Since my last post I have still been on this downward spiral. I’ve even been unable to enjoy running, although I managed to finish the Manchester Half Marathon. So I will talk about the half, and other stuff. First, the government consultation on the Gender Recognition Act. I was going to put it all in one long post but I will actually make another post or two later.
First the gender recognition act (GRA) consultation is seeking views on how transgender (and hopefully non-binary) people can have their gender identity legally recognised. It was extremely emotional to fill in because it brings up a lot of bad things in the equality act and in the current GRA, also because of the media coverage including an overwhelming amount of transphobia saying I have no right to existence. I think you still have time to fill this in if you go here.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act-2004
It’s a once in a generation opportunity to improve things for transgender and non-binary people. Currently we have to jump through a lot of expensive and degrading hoops (read more here https://www.stonewall.org.uk/gender-recognition-act ) to have our gender legally recognised. And isn’t an option for non binary people.
Aside from the actual proper transphobia and bigotry, professionals saying we need trans conversion therapy, people shouting out of their car that I’m a pervert e.t.c. one argument against the reformation is that it could allow sex offenders to abuse the system and enter womens facilities.
There are a lot of points why this isn’t a good reason to not reform the GRA. Including that using the toilet is already possible by self identification, notice how you don’t need to get your birth certificate out, so self identification is already enough for entering public toilets. Legal self identification as proposed by the government is already a thing in other countries and it hasn’t caused such issues, the list goes on.. on top of that a point I want to make it that seems to be one similar to victim blaming. It is the same as arguing that women shouldn’t be able to wear certain clothes, or even have public toilets because of a risk that violent criminals commit crime against us. In order to stop people who apparently didn’t realise that they could already do this, we should further persecute transgender people. An already marginalised group of people who are already dealing with their own problems along with the problems society is putting on us for daring to be different. What about persecuting violent sex offenders instead?
Here’s another thought experiment, consider changing even the current rules so trans people are forced into the wrong toilet, and lets forget that that means a marginalised group of women who face violent and verbal harassment daily are forced to use mens toilets, and the fact that I would just say goodbye cruel world. Also the fat that therefore trans men would use the female toilet but also in that case what would stop a cis male from claiming to be a trans male, and therefore using the female toilets?
So there’s my frustrations at the moment, and I know its a minority who are against it but believe me they are extremely vocal. Also the GRA has nothing to do with using public toilets, as I’ve mentioned you don’t need to present your birth certificate for that, but the same arguments apply.
So maybe I put forward some new perspectives there.
Mood 0/10
Sans Shoelaces 