Disappointingly the debate around trans rights continues to rankle on. TRG are clear: we want the Government to stand by freedom and equality for all. We must continue to move the equality debate forward and to support the Trans community.
For some there appears to be some policy sticking points. Let’s deal with them:
Equality Act 2010
Perhaps the most contentious element of the debate surrounds the idea of single sex spaces for women. This is a misconception. People who are trans have been allowed to use the bathrooms or domestic violence refuges which match their gender for many years. This was then enshrined in law in the 2010 Equality Act and so, for over a decade, trans women have already been using bathrooms and female changing rooms at, for example, John Lewis.
To roll this back, as suggested in The Sunday Times last summer, would, as highlighted by One Nation MPs and members, be to roll back a provision of the Equality Act which has existed for a decade.
Is anyone really saying they want to undo the Equality Act. What kind of Conservative Government would we be if we started to remove Equality?
As an important aside, in the British Attitudes Survey, 72% of women said that they were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ comfortable with trans women using women’s toilets, and 64% of men said the same thing about trans men.
Reforming the Gender Recognition Act
The second part of the debate is around reforming the current system to allow trans people to get a certificate, which confirms their gender, in an easier and more straightforward fashion.
This certificate allows a trans person to legally be the gender they wish, and it comes after living as that gender. However, just because it is a final legal formality, does not mean that it is not emotionally and mentally vital.
It allows the person to be married in the right gender, receive the correct pension and have their gender included correctly on their death certificate. It also protects them from discrimination.
The Government’s own consultation found that the current system for certificates is expensive, outdated and incredibly slow. Reforming the process of obtaining a certificate in a simpler and more practical way is in keeping with the Government’s 2018 LGBT Action Plan.
Allowing trans people a more straightforward and practical way of obtaining their gender certificate is common sense. It’s easier and quicker. Ultimately this isn’t to its core about the rights of transgender people, this is simply about efficient and effective Government. This is about speeding up the process for getting a certificate – a really important one – but still a certificate.
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By allowing the errors in the debate on trans right to go uncorrected and the media to continue to inflame discriminatory views, there is a real risk of causing not only untold damage to the trans community but real reputational damage to our Party. This cannot be allowed to happen.
True libertarians and real Conservatives understand this and value an individual’s right to live as they choose, have their rights protected and to live their lives in peace. Forwards, not backward. This is the essence of Conservatism.
Any revision to the Equality Act would be seen by our One Nation members as a rollback of progress. Failing to allow for reform of the Gender Recognition Act in line with the Government’s own consultation is deeply concerning.
The recent debate around the trans community has many of the same aspects of the gay marriage debate. To use language from that debate, Conservative should support trans rights not in spite of but because we are Conservatives.
We absolutely must defend freedom and equality at all costs.
Well laid out. Clear and useful briefing.
This all sounds very reasonable. But can we ensure that any position or further changes to law do not conflate sex with gender. Trans people want to identify as the gender of their choice, but we mustn’t allow this to erase biological sex, both for women in general but also lesbians and gay men who are facing accusations of transphobia simply for stating they are same-SEX attracted. Moreover, we must distinguish between genuinely trans people with gender dysphoria, to get the health/medical support they need, and autogynephiles and other who could use, for example, self ID to prey on women. Finally, we must ensure safeguards for children and seek to conduct proper long term research into transgenderism in children and ban irreversible medical interventions (such as puberty blockers) for under 18s. We have to find a way for genuine trans people to feel safe and part of our society but we mustn’t do this in a way that leaves other vulnerable instead.
not all trans people suffer from dysphoria- for example trans non-binary or bigender people.
It is with considerable regret that I have today read your statement on the Conservative case for trans right which makes relatively trivial points, is ill-conceived, inaccurate and downright misleading. You haven’t even got the name of the 2010 Act right!! As a Conservative Party member and a member of the CWO and the TRG, I am pleased that, apparently, the government has decided not to implement the changes to the Gender Recognition Act to permit easier identification of gender. This is an important decision that will ensure the continuing support of women throughout the country, and it is particularly important for the Conservative Party as the other major political parties seem unable to define what a woman is, and they each unambiguously support self-identification of gender. Maintaining a clear position on the importance of sex and sex-based protections gives the Conservative Party an enormous advantage with female voters and this will become increasingly important as public awareness grows in the coming years. I would urge you to reconsider your position and to adopt an approach and a policy that retains the support of the overwhelming majority of women in the UK.