Posts By: Jane Hamlin

The UK Government has threatened to block the Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill

Posted on January 8, 2023 by - Uncategorised

Just before Christmas 2022, the Scottish Parliament, after much consultation and debate passed the Gender Recognition Reform Bill. However reports circulating that the UK Government plans to block the Bill becoming an Act.

The Scottish Government had an overwhelming mandate to reform the Gender Recognition Act. The reforms are one of the most consulted on in the Scottish Parliament’s history, and the new law was passed by a resounding cross-party majority, with support from MSPs in all parties. The Bill has been subject to extensive, appropriate scrutiny that has closely considered safeguards and interaction with UK-wide legislation, with almost 150 amendments debated and voted on. In May of 2022, the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee undertook ten weeks of detailed evidence hearings on the proposals, hearing from a wide range of witnesses both supporting and opposed to the reforms. The UK Government has had more than six years to engage constructively with the Scottish Government over the proposals. For the UK Government to seek to block implementation of this Act would be disastrous for trans people, who deserve far better from their government.

It would also profoundly undermine relationships with the Scottish Govt and damage the UK’s international reputation as a rights respecting nation.   It will be yet another example of hampering progress on LGBTQ+ rights and undermine the Prime Minister’s pledge to govern with compassion. The UK Government already recognises equivalent birth certificates from all EU/EEA countries, including countries which have a de-medicalised model of legal gender recognition. To refuse to recognise Scottish certificates would be a mistake, fly in the face of international best practice and come across as spiteful.   We hope this is the not the approach the Prime Minister wishes for the UK Government to take.

Trans rights are human rights – no more, no less. They do not diminish the rights of any other group e.g. women. Unfortunately gender critical people have been spreading misinformation about these reforms and engaging in scaremongering. All these reforms do is enable trans people to marry and die in the gender with which they identify.

Scottish Gender Recognition Bill

Posted on December 17, 2022 by - Uncategorised

The final vote on the Gender Recognition Bill will take place on Wednesday 21st December.

The United Nations expert on gender identity calls on the Scottish Parliament to adopt the proposed reforms. You can read about is here:

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/12/un-expert-gender-identity-calls-scottish-parliament-adopt-gender-recognition

My Dad Wears a Dress

Posted on November 10, 2022 by - Uncategorised

My name is Maria Telnikoff (she/her) and I would love to tell you about my one-woman show “My Dad Wears A Dress” which is coming to Barons Court Theatre from 22nd-26th November. It’s based on my own experience of growing up with a trans female parent and is about normalising and celebrating having a dad who can teach you how to ride a bike AND how to wear heels! Ultimately, it’s a joyful, playful, humorous show about difference and acceptance and I’d love you to come see it! I was wondering if you’d be able to somehow spread the word about the show through your centre? I have attached a press release with more info about the show and a link to buy tickets! I’d appreciate literally anything you’d be able to do to spread the word about the show (whether it’s by posting something about it, emailing people or simply word of mouth). I want this show to reach as many people as possible, especially members of the LGBTQ+ community for whom this could be an affirming experience! 

My-Dad-Wears-a-Dress-flyer-1Download

Posted on October 26, 2022 by - Uncategorised

Trans people and Ovarian Cancer

https://www.ovacome.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=181b8ce3-eefa-4469-a810-904c5ea0a9b1

If you were born with ovaries, then it’s important to be aware of your risk of ovarian cancer. This information is for transgender men, non-binary people, and intersex people. It explains the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, has tips for planning for GP appointments, and explains possible risk factors. Even if you have had your ovaries removed there is still a risk of ovarian cancer

The charity Ovacome has produced a very helpful booklet to help trans men, non-binary people and intersex people raise their awareness of ovarian cancer. Click on the link above to find out more.

Conference: Priorities for Addressing Women’s Health Concerns and Delivering on the Women’s Health Strategy

Posted on June 22, 2022 by - News

The Westminster Health Forum is hosting this conference online on the morning of Wednesday 28th September 2022. A fascinating programme is planned.

Draft agenda subject to change

8.30 Registration

9.00 Chair’s opening remarks Senior Parliamentarian

9.05 Priorities for delivering on ambitions set out in the Vision for the Women’s Health Strategy Senior representative, policy

Questions and comments from the floor 9.30 Break

9.35 Service development and delivery – improving diagnosis and referrals for women with major health conditions, joining up services and overcoming variations in delivery, and addressing inequalities in accessibility to services
Dr Clare Stephens, Clinical Co-director, North Central London Cancer Alliance; and GP Partner, The Speedwell Practice
Dr Nicola Weaver, General Practitioner and Macmillan GP Clinical Cancer Lead for Southwark, NHS South East London Clinical Commissioning Group

Dr Holly Essex, Research Fellow, Health Services and Policy Research Group, University of York Louise Buchanan, Consultant Cardiologist, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust Questions and comments from the floor

10.20 Priorities for supporting women’s sexual and reproductive health across the life cycle Dr Edward Morris, President, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

10.30 Achieving effective reproductive healthcare for women of all ages – holistic and accessible local services, patient-centred care delivery, faster diagnosis and access to treatments, and informative resources
Haitham Hamoda, President, British Menopause Society
Dr Anita Sharma, GP with Special Interest in Women’s Health, South Chadderton Health Centre

Senior representative, fertility Senior representative, screening

10.50 Questions and comments from the floor

11.10 Chair’s closing remarks Senior Parliamentarian

11.15 Break

11.25 Chair’s opening remarks Senior Parliamentarian

11.30 Priorities for addressing stigma, improving first points of contact within primary care, and developing workforce education around women-specific health issues
Dr Anne Connolly, Chair, Primary Care Women’s Health Forum; and GP, Bevan Healthcare
Senior representative, education

11.40 Building an inclusive and responsive healthcare environment for all women’s health concerns and tackling disparities in women’s health outcomes

Jay Breslaw, Chief Executive Officer, Survivor’s Network Dr Jane Hamlin, President, Beaumont Society
Senior representative, mental health
Senior representative, ethnic minority health

12.00 Questions and comments from the floor

12.25 Break

12.30 Next steps for women’s health research – opportunities for improving data and the evidence base Senior representative, research
Questions and comments from the floor

12.55 Chair’s and Westminster Health Forum closing remarks Senior Parliamentarian

For more information: https://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/agenda/Womens-Health-22-agenda.pdfpage1image2712160800 page1image2712161088page1image2712161376page1image2712161728 page1image2712162016page1image2712162432 page1image2712162720page1image2712163136 page1image2712163424 page1image2712163936 page1image2712164224page1image2712164512 page1image2712164800

Britons and Gender Identity – New report

Posted on June 18, 2022 by - News

Based on polling of more than 5,000 people and 20 focus groups, a new report finds that the divisive debate playing out in Westminster and social media is out of sync with the public’s approach to the issue – with only 2 percent thinking ‘the debate about transgender people’ is one of the most important issues facing the country.

Instead of angry debates and Twitter pile ons, the public want a ‘live and let live’ approach to trans people and case-by-case solutions not blanket policies. Most are aware of the issues involved, a quarter know someone who is transgender, and for most the starting points are compassion and common sense. More agree (46%) than disagree (32%) that a trans man is a man and a trans woman is a woman.  You can read the full report here: britons-and-gender-identity-navigating-common-ground-and-division-june-2022

 

Being trans does not need to be cured – transphobia does!

Posted on April 2, 2022 by - News

On Thursday 31st March – International Day of Trans Visibility, of all days – the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom announced that the government’s plans for  the long-awaited ban on “conversion therapies” for LGBT+ people were to be scrapped. After an outcry from MPs and members of the public, there was a partial U-turn that left trans people unprotected. Conversion therapies are any interventions that that try to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity through, for example, pseudo-scientific counselling sessions, prayers and exorcisms. Whatever the practitioners and supporters of these activities call it, it is abuse! It should have been made illegal in this and every country many years ago.

We know that some anti-trans groups have been spreading fear and misinformation for years. They express false concern that if these hideous practices were to be made illegal the medical profession would be prevented from working with their trans clients. According to The Guardian (02.04.22, p7) “Nikki da Costa, a former director of legislative affairs at No 10, told the BBC that a ban would have ‘profound consequences for children struggling with gender dysphoria. It would create a situation where doctors, therapists, even parents would be deterred from exploring with a child any feelings of what else may be going on for fear of being told they’re trying to change a child’s identity. And that is deeply concerning.'”

This is total nonsense. What the law would have banned is any practice that only has one outcome, for example telling someone that they must be cis-gendered. Why are trans people being left unprotected? We need parliament to act to ban the odious and cruel practices that leave too many trans people scarred for life. It is hard being trans. No-one chooses to be trans. It is how we are born. It is who we are. When will those in power understand and respect that?