learned that in 2010 the Council had breached the Equality Act by abolishing single-sex services and facilities, and was met with refusal by the Council to take prompt action to rectify, she resigned.

Helen Watts has been involved in Girlguiding as a child and adult. She is campaigning for Girlguiding to review their trans policy, which breaches girls’ right to privacy and dignity, risks their safety and excludes gender non confirming girls.

Debbie Hayton Science teacher, transwoman and trade unionist.  Contributor of important articles to the Times, the Economist and the Morning Star on the subject of self-identification.

Lucy Masoud has been a london fire fighter for 12 years. In this time she has been a strong advocate for the furthering of better representation of females in the fire service as well as fighting for women’s rights at stations

Ruth Serwotka Trade unionist, co-founder of Woman’s Place UK and convenor of Socialist Feminist Network.  She will speak about the need to build a new women’s movement whose first principle is that sex is a material reality and that it shapes women’s lives.

Megan Dobney is a feminist and trade unionist. Formerly a print worker (typesetter and typographer), she was the TUC’s regional secretary for London, the East of England & the South East for 11 years. Now retired and focusing on women’s rights and the raising of a statue of Sylvia Pankhurst on Clerkenwell Green.

The meeting will discuss proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004. 

In July 2018 the government opened a public consultation on their proposal to ‘demedicalise’ the process of changing gender, so that people can self-identify as the gender they choose, without any need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

But what exactly is ‘gender’, and what will be the impact of self-identification on women and on women’s rights and legal protections?

Will this reform spell the end to single sex spaces and the provision of single sex services, such as those provided by rape crisis centres and women’s refuges?

Will the changes make it harder to gather accurate data on the pay gap between men and women; on domestic violence against women; and on the health services women require?

Come and have your say on this controversial proposal.

Meeting hosted by Woman’s Place UK
https://womansplaceuk.org/

The Woman’s Place UK Five Demands:

1. Respectful and evidence based discussion about the impact of the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act to be allowed to take place and for women’s voices to be heard;

2. The principle of women only spaces to be upheld – and where necessary extended.

3. A review of how the exemptions in the Equality Act which allow for single sex services or requirements that only a woman can apply for a job (such as in a domestic violence refuge) are being applied in practice;

4. Government to consult with women’s organisations on how self-declaration would impact on women only services and spaces;

5. Government to consult on how self-declaration will impact upon data gathering – such as crime, employment, pay, and health statistics – and monitoring of sex-based discrimination such as the gender pay gap.

FAQs

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

ID is required for each person attending and must match the name on the ticket. For this reason, only one ticket can be booked at a time – sorry for the inconvenience.

There is no minimum age. Babes in arms are encouraged. Please consider the suitablity of the event if bringing children. No unaccompanied children.

What can I bring into the event?

For the security of all attendees, please don’t bring excessive belongings to the event. Bags may be searched.

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Please email AWomansPlaceUK@gmail.com

What’s the refund policy?

Organisers reserve the right to cancel any tickets ordered. Venue details are confidential to ticket-holders. A collection will also be made to cover costs of the meeting.