MP hits out at transgender activists who ‘stifle debate’

Schools and prisons among the institutions said to be ‘getting ahead of the law’ in allowing self-identification

TRANSGENDER campaigners have created an atmosphere of menace that is stifling debates around gender issues, ministers have been told.

David Davies, the Conservative MP for Monmouth in South Wales, used a Westminster Hall debate to tell ministers that people were deeply concerned about the Gender Recognition Act. The Government held a consultation in the summer on changes to legislation that would make it easier for trans people to get legal recognition. Ministers will announce the outcome next year.

But Mr Davies said ministers were proposing fundamental changes that would have a huge impact on people. “This is being done without proper consideration and in an atmosphere of menace,” he said.

Mr Davies, who has voiced concerns over self-identification in the past, said the changes would do away with current checks and balances and allow people to redefine themselves as any gender they wish.

“So a 15-stone bearded man could simply define themselves as female and there would be nothing anybody could do to object to this,” he said.

Mr Davies said ministers needed to go back and conduct the consultation with “people outside the M25”.

He said: “Can I suggest to the minister that people should not face dismissal from their jobs for suggesting that someone cannot have a penis? It may be an issue we can argue about, have different opinions, but it’s certainly a debatable point at the very least, or for the so-called offence of misgendering.

“Women who want safe same-sex spaces are not transphobic, they are not committing hate crimes, they are simply reflecting a concern for their own safety which, I’m afraid, as a man, I have to say, for far too many, is based on a valid fear.

“Organisations such as prisons and schools are ahead of the law and are

‘Women who want safe same-sex spaces are not transphobic, they are not committing hate crimes’

already allowing self-identification of gender.” Mr Davies also said that he had met several trans women who shared his view.

He added: “Self-definition of gender is already happening: organisations seem to be ahead of the law which the Government may or may not be about to change.

“We are already seeing organisations such as schools, hospitals and prisons allowing people to define themselves by a different gender to the one that they are born with, and in the majority of cases to which their body corresponds, and it does have an impact on others.”

Victoria Atkins, the women’s minister, said the Government was committed to hearing from everyone and that no decisions had been made about what changes were to be made to the Act.

“We want to talk about this in a caring but careful way so that we as a society get to a position where we are all comfortable with the consequences of changes to legislation,” she said.

Ms Atkins said the Government was committed to maintaining protections for single-sex services, adding that it had no intention of lowering the age at which people could legally change their gender, currently 18.

She added: “This Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that everyone in our society can thrive, and to upholding the rights and protections that all our citizens enjoy.

“We want to support and protect women; we want to support and protect and improve the lives of transgender people. I hope these are two ambitions that have the support of the House.”