Plans to include men who self-identify as women at Senedd ‘toxic and misogynous’ claim campaigners

The Welsh Assembly Government want to encourage more women, but also men who Self ID as women, to occupy the Senedd as politicians.

In laymen’s terms there is a quota for more female politicians to be involved at the Senedd and under the plans albeit whereby Welsh Government claim the wording of the draft plan has errors, men who self identify as women would be considered for election and to be able to stand as women even though they are not biological women.

That is the claim of campaigners who also claim that  there is a major flaw with the plan, i.e  Welsh Government’s definition of “women”.

The leaked draft of the Bill includes a clause to allow biological men to stand on female only quotas designed to ensure half of members of the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, are women.

This has been challenged by the Women’s Rights Network as “Gender Self ID by the back door”.

Cathy Larkman, from Women’s Rights Network Wales, said: “It is shameful that they (Welsh Government) are high-jacking legislation that should benefit women and increase female participation in political life, to embed a toxic and misogynistic ideology.

“We believe that the intention of the Welsh Government is to introduce gender self-identification and put it on a statutory footing.

“We believe this is the first step towards a full self-ID bill which would have serious implications for women and girls in particular as it would impact on single-sex services and spaces such as changing rooms, intimate care, hospital wards and domestic violence services.”

Carmarthenshire News attended the event; ‘We Belong Here’ Women’s Takeover of the Senedd, hosted by the Senedd Commission and organised by WEN Wales and Elect Her, on Saturday 21st Oct 23 with a number of “Gender Critical” (i.e. who refuse to pretend people can change sex) women.

Although men were included within the plan, none appeared to be amongst the attendees.

In the LBGTQIAA workshop we attended, hosted by Davinia-Louise Green, Director of Stonewall Cymru some attendees introduced themselves as “Asexual”

One attendee pointed out that they did not think the “A” identity required any special provision, and that being a woman with all the difficulties and obstructions women faced for their sex that it was that, that was worthy of extra provision.

An attendee then expanded that they resented any of these provisions or opportunities being taken by “a bloke (man) who popped on a frock”. The attendee was rebuked for hate speech, and threatened with removal.

There have been protests including a banners protest in Carmarthen town recently. Banners read: “Transwomen Are Men”, and “Stop Transing Kids”

Organisers said that drivers were ‘90% positive’ with cars hooting, waving and giving the thumbs up.

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies has also been highly critical of the plans. He tweeted:

 A total farce. Labour’s gender quotas are insulting to women, and to the public whose votes should be free from interference by politicians.

But this is comical. If anyone can ‘identify’ as whichever gender they choose, the whole thing is unfit for purpose. Scrap it.

The Welsh government said the draft Bill’s wording was incorrect, but did not deny the premise of the plans.