Stand up for single-sex services
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Why can’t we talk about women’s rights?
Trans rights are not women’s rights Local and national politicians, chief executives of sports governing bodies, head teachers and leaders of NHS trusts all know there is a conflict between the demands of people with transgender identities and the single-sex exceptions in the Equality Act 2010. Ask about single-sex...
26th June 2024
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SheVotes24 – when will the women’s sector stand up for women?
The Fawcett Society, together with more than 120 women’s organisations, has launched #SheVotes24: an open letter calling on all parties to answer questions to demonstrate their commitment to improving the lives of women and girls in the UK. Fawcett says that this is the largest ever women’s-sector coalition, with...
25th June 2024
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Comparing the three main party manifestos on sex and gender
The three major political parties all published their general-election manifestos last week. Each took a different position, with several pledges relating to sex and gender identity included but some notable omissions. We are asking candidates and parties to #StandUpForSingleSexServices: How do the manifestos compare? The Liberal Democrat manifesto The...
21st June 2024
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Why this is not about “safe spaces”
Sir Keir Starmer keeps talking about “safe” spaces instead of “single-sex” spaces. He said it most recently on LBC, although he also said “single-sex” when referring to NHS policy on hospital wards. The problem with talking about “safe spaces” is that it gives the appearance of protecting women’s rights while...
20th June 2024
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Not a culture war: what’s really at stake
The law is not working for women. The Equality Act protects women (and men) from sex discrimination. It also provides for single-sex and separate-sex services to be lawful, where they are needed. And it requires public authorities to think about women’s particular needs and whether to take action to...
18th June 2024
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Maya Forstater on TalkTV, 17th June 2024
Maya Forstater joins Kevin O'Sullivan on TalkTV to discuss Tony Blair's comments on sex and gender.
18th June 2024
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This is not a culture war
The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said in an interview last week: “People are exhausted by culture wars. My clear view is that the vast majority of the public in general in the UK are reasonable, tolerant people.” He cited battles over “trans rights” as an example of culture...
17th June 2024
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The Labour manifesto: waging culture war over women’s rights
The Labour manifesto has been published. Women across the country will be deeply disappointed that the party, which in its manifesto professes pride for the landmark 2010 Equality Act, has failed to recognise that in 2024 this legislation is no longer providing the protection to women it was intended...
13th June 2024
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The Green Party manifesto – human rights: not for women
The Green Party of England and Wales has published its 2024 general election manifesto: “Real Hope. Real Change: The Green Party’s Manifesto for a Fairer, Greener Country”. A key focus is “defending human rights, democracy and justice”. The manifesto says that the party is committed to the Universal Declaration...
13th June 2024
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Conservative manifesto is serious about sex and gender
The Conservative Party has released its manifesto today, subtitled “Clear Plan. Bold Action. Secure Future”. It includes a well thought-through and sensible plan on sex and gender that starts from the position that the law has not kept pace with evolving interpretations and is insufficiently clear. The manifesto says...
11th June 2024
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Calls to ban conversion therapy put children at risk
Proposals to ban conversion therapy or conversion practices are likely to feature among the pledges of political parties as part of their general-election campaigns. On the face of it, banning conversion therapy sounds like an uncontroversial and positive step. But voters and the politicians who seek to represent them...
11th June 2024
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Not a fair deal for women – the Lib Dem manifesto
The Liberal Democrats released their general-election manifesto today, subtitled “For a Fair Deal”. But its pledges on rights and equality would offer anything but a fair deal for women. The Lib Dems want to make it even easier for men to get government-issued certificates declaring themselves to be women....
10th June 2024
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The next government must clarify the Equality Act
The next government must move quickly to fix the law so that it works for women and girls. Polling shows that most people support genuinely single-sex provision. Clarifying the Equality Act has become an election issue. It should be considered by the political parties and by the media as...
5th June 2024
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Fiona McAnena on the BBC’s Nolan Live, 5th June 2024
Fiona McAnena challenges Stephen Nolan on male violence and single-sex spaces on Nolan Live.
5th June 2024
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It’s time to make the Equality Act clear
The Conservatives announced today that if elected they would make a simple one-line amendment to clarify that “sex” in the Equality Act really does mean biology, and not self-identification or paperwork. This is something we have been calling for the government to do for the last 18 months. It...
3rd June 2024
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Helen Joyce on Sky News, 3rd June 2024
Helen discusses the Conservative pledge to clarify the meaning of sex in the Equality Act to mean biological sex.
3rd June 2024
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Maya Forstater on BBC Radio 2, 3rd June 2024
On Jeremy Vine, Maya and Joanne Monck discuss the Conservative pledge to clarify the Equality Act.
3rd June 2024
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Mumsnet calls for government to make the Equality Act clear]
The first ever Mumsnet manifesto urges the next government to define what a woman is in the Equality Act and to guarantee access to single-sex services. The manifesto warns that the definition of “sex” in the law is currently unclear, which could put services such as women-only refuges and...
2nd June 2024
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Get our action guide
Candidates and their representatives will be campaigning in your neighbourhood. If they knock on your door, be ready to ask if they will STAND UP FOR SINGLE-SEX SERVICES. We want to make sure that every candidate seeking to be an MP hears that people want them to STAND UP...
1st June 2024
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Stand Up For Single-Sex Services: campaign asks
A summer election has been called. Sex Matters calls for clarity in law and a return to policies based on the objective reality of sex, not the subjective feeling of “gender identity”. Parties must be absolutely clear when it comes to sex-based rights. Every party must STAND UP FOR...
30th May 2024