12. What about unwell trans people on hospital wards?

 

As a trans woman with a vagina who has worked as a nurse and provided intimate care and compassion to men and women alike, with consent, I find it sad and ironic that campaigners think I would be 'safer' on a man's ward than a woman's. Many health professionals agree: the exclusion of trans women from women's wards is ideological and not based on realistic risk. I have never heard of a single sexual attack on a female hospital ward by a trans woman. It's a false stigmatisation of trans people when they are ill, who just need care like anyone else. Moreover nurses know that you never carry out intimate and private care, washing, or changing gowns, except behind closed curtains. But hostile parties, and people with anti-trans agenda, try to vilify trans people. Their exclusion in this case is wholly disproportionate.

 

13. What about the Women's Institute?

 

As with various other associations and groups, for decades trans women have been welcomed in the Women's Institute in many locations: not least, because they are women. The Equality Act doesn't deny that. No physical danger is presented by trans women being included: no unfair advantage. Membership in no way comes under an 'exceptional' need to exclude. The actual context and intention of the Equality Act was to include. But the EHRC's generalisation of what should have been only exceptions has created a problem that did not even exist before, when trans women (who often suffer isolation) were welcomed in kindness and broad-mindedness. The 'Not in our Name' movement calls out the exclusion of trans women, and seeks a respect that allows different types of women to co-exist and show solidarity to one another.