A UNIVERSITY lecturer has called for transgender women to be excluded from women’s changing rooms and any other places where they undress.
Dr Kathleen Stock, a reader in philosophy at the University of Sussex, told The Argus women-only areas should not allow transgender people who still have male genitalia.
She said: “I am definitely not saying that trans women are particularly dangerous – they are definitely not.
“Most trans people are law abiding and wouldn’t dream of harming anyone.
“However, many trans women are still males with male genitalia, many are sexually attracted to females, and they should not be in places where females undress or sleep in a completely unrestricted way.”
Dr Stock vehemently denies that she opposes trans rights.
She said: “I gladly and vocally assert the rights of trans people to live their lives free from fear, violence, harassment or any discrimination.
“I think that discussing female rights is compatible with defending these trans rights.
“This has nothing to do with any particular trans people – it is about a general structural issue in our society and how to deal with it.”
Earlier this year the Government announced a consultation on the proposal to “de-medicalise” the process of changing gender so that people decide on and state their own gender without the need for a medical diagnosis.
Dr Stock spoke to The Argus ahead of a controversial event named A Woman’s Place Is Turning The Tide being held on July 16 in Brighton.
It demands “respectful and evidence based discussion about the impact of the proposed changes”.
The meeting is being hosted by Woman’s Place UK and the group is worried that self-identification of gender could affect women’s rights and legal protection and could mean “the end to single sex spaces and the provision of single sex services”.
Dr Stock is due to speak at the event but her attendance has been met with a backlash from LGBTQ activists.
Other attendees include Gill Smith who began to transition from female to male but has since changed their mind.
Ruth Serwotka, the co-founder of Woman’s Place UK, and Helen Saxby, a feminist writer and blogger will also attend.
Fox Fisher, a trans activist who blasted Dr Stock on Twitter told The Argus: “These events are born out of ignorance and hatred towards trans people and their rights, regardless of how they choose to dress it up or pretend it is some sort of reasonable debate.
“There is nothing to debate”
Fox is also concerned a University of Sussex lecturer is due to attend the event and is worried that this could have an impact on trans students.
Fox said: “A lecturer that openly opposes the rights of trans people therefore creates a hostile environment for students and stand in their workplace.
“To have to either attend classes with someone that openly wants to deny you your basic human rights, or to work with them, is incredibly stressful and harmful.”
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