July 24, 2023 - 5:45pm
Today, the Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Anneliese Dodds provided the first real insight into what Labour’s policy would be on the thorny debate over trans and gender-based rights. Writing in the Guardian that “nothing in our modernised gender recognition process would override the single-sex exemptions in the Equality Act […] there will always be places where it is reasonable for biological women only to have access”, the Labour politician has, for the first time, made an unequivocal and welcome commitment to the need for same-sex spaces.
But the question remains as to how the party can legally achieve this goal — particularly given the commitments to make the process of changing gender easier. One way would be to amend the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) to make clear that a person transitioning changes their gender, not their sex — and that the single-sex exemptions in the Equality Act are therefore unaffected whether or not someone has received a gender recognition certificate (GRC). Currently, there is confusion among single-sex providers over whether they should allow a person of the opposite biological sex with a GRC to access their services. This has grave consequences for some of society’s most vulnerable women.
Dodds’s commitment to single-sex spaces increases the pressure on the Government to act on its own commitments to sex-based rights and ensure its public sector does the same. The NHS remains captured, with current guidance endorsing a patient’s right to self ID into a hospital ward according to their gender identity. Among secondary schools, 28% are not maintaining same-sex toilets. The Crown Prosecution Service has recently released guidance stating that refusing to fund your partner’s transition could be deemed domestic abuse.
Labour’s plans to reform the GRA by “simplifying the process” of changing gender will understandably raise concerns among those who already believe that the legislation undermines sex-based rights. In particular, Dodds’s suggestion that one doctor’s signature is enough to validate a GRC is concerning. As the damning investigation into the Tavistock clinic showed, some doctors have been far too ready to rush people, including vulnerable and neurodivergent children, down the route of transitioning.
However, that Dodds has felt compelled to make such a statement — and in a way which departs significantly from Labour’s policy at the 2019 election — reflects how much public opinion has shifted on this issue. Only a few years ago, both Labour and the Conservatives entertained the introduction of gender-self-ID policies, with Keir Starmer claiming in 2020 that “trans rights are human rights.” Trans rights are indeed human rights, but so are women’s rights: the potential for self-ID to be exploited, not by trans people but by violent and abusive men, remains a serious problem.
Despite Dodds’s welcome intervention, significant questions remain. Given the repeated controversies in prisons, changing rooms, NHS wards and domestic abuse shelters, there is still a lack of clarity as to where Labour believes it is “reasonable for biological women only to have access”. Dodds is also silent on the question of sport, and whether or not Labour agrees that the female category must be preserved for biological women in the name of basic fairness.
Most fundamentally, there is no mention of children. The long-term consequences for children with gender dysphoria, including those who are permitted to socially transition or offered puberty blockers, remains unknown. The heated debate over the much-delayed trans guidance in schools demonstrates that this is a subject that no government will be able to duck for long.
Dodds’s statement reveals the first glimmer of what could prove to be a new era in the trans debate. But good intentions are not enough: if both women’s rights and trans rights are to be protected, significantly more will be needed.
Lottie Moore is head of Biology Matters at the Policy Exchange think tank.
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SubscribeHaha, so what’s the odd $ 100 Billion, no audit naturally, up to? Well….. My guess is the depths of depravity and corruption involved could never be believed if exposed, too crazy – and we know that is not happening anyway.
FTX was up to some wild stuff so Bankman-Fried has about 1 in 1000 chance of surviving his sentence, Hunter??? Without secret Service he would be pretty worried now – but drop in the bucket….This Regional Conflict Biden has turned into WWIII is Nothing to do with freedom and democracy – it is all Power, energy, $ and some terrifying NWO thing. Corruption is the wheels this juggernaut rides on. MSM and Social Media Lies are the engine driving it.
Did you see the meeting just now of Ursula von der Leyen and Zalenski? And the recent one of Boris and him meeting? Red Carpets – long walk with cameras set on to Hollywood slickness – eyes full of stars, hands clasped at least 10 seconds more than than decency would expect – these guys are teamed up….. This is a wild time, anyone think this is about ‘Democracy’ likely thinks Lockdowns saved the world……
Haha, so what’s the odd $ 100 Billion, no audit naturally, up to? Well….. My guess is the depths of depravity and corruption involved could never be believed if exposed, too crazy – and we know that is not happening anyway.
FTX was up to some wild stuff so Bankman-Fried has about 1 in 1000 chance of surviving his sentence, Hunter??? Without secret Service he would be pretty worried now – but drop in the bucket….This Regional Conflict Biden has turned into WWIII is Nothing to do with freedom and democracy – it is all Power, energy, $ and some terrifying NWO thing. Corruption is the wheels this juggernaut rides on. MSM and Social Media Lies are the engine driving it.
Did you see the meeting just now of Ursula von der Leyen and Zalenski? And the recent one of Boris and him meeting? Red Carpets – long walk with cameras set on to Hollywood slickness – eyes full of stars, hands clasped at least 10 seconds more than than decency would expect – these guys are teamed up….. This is a wild time, anyone think this is about ‘Democracy’ likely thinks Lockdowns saved the world……
The placing of Ireland as 8th least corrupt state proves how useless a perception based survey is. There’s been successive waves of corruption scandals here since the 60s. There’s a few ongoing right now
The placing of Ireland as 8th least corrupt state proves how useless a perception based survey is. There’s been successive waves of corruption scandals here since the 60s. There’s a few ongoing right now
Nothing new here. Russia and Ukraine have been 1st and 2nd in Europe for years, probably since TI have published this index.
Funny how it took a visit from the CIA director to Kiev recently to kick start an anti-corruption drive when Zelensky has been in power for three years. He must have been told to clean up his act if he wants to keep those weapons and $$$ flowing.
Nothing new here. Russia and Ukraine have been 1st and 2nd in Europe for years, probably since TI have published this index.
Funny how it took a visit from the CIA director to Kiev recently to kick start an anti-corruption drive when Zelensky has been in power for three years. He must have been told to clean up his act if he wants to keep those weapons and $$$ flowing.
Switzerland has the fifth place as the least corrupt country? That must be a joke, a country that eagerly receives funds from whatever dictator or rouge country in the world isn’t corrupt? FIFA is probably the most corrupt of them all.
Switzerland has the fifth place as the least corrupt country? That must be a joke, a country that eagerly receives funds from whatever dictator or rouge country in the world isn’t corrupt? FIFA is probably the most corrupt of them all.
Note that this index is based on ‘subjective opinions’ and ‘perceptions’ not data and evidence. Ukraine was undoubtedly a gangster-dominated, corrupt society when under the influence of the Russian kleptocracy but Zelenskiy was elected (fairly unless you have concrete evidence to the contrary and not just Russian smears), only 3 years ago, on an anti-corruption ticket. It seems that also the war has changed everything in that regard and I maybe naive but if slow rooting out of corruption is very tricky, if not nearly impossible, the invasion by a Russian state on a killing spree is the seismic event which should sort it out, as seems to be happening.
Zelensky ran on a platform of peace. That he would help end the war and bring peace in the breakaway Donetsk regions, and adhere to the Minsk aggrements, even on expanding rights and protections to native Russian speakers (like himself) in schools. He had a lot of good promises…
And corruptly failed to honour a single one.
And corruptly failed to honour a single one.
Zelensky ran on a platform of peace. That he would help end the war and bring peace in the breakaway Donetsk regions, and adhere to the Minsk aggrements, even on expanding rights and protections to native Russian speakers (like himself) in schools. He had a lot of good promises…
Note that this index is based on ‘subjective opinions’ and ‘perceptions’ not data and evidence. Ukraine was undoubtedly a gangster-dominated, corrupt society when under the influence of the Russian kleptocracy but Zelenskiy was elected (fairly unless you have concrete evidence to the contrary and not just Russian smears), only 3 years ago, on an anti-corruption ticket. It seems that also the war has changed everything in that regard and I maybe naive but if slow rooting out of corruption is very tricky, if not nearly impossible, the invasion by a Russian state on a killing spree is the seismic event which should sort it out, as seems to be happening.
No wonder Ukraine is on the top of the list considering the amount of corrupt russians currently occupying parts of country.
Ukraine has been the Clinton, Obama, and Biden Piggy Bank for ever. Remember the 10% for the big guy? That is what Zalensky has tattooed over his heart, same as Biden.
Ukraine has been the Clinton, Obama, and Biden Piggy Bank for ever. Remember the 10% for the big guy? That is what Zalensky has tattooed over his heart, same as Biden.
No wonder Ukraine is on the top of the list considering the amount of corrupt russians currently occupying parts of country.
Russian criminal gangs in the Donbas are to blame for much of this. They have links to their pals in Ukainre.
Dream on.
Really this war should be over now. Zelensky was talking about accepting neutrality, but Borris came in on behalf of the Biden admin and said “under no circumstances”. This war is out of control, pushed on by those who don’t see themselves as having anything to lose. The worst thing is that the further East you go, the worse the Ukranian equipment is. It’s like thier lives dont even matter. But isn’t this the story all over the world now. Do any of the lives of people really matter to those in charge?
To most of them, no. You would like to think that the answer was yes, but while the governments change the anti-human policies stay the same. In the western world most of our leaders think that we are too well off and need a bit of poverty or at least the threat, to sharpen our attitudes and enforce our compliance.
To most of them, no. You would like to think that the answer was yes, but while the governments change the anti-human policies stay the same. In the western world most of our leaders think that we are too well off and need a bit of poverty or at least the threat, to sharpen our attitudes and enforce our compliance.
Dream on.
Really this war should be over now. Zelensky was talking about accepting neutrality, but Borris came in on behalf of the Biden admin and said “under no circumstances”. This war is out of control, pushed on by those who don’t see themselves as having anything to lose. The worst thing is that the further East you go, the worse the Ukranian equipment is. It’s like thier lives dont even matter. But isn’t this the story all over the world now. Do any of the lives of people really matter to those in charge?
Russian criminal gangs in the Donbas are to blame for much of this. They have links to their pals in Ukainre.