SHAKING. Staff were discussing a counselling student who is GC. One said we will bring her in to discuss her views. I said, 'Be careful. Her beliefs are protected after the @MForstater case.
She looked up Maya's case and said, 'How sad'. I said, 'Whys it sad to state fact?' 1/
We had a huge debate and I said, 'The impact is huge for women in terms of a man being able to say he's a woman and use female spaces e.g. rapists in women's prisons. Stating biological fact is essential. It also impacts on LGB who are told to accept straight people as LGB'
/2
A older colleague, who wasn't in the debate, turned around and said, 'What's the evidence for that because I'm a lesbian?'
I said, 'I speak to LGB people every day and it happens. I wont have my niece be told she must accept males in her lesbian only groups to please othes.' /3
People really do need to stop misinterpreting the law. Being a protected characteristic (PC), as listed in the EA2010, does not mean you have free reign to do anything you want. Sexual orientation is also a PC, but it does not mean gay men can use female only spaces either. 1/6
NO legislation gives males a legal right to enter female only spaces. In fact, the EA2010 states that female spaces can exclude males, even those with the legal fiction we call a GRC, for proportionate and legitimate reasons. Women and girls having safer spaces that provide..2/6
privacy and dignity is legitimate. In fact, more than legitimate and proportionate. Single sex spaces significantly reduce sexual assault. This should be reason enough for ALL MALES to respect these boundaries.
The EA2010 is there to safeguard against illegitimate reasons.3/6
When my twin and I had anorexia, we both felt happy when we were low weight. Initially, people said we looked ok because they were scared the truth would increase our 'fat' feelings. We felt great! We felt in control!
My sister died of body failure. She was 25 and weighed 4st🧵
At 5st, I was finally woken to my delusion, but it took over a decade to get better (still not fully recovered). My family felt guilty for not being direct enough, for holding back out of fear, for not being truthful. They naively thought we'd get better without help.
Im not blaming my family at all, but politeness and fear cost two lives. My twin sister died, leaving a 6yr old son, and I, at 45yrs old, am still living with the devastating impact of long-term anoerxia.
This politeness/fear of upsetting people with dysphoria IS COSTING LIVES.