Self-identification will not help transgender people Debbie Hayton The Times 05.07.18

The original article is here.

When the government announced a public consultation on changes to the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) in July last year, Justine Greening, then equalities minister, explained that her government was “committed to building an inclusive society that works for everyone, no matter what their gender or sexuality”.

It turned out to be rather more complicated than Ms Greening anticipated. Proposals to allow self-identification of gender sparked a bitter feud between transgender activists and feminists concerned about the impact on women’s rights. Angry exchanges on social media spilled on to the streets and, as the government dithered, women meeting to discuss the proposals have been met with intimidation and violence.

Ms Greening and her successor Amber Rudd have come and gone but the consultation has finally been launched. For transsexual people like me the stakes are enormous. Superficially, self-identification of gender is progress. We are the experts when it comes to our own gender, after all. However, the Gender Recognition Act goes further than gender. It allows us to change our legal sex for almost all purposes and then obscures that change from the public record so we can get on with our lives without forever being defined by transition.

Such a massive change in our relationship with society has required evidence of need: a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and medical reports. Self-identification sweeps away those safeguards. Any male person could declare they are female and inherit the rights and protections afforded to women.

It’s no wonder that women have become alarmed and have been meeting even amid intimidation and threats. They have not been reassured by platitudes. Men wouldn’t claim to be women purely to violate women’s rights, would they? Actually some might, and the ones that would are those who women are worried about.

Meanwhile, I am left in a vulnerable position. I identify with women and I have thrown in my lot with them but if women believe that there is no distinction between a transsexual and a man taking advantage, they are likely to become suspicious of everyone seeking to cross the sex divide. The law may be able to compel grudging toleration but it can never guarantee acceptance.

There is scope for the GRA to be improved. It is fussy and cumbersome, but self-identification is not a progressive step and does nothing to ensure our acceptance in society. That relies on the way we live our lives. No piece of legislation can be a substitute for that.

Debbie Hayton is a teacher and transgender activist

 

 

Debbie’s response to comments:

Thanks for the comments. There are too many for me to reply to them all but I did want to pick out three points that stood out to me.

1. The article doesn’t provide any solutions. I know, but that is tricky in 450 words. I have written longer pieces elsewhere but even then my focus is on problems rather than solutions. I’m conscious of that and I know the debate needs to move forwards. Fundamentally I believe that sexism is the problem. We all suffer when different restrictions and expectations are placed on us because of our sex. Progressive change would free us all from those things. For example, dress codes should be fully inclusive. I’m not advocating compulsory unisex clothing, but rather that everyone should be able to access the entire dress code and be protected by law when they choose to wear something that may traditionally be associated with the opposite sex.

2. I don’t speak for the trans community. Actually I’m not speaking for anyone. I have never appealed to popularity, history or tradition in any of my pieces. Rather, I make reasoned arguments to encourage people to think for themselves. I know that some people disagree with me – that’s fine. I am eager to hear counter arguments and debate them. I am prepared to be persuaded to change my mind, but I can’t bring myself to accept something I believe to be wrong and/or unhelpful.

3. Trans people already self-ID in reality. Yes, I know we do. Nobody checks our documentation when we go into a changing room, join a women’s group or even – it seems – stand on all-women shortlists. However, women do have a moral right to question someone they feel should not be there. Changing the GRA from an evidence-based system to a self-declared system would shift the burden of proof for those women. If a transwoman can respond “I am a woman because I say I am a woman” then it is harder for women to challenge them.Thanks also for the compliments. I am human and I do appreciate them. 🙂

Debbie (author)