Category: Public Sector

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Public Sector

I care about the fact that as a gay man supposed “gay charities” are now violently homophobic

This matters to me because on a selfish level I care about the fact that as a gay man supposed “gay charities” are now violently homophobic and claim that terms like homosexual are “transphobic” and every gay charity and organisation in the UK thinks homosexual people should accept opposite sex people as partners. Also I care about women’s rights and to be frank every woman I know in real life – my mother sisters aunts my female friends etc – do not want to share female only places with male bodied people

I’ve only really spoken out on social media. With my friends and family in real life they know how I feel but they feel similar. I have spoken in work with some colleagues I am close to and found they likewise feel similar but are terrified to speak out

I have lost some friends. I have had social media bans and restrictions. I have been driven out of countless “LGBT groups” including my company pride network.

Sheridan Sinclair , Gay male, civil servant

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Public Sector

A colleague suggested drag for under 5s sessions

I am chilled by the unwillingness to debate a rights conflict. The tsunami of misogyny directed at women with the courage to speak makes me sick. I think language is so important; women need our words to describe ourselves, it’s not hateful or unreasonable. I am so disappointed in the left, I feel politically homeless.

Very little, I suffer from anxiety and I am too scared. I work in the library service in London. Pronouns are appearing in email signatures, a colleague suggested drag for under 5s sessions (I did say something about there being reasonable, not transphobic, not homophobic, objections to this). Even in a public service environment I am afraid to say too much for fear of being labelled a bigot.

I’ve said very little but no overt reaction to the little I did say.

Jane W

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Public Sector

I have spoken in my role as a councillor on Leeds City Council

This matters to me because we need and fought for single sex services, spaces and language and I will not give them up.

I have spoken in my role as a councillor on Leeds City Council.

I have been reported to the police, to my employer and threatened.

Sarah Field, Councillor, Leeds City Councillor

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Healthcare Public Sector

It seems like everything is up for grabs

This matters to me because I see opportunities being stripped from women and girls on a systematic basis. Women’s spaces, women’s sport, women’s identities – it seems like everything is up for grabs.

I have voiced my opinion on social media, and made sure that my children hear my side of the argument.

Tons of abuse, threats of doxxing (although I am very careful because I would be sacked), threats of assault.

Clytemnestra , Geordie Mum. Quiet-abiding, rarely raise my head above the parapet

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Public Sector

Language will be changed to disregard “women”

I care because as a woman I am terrified of the misogyny from people. I am terrified our rights will be removed and language will be changed to disregard “women” I am scared for the future just to appease the minority.

I’ve posted on social media and discussed in work.

I have been called a terf by a colleague in work.

Louise, It isn’t Hate to speak the Trith, Bumcrackannie

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Healthcare Public Sector

I have to be careful about my views at work for fear of repercussions especially when trying to raise safeguarding concerns for young children

I care about all rights and equal rights, but I am a woman, a lesbian. I have been called a terf, verbally abused on line and during marches, having to be in a group for fear of reprisal… for saying a sex and gender are not the same, being called transphobic for saying a trans woman is not a biological woman and certainly not a lesbian.

I have to be careful about my views at work for fear of repercussions especially when trying to raise safeguarding concerns for young children and people who say they are trans…without any proper evaluation or analysis of their living situation.

I’ve joined marches, online groups, twitters, help crowd funding to name a few.

I have been called terf, bitch, cunt.

DK, Womansworld65

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Public Sector

I have seen first hand what male predators do and the lengths they will go to to commit their crimes

For the last twenty years I have worked with the victims of sexual assault and in child protection. I have seen first hand what male predators do and the lengths they will go to to commit their crimes.

I have no fear of transexual women, fully support them, but I am certain that self-ID will allow abusers to use the trans community as a cover. They will self ID their way into women’s spaces. You will read this and perhaps think I’m paranoid or hysterical, but the things I’ve seen leave me in no doubt of what’s happening here – the targeting of youth online, the anime, the gaming, the grown men disguising themselves as little girls, sliding their way in the LGB movement in order to make themselves seem respectable.

And, the saddest part is that the trans community will be made to suffer by association. And, don’t even get me started on the lack of care for GNC kids, the unexplored and ignored links with autism…. scandalous. My fingers are crossed for your appeal, and for Keira Bell and her case. Maybe they will wake up the world to what is really going on.

Sadly little action, I would definitely lose my job.

I rarely speak up, and am very careful who I talk to. When I do, however, I find people either agree with me or have never given the issues much thought.

Tiff, Not anti anything, just concerned, and a parent

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Public Sector

Society has got this wrong

I have enjoyed my body for much of my life.  Conning vulnerable people into believing that they can change gender by hurting and harming their own bodies is cruel and wrong.  Girls getting their breasts removed tells us that there is something wrong with how those girls are being treated/growing up.

Society has got this wrong. Drug companies are profiting by mutilating people.  I was inspired by people like Posie Parker as well as the various arguments by different women.  They helped me to clarify my views on women’s liberation.  I was then outraged at the attacks on thinking women and resolved to stand up for us.

Another woman and I were members of Plaid Cymru.  She was investigated then chucked out of the party for disagreeing with the leadership. They were heavily influenced by Stonewall.  Her arguments were strong feminist arguments yet she wasn’t listened to.  

I began retweeting her arguments. We reached thousands of people. I challenged Leanne Wood on facebook and was surprised that our lead feminist was so unfamiliar with women’s arguments on this.  I raised it with Neil McEvoy and he recognised that the women around him thought it was important. I raised it with Rhun Ap Iorwerth AM who said that another female AM  Helen Mary Jones had had stick for raising this.  

I got involved in arguments with Welsh Greens and some listened.  I was surprised at how few people didn’t seem to get the importance of the re-definition of woman.  I was shocked at the political cowardice and group think of so many  people who wanted to be politically inclusive at my expense and who seemed remarkably ignorant about women’s issues.  Yesterday I started a new twitter account without my name, to build a better platform.

I have been blocked by someone who used to discuss things on facebook.  Other friends are wary that I might make their trans friends unhappy.  It’s sad but if everyone shut up it would be very bad for women and girls.

TalkitUp, Woman refusing to put up and shut up, Mouthyloud

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Public Sector

I don’t like the move to erase ‘women’ as a sex

This matters to me because I don’t like the move to erase ‘women’ as a sex and I want to protect the hard won safe spaces for women.

I have not done as much as I would like out of fear of drawing attention to myself.  I have discussed it at work but only with like-minded women.

LW

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Public Sector

As a result of the Victoria Derbyshire show, I was overwhelmed by support and kindness from women I had not met

I care because I have rejected gender stereotypes since my teenage years in the 1970s.  I strongly disagree with having to tolerate men in women’s spaces.  I am particularly angered (on behalf of my daughter) by the takeover of University Feminist Societies by men.

As a Non-Legal Member of the Employment Tribunals (England and Wales) I was astonished that transgender discrimination was featured at the 2019 Regional Training Day.  In 24 years as a member I have never come across such a case.  Nor had any of my colleagues.

I was annoyed at myself for destroying the slides used in the presentation, but on reflection they are normally sent out in advance.  I have searched in vain for any trace of them on the Judicial Internet or my ejudiciary.net email account.

Many colleagues were, like me, horrified at the notion it was fine to call a person “Queer” if that’s what they chose.  We were informed that sex was “assigned at birth”.  At that point I thought “I have to say something here”.

I raised my hand and said “Sex is not assigned at birth. Like many women, I have given birth.  Sex is a clinical observation. It is important for the treatment of many medical conditions.  Often it is known long before birth, at the 20 week scan.  I’ll just leave that there”.  I didn’t expect a response and didn’t get one.  But many of my colleagues indicated subtly that they supported my view.

On another occasion I was identified on Twitter by a BBC production assistant as someone who had rejoined the Labour Party after Jeremy Corbyn announced he would step down as Leader. 

I was invited on the Victoria Derbyshire show to ask a question regarding my Labour Party membership.  During a telephone conversation prior to the show I had a list of questions prepared that I would like to ask.  One of them was “Are transwomen women?”

It was confirmed that that is the question I would ask. I had decided to frame my question around the specific issues of Labour All Women Shortlists and CLP Women’s Officer roles.

I was as nervous as hell but thankfully I am semi-retired. I did wonder if I might put my Judicial Appointment at risk.  I thought of Maya Forstater, whose Crowdfund I had supported.  I felt it would be dishonourable not to take this opportunity.

In the studio, they took away my bag because they didn’t want “the set to look like an airport lounge”.  I wish I had remembered my bottle of water inside, because when I stood up to speak my mouth was so dry I could barely speak.  I got my point across though.  It was received in complete silence.  Keir Starmer said “We should all dial down the rhetoric” (?).  Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long Bailey informed me that “Trans women are women”.   

Thankfully, for me, there have been no negative consequences.  I sat on a case in early March with the Employment Judge who took the training session.  He remembered me from that, but was professional and friendly.  I felt like perhaps I had struck a chord. 

As a result of the Victoria Derbyshire show, I was overwhelmed by support and kindness from women I had not met on Twitter before, and invited to join the Facebook group.  I don’t think I could have lived with myself if I’d passed up that opportunity.  I think I have been blocked by most transgender purists.

Fiona Robertson, Semi-retired former TU Officer, Employment Tribunal Member