Our columnist Dawn Neesom has her say
Where do you stand on willies? Sorry to be so blunt about it but the male dangly bits are causing a bit of a stir recently. Especially when they belong to a woman. The politics of sexual identity are now more confusing than Brexit, with nearly as many ‘genders’ as there are theories on what the hell we do with bloomin’ Europe.
But the main issue recently has been triggered, randomly, by the cosiest of institutions – the Girl Guides. In an effort to be all inclusive and politically correct they have issued somewhat hypocritical guidelines. If you’re a boy who identifies as a girl you can join the Guides. And share tents and showers on overnight camps.
But at the same time they have admitted that girls who self-identify as boys will be 'encouraged' to move on from the organisation. A polite way of saying they’re not welcome. Surely the point of being inclusive is not to discriminate? Why is there one rule for one and not the other?
The Girl Guides (unlike the Scouts) has prided itself on being a single sex organisation that encourages young women to be strong and independent. I loved getting an armful of badges while learning how to whittle wood, put up a tent and build a fire. But would I have wanted to share that tent with someone who was – at least physically – a boy? No.
Now, as a grown woman, I would feel equally uncomfortable sharing a gym, swimming pool or clothes shop changing room with a man self-identifying as a woman. That’s not being transphobic – the phrase often screeched at any natural born female who dares to utter such doubts – it’s just honest.
I have no problem with people who are transgender. A friend of mine – the gorgeous Britain’s Next Top Model winner Talulah-eve – is a fully transitioned woman. I have no issue sharing anything with her because she is physically female.
The whole transgender issue has been hijacked by activists whose main aim appears to be to shout down women.
‘I’d feel uncomfortable sharing a changing room with a man selfidentifying as a woman’