Tag: gay rights

Categories
Others

Self ID creates a huge hole in norms of day to day safeguarding

So many reasons. I care VERY MUCH that women’s voices seem to be repeatedly and routinely ignored, disparaged and attacked. I firmly believe that no child is born into the wrong body. I have gay siblings and the idea that they are somehow fundamentally ‘wrong’ strikes me as deeply and distressingly homophobic, and that this opens the door to a warped form of conversion therapy.

I do not think it is possible to change sex, and that one of the worst aspects of this is the potential for exploitation  – financial or emotional/psychological/sexual – of troubled individuals (plus it allows for such horrors as forced sex change /conversion therapy such as is seen in Iran). I think that sexual predators DO go to great lengths to access potential victims and that self ID creates a huge hole in what have been up to now socially accepted norms of day to day safeguarding for women and girls in certain contexts – I believe that both men and women should be able to access single sex spaces and to know that those spaces will be single sex.

It is simply not bigotry to express concerns for the safety of women and girls. It is not hate to state that sex exists and that women and girls are subject to discrimination (at best) BECAUSE THEY ARE FEMALE.

I have done mainly social media, and that mainly (but not entirely) anonymously.

Not experienced consequences on a significant scale – but my partner has struggled with my interest in speaking out about this issue.

Milly

Categories
Public Sector

Everyone has been appalled and disgusted

The protection of the biological definition of women and of women-only spaces, services and sports matter to me as I don’t want men in any place where I or any other woman or girl could be naked, semi-naked or vulnerable.  I want to restore clear, biology-based definitions of men and women.

I don’t think it is right to compel people to behave or speak in accordance with an ideology that they don’t believe in and which is prejudicial to the interests of women, girls and vulnerable adults.  The current situation seems to be a mix of a quasi-religion that allows no heresy and McCarthyism.  Freedom of speech is in danger.

I want to establish the principle that women have the right to say no to men’s demands and that women don’t have to sacrifice themselves to allow men to have what they want.

I have spoken to colleagues and other people I work with – in the high-profile, prestigious place I work there are lots of people who work there who are not employees of the organisation – about the implications of the organisation’s transgender policy which has been dictated by Stonewall. 

Some people have not understood the problem until I pointed it out.  Everyone has been appalled and disgusted.

HR are completely unresponsive on the transgender policy so I formally contacted a very senior (non-HR) member of the staff who I work with from time to time about the implications of the transgender policy.  He listened very kindly and seemed very concerned, but it turns out that he was mainly interested in whether I had been sexually harassed at work (I haven’t). 

However, the transgender policy has been amended, I assume as a result of my intervention to take out the passage “transgender people can have any sexual orientation.  For example, a transgender man (someone who lives as a man today) may be primarily attracted to other men (and identify as a gay man), may be primarily attracted to women (an identify as a straight man), or have any other sexual orientation”.  

The management evidently took notice when I pointed out that the passage made clear that they knew they were expecting people to change their clothes or use the toilet in the presence of heterosexual people of the other sex and that that could make them legally responsible for any harassment. Apart from that keeping the Stonewall Diversity Champion status and appearing woke seem to be much more important that the safety, privacy, dignity and peace of mind of the staff.

I follow gender critical organisations on Facebook and I used to comment on Twitter, but I got barred for speaking up for women.  I also comment on newspaper articles, primarily in the Times. 

I would have had qualms about doing so at work if I had any desire for promotion or if the criteria for my annual assessment were substantially subjective or if I had longer to go until I retire. I’ve also been very careful to keep all my complaints strictly formal and via my work IT network so that if harassment arises it will be possible to trace its source via the network.

I’ve been barred from Twitter and some of my comments on the Times have been deleted.

S, Adult human female

Categories
Lesbians

I was horrified at men approaching me on lesbian dating sites

This matters to me as I feel I would have been put down the trans route if I were growing up today. Typical gender non conforming child who grew into a same sex attracted woman.

I became single after a long relationship and after a long illness I recovered emotionally and physically to go back on the dating scene. I was horrified at men approaching me on lesbian dating sites. Most of them didn’t declare this and I worked it out.

I felt humiliated and a bit scared that I might have met someone in person without knowing they were biological men. It chilled me to the bone. I can now spot them and block them, but it was unpleasant and degrading for me at the time.

One person had been stalking me on line and in my social life – I had that experience from men in my 20’s and 30’s. I found it impossible to understand why they were there in the first place and it led me to question what the hell is going on.

I created a twitter account. I discuss it with friends and family. I also challenge the new norm at work by calling out the ridiculousness of language and mixed sex toilets.

Some friends especially the ‘woke’ younger women are unkind or think I’m old fashioned.

EJ, Proud vintage lesbian who feels like an outsider all over again but this time it’s the heterosexuals who are my allies, magdelen berns appreciation society

Categories
Healthcare Public Sector

The civil service is not impartial while it unquestioningly adopts Stonewall’s ideologies

Women and children’s safety and well-being is being rolled back. In plain sight. The civil service is not impartial while it unquestioningly adopts Stonewall’s ideologies. Women – and lesbians in particular – are afraid of speaking up. I have questioned us using Stonewall for gathering adult experiences on child sex abuse and been accused of being homophobic as a result.

I responded to GRA consultation. I’ve written to and met my MP. I’ve said no at work to the expansion of harmful practices as regards children (giving them unlicensed drugs), and blindly following Stonewall and Mermaids.

I have been accused of being homophobic and of not caring about trans people.

I care because I want to use spaces such as changing rooms, toilets, etc without being harassed and/or intimidated.

I have responded to my child’s school’s consultation on PHSE. I have reminded local organisations about the Equalities Act 2010.

A, terrified public policy woman

Categories
Lesbians

One girl refused to go on a second date with me again because I was same-sex attracted and outspoken about it

This matters as I want to find a wife, raise a family and I work in STEM. This matters because the same arguments that were used against me as a child (that female brains are not suited to certain activities) are now being used to ‘prove’ certain men are trans women because they like ‘girly’ things.

I have discussed it with a close friend and my brother and touched on it at work.

I have been harassed on social media and one girl refused to go on a second date with me again because I was same-sex attracted and outspoken about it.

Elizabeth, Lesbian, Switzerland

Categories
Others

I’m also horrified by medical treatment of gender non-conformity

I believe women should retain their sex-based rights and sexual orientation refers to sex, not gender. I’m also horrified by medical treatment of gender non-conformity, same-sex attraction, and girls who wish to escape the reality of being female.

I’ve spoken up with friends, family, online. I’ve written an article in the misogyny and homophobia of “gender identity” ideology.

I’ve lost friends, but had no employment problems.

H. M. , Homo. Not ‘Queer’. Not ‘Cis’, New Zealand

Categories
Lesbians

I’ve seen young lesbians trying to turn themselves into men where I work

I care about this issue because I’ve realised that women and girls are losing their rights to men. Also, because of controlled speech – everyone is losing their right to freely use correct biological pronouns when addressing others – freedom to tell the truth.

I care because I know lots of adult lesbians who wished they were a boy when their breasts started growing, grew out of it, and now are perfectly okay with turning out to be lesbians. I care because I’ve seen young lesbians trying to turn themselves into men where I work – a twenty year old has grown hair on her face and had her breasts removed. She looks like a girl with a hairy face and no breasts. Social contagion is destroying young people’s bodies.

No baby is born in the wrong body. I think it’s stemming from homophobia- it’s better to pretend to be the opposite sex than to be a lesbian.

Transgender women – men pretending to be women and demanding rights that destroy women’s rights is a different kettle of fish. A fetish. Autogynephilia. It stems from misogyny from jealousy.  They see women as subservient sex objects, so they mimic badly and play out their fetishes all day. I don’t want to share female places with them.

I have joined social media ( which is a big move for me ), tried to learn more about the issue, and started to speak out to friends and colleagues and family. I’ve spoken up in online groups and been kicked out of them. Where I live it’s a very small community so that’s made it hard to meet people. I’m fairly new to speaking up, but feel I must on this issue. It’s a start.

I’ve been made to leave online social groups because of saying, politely, that LGB should drop the rest of the alphabet as they’ve nothing in common with transgender people. Where I live, that’s difficult.

Doc, Enough is enough

Categories
Men

She proudly proclaimed “I am not a stereotype” and dismissed the idea of being trans

It matters to me as my 8 year old niece, in experiencing sexism and gender roles, thought she was trans because she “doesn’t like her gender”. Luckily when I discussed gender stereotypes with her she proudly proclaimed “I am not a stereotype” and dismissed the idea of being trans. I fear for others who don’t have someone to offer them the same advice and dispel the idea of being trans as a means of overcoming sexism. 

I have spoken about it with family and friends in a mild manner and only when the topic is raised.

From my limited speaking and ‘devils advocate’ approach, no consequences. But I know if I expressed myself fully I would be dismissed, especially within the gay community of which I am part.

Would love to but can’t, gay man, Ireland

Categories
Lesbians survivor

I keep telling them that they are allowed to refuse care that makes them discomfortable

My family consists of my sister, my mother and my grandmother. I have no living male relatives. I am a lesbian who has been sexually assaulted, my mother has been harrassed, my sister and grandmother have been raped, my girlfriend has been raped. My sister has mental and physical disabilities and needs professional support, so does my grandmother.

I want to stand up for their right and my right to places that are free of male people, I want to stand up for their right and my right to refuse being treated or cared for by a male-bodied person, without fear of being accused of unjustified discrimination or gaslit into “embracing their discomfort” and accept a male person as female.

My sister also has a schizophrenia, she relies on strong medication to maintain a grasp of reality and live a mostly independent life. Messing with her knowledge and perception of reality, particularly with regard to the demographic that deeply traumatized her body and mind, may threaten her mental health and independence.

I do not fight for or against trans people, I fight for acknowledgement of reality on which legislation can be based that includes safeguards and exceptions to protect the weak and those who cannot fight for themselves or have trouble articulating and defending their needs.

I am following the debate and arguments in social and mainstream media. I do not live in an anglophone country, but the issue is arriving here, too, and I’m getting ready to engage those parties involved in the legislative process. I monitor guidelines at the institutions that provide care for my loved ones and I keep telling them that they are allowed to refuse care that makes them discomfortable.

Some friends from an LGBTQ friendly hobby group have cut themselves off.

Anna V, middle aged woman working in IT, Germany

Categories
Private sector

I used to be involved in LGBT activism and I feel lied to

I care because I’m a young woman, and have seen women in my industry and in my life disappear into the “gender” fantasy in order to escape from their problems. It is not helping them.

I am alarmed and dismayed at the rapid progress of gender ideology into law and the damaging psychological and physical consequences on young women. I care because I used to be involved in LGBT activism, and I feel lied to. When lesbians protested Pride in the UK with “Get the L Out” I was told not to research them, and that they were bigoted TERFs who wanted trans women out of public life. I took this at face value, and I’m ashamed of this now, as these women had very good reason to be upset.

I’m new to gender critical philosophy, but I have been researching as much as I can. I’ve spoken to women in my life who I feel would be receptive (luckily, they are) and I’ve just recently come out publicly on social media. Right now, I am mostly keeping my head down as I do my own research into the problem on a local level, including the number of girls being referred for transition services and what has been happening legally in the past few years. I think this will give me the best possible basis to speak out strongly for local women later on down the track.

I’ve been called a TERF, and have had friends questioning my motives. Luckily, so far I’ve avoided the worst of what many women go through. I am certain that if my employer learned what I was looking into, there would be professional repercussions.

Amy, Australia