What action are they taking?

Everyone I’ve spoken to, without exception, has been fully in support. But everyone has also been too scared to say so in public or on social media.

I tell everyone I have a conversation with. I’m active on social media. I’ve written to my MP.

I’ve spoken to friends about it, but felt wretched like I was being judged for voicing concern. I also don’t feel I know enough not to get shouted down if I say something. I even resist liking something on Twitter for fear of reprisals.

Almost all had taken some action, with the most common being talking to friends posing on social media, responding to government consultations and donating to crowdfunders.

I’ve had an exchange of emails with my MP. I’ve delivered a talk to a local group. I’ve connected with other local gender critical feminists to discuss issues. I’ve attended WPUK meetings and conference.

I have written to my MP and others, I have met with my MP.  I have spoken to another MP and a mayoral candidate meeting …I have stickered. A lot. I have attended WPUK meetings, (5 or 6) and a further meeting organised by ‘Posie Parker’. I talk to people all the time & they ‘get it’. I attended FILIA.

I have spoken in my local Labour Party CLP meeting, spoken in my local Quaker meeting. I have campaigned through facebook and twitter, handed out FPFW (Fair Play For Women) and WPUK (Women’s Place UK) leaflets at Labour and LibDem Party conferences as well as at a Trade Union event. I have met with my MP.

I have actively campaigned alongside other women in Scotland to bin the Gender Recognition Reform Bill and raised my voice by filling in the consultation for the bill. I have attended For Women Scot meetings and the launch of LGB Alliance. I have defended my position, sought to explain it to anyone who will listen, and talked non-stop about this issue since I became aware of it.

Political engagement particularly in Scotland and in the Labour Party were mentioned by several respondents

Many have joined together with others in collective action , reading and sharing material, attending meetings and donating to crowdfunders.

Some have faced negative consequences:

I have been permabanned from twitter, losing my personal account of 7 years for saying a male cannot be a lesbian.

I have been threatened with sexual and physical violence online as have my family members

I’ve been kicked from online and real life LGBT groups.

 I have been called TERF, Nazi, bigot, personally insulted, threatened with rape, and it has been suggested that if they found out my real life identity I would be unsafe. 

I have been reprimanded at work for stepping out of my role to complain that they had changed the protected characteristics in the schools equality policy.

I was interviewed by my employer’s HR department after a colleague reported me to them for breaching social media policy. My crime was to share a Standing For Women post on facebook and have a constructive discussion about it.

I have had two important commissions withdrawn because my views could apparently make young people feel unsafe.

Most said that they were not as public as they would like to be, the main reason was concern for their jobs:

I am a teacher and I know I could lose my job if I was ‘too vocal’.

I can’t raise my voice for fear of losing my career in the NHS.

My views  would go down very badly at my work and I do need the job. I do really admire those brave enough to speak out and I’m sorry I’m not more openly supportive.

I’ve lost a good friend, I worry about the impact on my job if my online identity was confirmed.  Not because I have ever been abusive or harassed anyone, or engaged in ‘bigotry’ but because I believe my right to recognise sex as a material reality is important.