[Post edited 5 Jan 2023 19:13]

The trans Bill in Scotland by GlasgowBlue 23 Dec 2022 8:20
How the heck has this been reported for abuse? It’s not much different to badger posting “Congratulations on securing your first ten-pager to get pulled by Phil”.

Getting back to the op. There is a big divide in Scotland over this legislation with those who object being in the majority. So credit to the Scottish government for not taking the easy option and pressing ahead with what they believe to be right.

Objection to the bill seem to fall into two catorfories. Those who shout ‘stop the world I want to get off’ because they simply can’t get their heads around the idea of Trans people, and those people (mostly women) who have genuine concerns for the safety of womens spaces. I can’t imagine being a vulnerable woman who has been the victim of sexual abuse and those women shouldn’t be dismissed as being anti trans. They are entitled to be listened to.

Their main concern is the short time that somebody somebody is required to self identify as a woman before being able to legally change this status. On the flip side, for somebody who has been born into the wrong body they have been waiting their entire life for this moment.

With regards to the issue of safety, last month, a UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, warned the Scottish bill could endanger women. Reem Alsalem said it "would potentially open the door for violent males who identify as men to abuse the process of acquiring a gender certificate and the rights that are associated with it". On the flip side, the UN's independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Victor Madrigal-Borloz said on Friday: “There are no administrative or judicial findings that validate the idea that the risk of abuse is a material one.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63993415

So the debate is way too complicated for a group of mostly heterosexual men on a football message board. And is bound to descend into name calling. Which is a shame as there is a genuine debate to be had, and if people can refrain from name calling and are respectful then there is no reason it shouldn’t be had.

My own opinion is that all human beings deserve respect and should be allowed to live their lives with dignity. They should not be discriminated against because of their race, colour, religion, sexuality or gender. Just like I can’t imagine being a woman who has been the victim of sexual abuse, I can’t imagine what it’s like to spend formative years trapped in the wrong body. And if this legislation helps people to be able to live their lives as the person they want to be then it can only be positive. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also listen to women and address their concerns.

Probably a bit of a heavy and rambling post for this turn of the morning but I’m basically having the debate inside my own head.

Edited 4 pour smelling.