As one of the “vulnerable” cis women whose needs get used to exclude trans women or create fear of trans inclusivity, I have some things to say. Context: I have long term mh probs which land me in hospital or crisis house 2-4 x per year. I do not feel safe in mixed environments.

I volunteer in the vawg sector and campaign on women’s mental health. The place I feel safest in crisis is a women’s crisis house with an all-women team. Trans women have been quietly getting on with working in and using their service for many years. This has not caused problems.

This women’s crisis house functioning on a self-Id basis is nationally recognised as a leading light in women’s mental health and in supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Trans women’s needs and the needs of “vulnerable” cis women like me are not in conflict. There are many, many safety issues in women’s mental health and I would like everyone to focus on those rather than chasing my sisters out of spaces they need, and where I want them to be.

For instance, women’s wards are often staffed and managed by cis men who have access to our bedrooms and our bathrooms. Women are put on close observation with cis men, meaning they can come in if we spend too long in the bathroom and restrain us if they deem it necessary.

If you wish to be an ally to “vulnerable” women, campaign to ban restraint in psych settings. Inform yourself on how psychiatry & psychology pathologise & punish female emotion. Campaign for refuge & rape crisis funding. Campaign for gender self id policies in all those spaces.

Also, if you’ve got this far and you aren’t already, follow funny & smart trans women @shonfaye @aedison and @MunroeBergdorf because they have good things to say, some of which are about being trans and some of which are not. Here endeth the thread.