A Vote on Trans Women Joining Women's Institutes

SEX IS A PROTECTED CHARTERISTIC under the Equalities Act.

WI Wollaton, Nottinghamshire WI Without any hate or negative feeling towards trans people. The trans umbrella is very wide for political expediency. It is also very diverse so it's politics does not properly cover those very diverse needs. Meaning it's a blunt and limited implement. Especially, it doesn't properly cover the needs of human biological females, males not children.

A man cannot be a woman. The WI is signing its own death warrant if it accepts this ludicrous gender ideology.

I am unhappy with the WI policy stating that ‘anyone who identifies as a man’ can join. I feel strongly that women need a women only space and that the WI policy is contributing to the negation of women. Whilst I am a member I am seriously withdrawing. I think it is very sad that women are being sidelined, if a woman identified as a man and wanted to join a man only group there would be an outcry

As a survivor of male sexual violence I joined the WI. I suffer PTSD. We have a transgender member. Although I was nervous its been ok. At the last meeting I wasn't there and was explained to me the individual wore a negligee with no underwear a few members saw all of the male parts. On the other members part they contacted the committee and not sure how that went. On my part, even though I wasn't there that evening the thought of returning horrifies me. I sent a email to the committee telling them of my past experience & trauma now resulting in PTSD. That was so hard to write and triggered me terribly. In my email I asked were the women affected that night followed up to see if they are ok? Has a trans liason police officer been informed? I told them I am nor wanting to come again. They replied that they would foward my email to the WI federation Today I got my reponse It answered none of my questions basically said "sad to hear youve had bad time, the individual will be coming back and sorry you wont be coming back The main body of the email was such jargon No transparency surrounding the hierarchical communication from the top to committees down members. Who has control at the very top its scary.

Wiltshire

Can aristocrat trans me inherit aristicatcmen do? Leave women alone!

Totally against this, and will resign if it's not rescinded

WI should be a safe space for biological women. Transgender women still have the strength of biological men & may represent a danger to women.

Sex is a protected characteristic. The WI would need a change of constitution to allow men, however they identify, to join.

It’s a disgrace to the women who set up the WI for women only to allow men in. People can’t change sex.

Recently looked into joining the WI, as a Woman's organisation. Found out that AGP Men are joining. I will not be a prop to any man's fetish. So, No thanks.

I have already written to my local WI on this issue however, the committee are insisting the WI rules forbid them from not backing whatever the National Federation decree. (Letter available) WI Kilmington and Stourton (Wilts)

I joined the WI because it was a ‘women only’ organisation. Men are not women.

I joined the WI , to meet women not men with dysphoria or AGP

Haxey Parish WI

I am appalled that WI members have not been given a chance to debate and vote on such an important issue that changes the whole nature of the WI

This is men in women's spaces again. No.

Men have no place in a woman only organisation

It really isn't a "Women's" Institute if you accept males as members. It isn't possible to change sex so trans-identified men are not women. They may very much WANT to be women, but they all know that they are not women. Their presence in women's settings, meetings or groups makes many women feel very uncomfortable, and in some instances they are unsafe as a result. Levels of male violence and sexual offences do not change with transition. And some men who say they are women 'get off on' being in women's spaces, and discussing women's health issues. Which is so insulting.