logo
When it comes to trans people, we've forgotten our manners

When it comes to trans people, we've forgotten our manners

Independent16-02-2025
Regarding Jill Stephenson's letter (' Letters,' Friday 14 February), the 'trouble with trans' arises from an earlier era, where both the Gender Recognition Act and the Equality Act were largely designed around that small group she refers to, who wish to live their lives as members of the sex opposite to that into which they were born. However, in order to qualify for a Gender Recognition Certificate, one must live as a member of the new gender for two years. Excluding those people on this 'real life test' from women's spaces would effectively create a Catch 22 for such people.
I'm pretty certain that most trans people with GRCs, or seeking one, are deeply concerned about their existing rights being threatened by recent developments after two decades of peace. There have always been people who refute the existence of trans people, even in this category, by virtue of some principle such as religion, politics, or just out of prejudice, but should such people be allowed to determine the lives of those who do want to cross the sex divide? Is being attacked by a man in the past sufficient justification to exclude trans women? What if you'd been attacked by a black man, abused by a priest, a female thug or such like? Could you expect to exclude such people or anyone like them from your working environment?
I don't personally believe that one can change one's physical sex, whatever changes are wrought to one's body, but I do feel there must be room to consider one's mental affiliation with one's gender. The brain remains the most complex and least understood organ in the human body, and we have much to learn about it. What governs sexual orientation, for example, or whether you believe in any religion, why you like or hate reading, music or cucumber, let alone about how you feel about your gender? No one has the answers to these questions.
The current case of the nurse and the doctor sadly appears to be whipping up a storm of anti-transgender comments on social media that is often extremely unpleasant, no doubt defined as free speech by some. There is a danger that this could lead to unfortunate consequences for some poor trans people, just seeking to go about their lives.
There also seems to be an insistence on deliberately disrespecting transgender people's feelings, however hard they try to fit in, for example, calling the person 'he' when they identify as 'she'. It might be old fashioned, but this seems to me just plain rude, like attending a church ceremony as an atheist and then insistently calling the other attendees idiots for believing in such nonsense. Why can't we just have a bit more tolerance and respect for each other's beliefs and feelings?
Name and address supplied
The road (much more) travelled
After reading Simon Calder's article (' Rail strikes, fare rises and broken signals: Why train passengers nationwide are facing continued misery this year,' Saturday 15 February) and your editorial on the cost of railways (' A tough test for Heidi Alexander: just make our railway services reliable,' Saturday 15 February), can we now have a similar investigation into the cost of road transport, highlighting that the payments made by road users do not come anywhere near the cost of highway maintenance?
For instance, VED and excise duty on fuel have not increased for something like 12 years, and the cost of the emergency services attending road traffic incidents is not met, nor hospital costs.
Both rail and road transport are necessary to the country and both are heavily subsidised. I won't mention excise duty on aircraft fuel.
Doug Flack
Derby, Derbyshire
Are prisons fit for purpose?
Amy-Clare Martin's piece on the failure to provide adequate healthcare for prisoners being linked to 40 per cent of all suicides in prison is shocking ("Nearly half of suicides in prisons follow healthcare failures noted by watchdog", 15 February).
It does beg the question: is there any care in prisons?
Kartar Uppal
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
Otherwise occupied
Casting my mind back to the late naughties and the financial crash, HBOS was one of the banking institutions that required a huge state bailout to survive. The picture emerging concerning Rachel Reeves is one of chaos (' Reeves says she was 'never questioned' over HBOS expenses,' Friday 14 February). A senior management incompetently led such that their expenses were subject to supine policy and procedures that permitted individual interpretation without the usual ethical and moral filters.
It is no wonder that HBOS was reluctant to sustain an effective investigation into their employee's use of credit cards, etc, as it was likely that such practices were commonplace throughout the organisation, such that no-one could see harm inflating semi-official perks. It was also likely not in the bank's interest (and certainly not their benighted customers') to highlight dirty laundry while negotiating a rescue plan.
One can only speculate whether had these expenses investigations occurred in normal times, Rachel Reeves would now be languishing on the back benches.
Bradford on Tone, Taunton
A gulf of empathy
Donald Trump has several times reminded Europeans, including its islanders, that there is an ocean between North America and the European war as a possible justification for reducing or removing military support. But, there are arguably two oceans between the USA and the Levant, yet there has been no suggestion of reducing support for Israel.
A lack of consistency has become a hallmark of the American administration's outbursts and this does not bode well for the next four years.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Disabled could be helped back into work with new right similar to maternity law
Disabled could be helped back into work with new right similar to maternity law

The Herald Scotland

time25 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Disabled could be helped back into work with new right similar to maternity law

They said such a right would 'would clarify and strengthen existing legal protections' under the the Equality Act and 'provide a much stronger message to workers about what they are entitled to'. The report warned that the Government risks failing to meet its aim to raise the employment rate to 80% without a 'serious strategy to shift employer behaviour' and argues employers must be incentivised to reintegrate existing workers back into jobs. The report comes in the same week as the Universal Credit Bill cleared the House of Lords, aimed at rebalancing the benefit 'to remove work disincentives', according to a Government minister, while giving existing claimants 'the security and certainty they need'. Separately during the debate, Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who sits in the Lords, said disabled people have been portrayed as 'benefit scroungers and a drain on society' in the conversation on welfare reform. In its report, the Resolution Foundation said around 12% of disabled staff leave work each year – consistently 1.5-times the rate of non-disabled workers. It added that twice as many people move from work into inactivity due to ill health – around 304,000 each year – than those moving the other way (around 151,000). But the think tank said despite there being 'strong' legal obligations in place already on employers, they are 'simply not doing enough to retain existing workers', with fewer than half of disabled workers who request a reasonable adjustment – which can include a change to working arrangements or provision of equipment, services or support – having this granted in full. With 15% of disabled people reporting workplace discrimination relating to their disability in 2022, the report said this remains a 'pressing issue'. The think tank said: 'Boosting disability employment is not straightforward: it will involve improvements to the health system, benefits system and world of work. But action to incentivise and support employers is a vital piece of the puzzle.' Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: 'The Government should do more to incentivise firms to employ disabled people – especially those who have been out of work for long periods – but employers need to do more in return. 'A new right to reintegration could help disabled workers back into work in the same way that maternity rights transformed women's employment prospects a generation ago.' The foundation said the new right could be enforced through employment tribunals, but urged the Government to also consider 'more proactive enforcement mechanisms, whether via the Equalities and Human Rights Commission or connected to a new system of caseworkers that are expected to be covered in the forthcoming Mayfield Review'. Former John Lewis boss, Sir Charlie Mayfield, is undertaking a review to investigate how Government and businesses can work together to support ill and disabled people into work, with a report expected in autumn. The Government has been contacted for comment.

Disabled could be helped back into work with new right similar to maternity law
Disabled could be helped back into work with new right similar to maternity law

Western Telegraph

time2 hours ago

  • Western Telegraph

Disabled could be helped back into work with new right similar to maternity law

A new right to reintegration for workers on sick leave could see firms prevented from dismissing someone unless it is shown the employer has made sufficient efforts at reintegrating the person, the Resolution Foundation think tank said. They said such a right would 'would clarify and strengthen existing legal protections' under the the Equality Act and 'provide a much stronger message to workers about what they are entitled to'. A new Right to Reintegration could help disabled workers back into work in the same way that maternity rights transformed women's employment prospects a generation ago Louise Murphy, Resolution Foundation The report warned that the Government risks failing to meet its aim to raise the employment rate to 80% without a 'serious strategy to shift employer behaviour' and argues employers must be incentivised to reintegrate existing workers back into jobs. The report comes in the same week as the Universal Credit Bill cleared the House of Lords, aimed at rebalancing the benefit 'to remove work disincentives', according to a Government minister, while giving existing claimants 'the security and certainty they need'. Separately during the debate, Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who sits in the Lords, said disabled people have been portrayed as 'benefit scroungers and a drain on society' in the conversation on welfare reform. In its report, the Resolution Foundation said around 12% of disabled staff leave work each year – consistently 1.5-times the rate of non-disabled workers. It added that twice as many people move from work into inactivity due to ill health – around 304,000 each year – than those moving the other way (around 151,000). But the think tank said despite there being 'strong' legal obligations in place already on employers, they are 'simply not doing enough to retain existing workers', with fewer than half of disabled workers who request a reasonable adjustment – which can include a change to working arrangements or provision of equipment, services or support – having this granted in full. With 15% of disabled people reporting workplace discrimination relating to their disability in 2022, the report said this remains a 'pressing issue'. The think tank said: 'Boosting disability employment is not straightforward: it will involve improvements to the health system, benefits system and world of work. But action to incentivise and support employers is a vital piece of the puzzle.' Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: 'The Government should do more to incentivise firms to employ disabled people – especially those who have been out of work for long periods – but employers need to do more in return. 'A new right to reintegration could help disabled workers back into work in the same way that maternity rights transformed women's employment prospects a generation ago.' The foundation said the new right could be enforced through employment tribunals, but urged the Government to also consider 'more proactive enforcement mechanisms, whether via the Equalities and Human Rights Commission or connected to a new system of caseworkers that are expected to be covered in the forthcoming Mayfield Review'. Former John Lewis boss, Sir Charlie Mayfield, is undertaking a review to investigate how Government and businesses can work together to support ill and disabled people into work, with a report expected in autumn. The Government has been contacted for comment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store