Hi @sarahditum - thanks for your message but this is absolutely not true. I have spoken to many constituents about this in person in surgeries, or corresponded with them. https://twitter.com/sarahditum/status/1194922088357863424

The Gender Recognition Act currently allows transgender people to have their lived-in gender legally recognised. Issues such as access to gender-restricted spaces and services are covered under the Equality Act, which incorporates much case law from the last 30 or so years.

In countries such as Ireland, Norway, Malta and Denmark, there have been no reported adverse effects of a self-declaration process.

Liberal Democrats are in favour of respectful and evidence-based discussion. While it is true that women often struggle to have their voices heard, it is similarly true for transgender people who often find themselves the subject of ill-informed and misleading comment.

The Equality Act and various public order offences govern access to gender-segregated spaces and services. Any request to exclude transgender women from women-only spaces must be justified under that law.

Transgender women also experience sexual abuse and domestic violence, and already access appropriate women’s services to assist them. Such services assess the risk any possible service user poses.

Any woman, whether transgender or not, can be excluded from such services if they are deemed to place themselves, other service users or providers at risk. Given the lack of incidents involving transgender women in women-only spaces, there has to be strong case to change the law.

The publication of the Women and Equalities Select Committee’s report did not change the Equality Act nor any of the exemptions legally allowed, and it is important to be mindful of the discrimination already faced by transgender people.

The number of transgender women is relatively small compared to the number of women overall, so it is unlikely there will be any substantial effect on data recording.

It is the Equality Act that covers the concept of perception, so that if discrimination occurs on the basis that someone is perceived as a woman, then this counts as sex-based discrimination.

Women have not been and will not be silenced during this process, Liberal Democrats will ensure this continues to be the case.

If you feel there is more to discuss, please do email me: [email protected]