Ed Davey Acknowledges Importance of GRA Safeguards
Ed Davey gave a very encouraging performance on BBC Radio4’s Any Questions last week, with a distinct shift towards a much more moderate position regarding women’s and trans rights.
He managed to get four key points across in an answer to just one question about sex versus ‘gender identity’:
The importance of safeguards in GRA to prevent abuse
The need for mature, open debate
The importance of level playing field for women and girls' sports
That gender identity is question of BELIEF, not fact
Ed rightly pointed out that trans people are already well protected under UK law, and noted the Gender Recognition Act “allows people to change their gender, but it puts safeguards in to avoid abuse."
This is an important acknowledgement, and radical departure from current Lib Dem policy, which recommends the removal of these safeguards.
Ed also made a point about the nature of public debate on these issues. "We have to listen and have an open, mature debate. Let us listen to each other, and let us show some kindness." We wholeheartedly agree. After some disgraceful behaviour by trans activists last Lib Dem Spring Conference, in which gender critical members were subjected to abuse, vitriol and censorship, it was heartening to hear Ed’s call for more openness and maturity. Leadership in this area cannot come soon enough.
Ed also made a comment about the existential threat to women’s sports that we are currently seeing play out in real time across the globe. "I've got a young daughter. She's not into sport yet. [...] I hope if she competes there will be a level playing field." He made the point that the integrity of female sporting categories is the responsibility of individual sporting bodies. While it is true that this ought to be the case, sporting bodies have shown little interest in fulfilling this role, and in fact are starting to look like they have little regard for women’s sports at all. Sporting bodies need to know politicians and other public figures are watching them when it comes to their responsibilities to women’s sports. As we saw with recent events around women’s cycling, it makes a difference when people use their platforms to speak up for fairness.
Regarding the substantive question that was asked, “Does gender supercede biological sex?’ Ed answered, "For people who believe they're in a different gender, yes it does for those people." While Ed dodged the question to some extent, he made an important point, which is that gender identity is a subjective belief. As such, as was confirmed by the Maya Forstater case, it cannot be imposed on others. As liberals, who hold dear the principle of freedom of belief, and freedom not to believe, we are grateful that Ed has characterised gender identity in this way.
Clearly this is just a small step in the right direction. The policy inconsistencies exposed here will have to be resolved at Conference. And potential Lib Dem voting women of the UK are unlikely to “weesht” until our MPs start acknowledging unequivocally that sex matters in law and in life.
But Ed, like many other politicians, is on a journey. Rowan Williams recently described sex-change as “a sacred journey of becoming whole.” We are sceptical of that, but we do believe if Ed keeps choosing to get his advice from the right people he can take the Lib Dems on a successful journey of becoming electable.
The Any Questions episode can be heard here (section starts 37:28)