What does the failure of TRAs to change the Gender Recognition Act mean for the future of self-ID? Could things be changing?

submitted by peakingatthemomentTranssexual (natal male), HSTS from bbc.com

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[–]worried19 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

I sincerely hope so. But I'm not sure. California's governor apparently just signed a new law allowing self ID in prisons regardless of whether the people involved have had hormone treatment or surgeries. Natal males with intact, functioning penises are going to be allowed in general population in women's prisons. And also the converse, natal females with breasts and vaginas will be allowed into men's prisons. I guess it's only a matter of time before enough terrible things happen for the lawsuits to begin.

[–]peakingatthemomentTranssexual (natal male), HSTS[S] 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

I saw the California law and it is extremely worrying. California already had self-ID for changing gender markers, so I guess it not that surprising, but it’s putting women at risk. Even if you think some group of males should be housed in women’s prisons, insisting on surgery seems like an absolute minimum standard for safety.

[–]loveSloaneDebate King 11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 0 fun12 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

I agree. My other thing is- maybe they should be focused on preventing the violence and rape happening in male prisons period??? There’s still millions of males at risk of /being assaulted (both physically and sexually) in male prisons that aren’t being protected. Why is nothing being done about that? And what’s stopping them from “identifying as a woman” to protect themselves (in addition to males who may do it because the option is available)? It’s like it puts women at risk and ignores the other males who may be at risk unless they lie and self id their way to safety. But “at least the transwomen are safe, I guess” must be their thinking.

Eta- as much as I hate to admit it, I wouldn’t blame someone being abused in a male prison self Id-ing their way to a safer prison. This is kind of what the problem will be for female prisons. Just because they were victims in a male setting doesn’t mean they won’t be perpetrators in a female setting. Not to mention the possible and likely consensual sex... this is just a colossal mistake.

[–]worried19 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Not to mention the possible and likely consensual sex

And what about pregnancy? Mixing males and females together is going to cause a lot of unintended pregnancy. That would be a huge financial burden on the prison system, and then what happens to the babies if they're conceived in prison and both parents are incarcerated long term?

[–]loveSloaneDebate King 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

It’s just gonna be lawsuit after lawsuit. It’s such a liability. It’s a mistake. All I can do is hope that the mistake is realized (sooner rather than later, hopefully) and this turns a tide or something.

[–]worried19 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

It's terrible to say, but I feel like rape is more easily ignored. Pregnancy, though, that's tangible evidence of sex (which isn't supposed to be happening in prison) plus a financial burden on the system in terms of abortion, adoption, prenatal care, and figuring out what the hell to do with dozens or possibly hundreds of unplanned babies.

[–]loveSloaneDebate King 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It’s kind of infuriating that in all of these situations, rape is ignored unless it’s a transwoman. The other males getting raped don’t get protected, the women at risk have no say and no one looking out for them, but the transwomen are covered? To be clear, it’s not at all bad that there are steps being taken to protect them (aside from the fact that these are the worst possible steps to take), but I don’t understand how there’s nothing being done for anyone else at risk of assault? I don’t understand how males make the decision to let males into female spaces. And as far as pregnancy goes- lol it’s not like they’re gonna offer condoms or birth control so seriously what the fuck are they thinking? They can’t prevent sex in prison any better than they can prevent rapes, apparently. And if they came up with a system to prevent sex- why wouldn’t they prevent the dangers the transwomen are facing in male prisons and keep them there? This is yet again, not even really about safety. This is about their “identities”. Once again, women get screwed over to preserve gender identity.