Unbelievably, the submission by the Equality Authority (now part of IHREC, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission) believed that the demands of some men to be legally recognised as the opposite sex should be extended to permit them access to women's changing rooms and toilets.
If resisting men's attempts to colonise women's spaces and sports is "transphobic", what exactly are "trans" rights? And if we cannot withhold our consent to this what rights do women have at all?
Yesterday's ruling by the UK's Supreme Court will doubtless have significance for any woman in Ireland wondering if legal action can be taken over males being permitted to use female facilities e.g. in the workplace or schools.
The IHRC which with the Equality Authority is now IHREC, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, also opposed a provision which would have protected women and girls in sport. They clearly didn't consider the rights of half of the population, but instead supported men who claim to be women.
If the Government's plans to protect men's "gender identity" in our equality legislation is successful, it may mean that women and girls will not be able to object to men or boys in our sports, schools, changing rooms.
Just announced: a new public consultation on the next National Strategy for Women and Girls. Is this just another box ticking exercise before proceeding once again with what the gender identity activists in our NGOs and Government want?
Is it misrepresentation of our legislation to state that men who "identify" as some other gender are entitled to use the facilities of women, for instance, when this may not necessarily be correct in law?
Public health experts say we should aim to have two female toilets for every one male toilet because women generally use the toilets more frequently and for more reasons than men. Gender-neutral toilets mean less facilities for women, when what we really need is more.
“It is planned that legislative proposals arising from the Review of the Equality Acts will be brought forward shortly. Policy officials are seeking legal advice on a number of matters before proposals can be finalised."
"Throughout the submissions, the proposal to specifically include gender identity within the Equality Acts was contentious.." Yet the Government gave a commitment to include it in our equality legislation in the 2020 Programme for Government. Do the public really have any say at all?
Thread from December 3rd 2022 Prof Robert Wintemute was one of the signatories to the original Yogyakarta Principles (not binding on the Irish State) along with former President Mary Robinson
"'policy capture', where public decisions over policies are consistently or repeatedly directed away from the public interest towards a specific interest, can exacerbate inequalities and undermine democratic values, economic growth and trust in government"
Thread from 12th June 2022 “Every employee should have the right to use the bathroom/changing facility which aligns with their gender identity regardless of the sex they were assigned
Thread from 6th May 2022 The Report of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality includes "gender identity" in its definition of gender; and it's the Citizens Assembly report which informs
A man's feelings of having a female “gender identity” is a belief. The concept of “gender identity” cannot be allowed to replace the reality of sex in law. For women and girls, any legislation needs to prioritise safeguarding protection and privacy on the basis of our sex.
Why should women and girls be expected to have fully intact males, who claim to have an undefinable "gender identity", in our private spaces?
Excerpts and photos from Radicailin's campaign launch #SaveOurSpaces over the Government's commitment to amend the gender ground in our equality legislation and include "gender identity" which puts at risk the right of women and girls to single sex spaces.
Tweet from November 25th 2021 FLAC Guide: The Review of the Equality Acts, Making a Submission to the Review, & The Key Issues Under Review.The Review of the
Women and girls are provided with protection on the grounds of sex under our equality legislation. FLAC has just published guidance for making submissions to the Public Consultation on the review of this legislation. Why have they not mentioned the need to protect the rights of women and girls?
Protecting men with a female "gender identity" from discrimination in our equality legislation risks the protection afforded to women and girls currently allowed on the "gender ground", which is defined as male or female
If our equality legislation is amended to include "gender identity" it may effectively abolish women's and girl's right to single-sex provision of services or spaces. Why should the demands of some men override the rights of women and girls?
There are only two sexes, which hormones or surgery don't alter. Amending our equality legislation to include males who claim a female "gender identity" risks losing the protections women and girls have on account of our sex. Please let Oireachtas members know your views.
Government proposal may result in replacement of sex with "gender identity" in equality legislation This week has seen Stand Up Awareness Week with BeLonG To, the organisation for young LGBT