National ID Card Petition

[emma]

Personally, I think it is time that the medical profession was forced to show reponsibility and accountability for the social nonsense it reinforces by attributing a binary gender based on birth sex.

After all, even the APA, who lay down the rules for DSM, have worked out that sex is not gender...
See:
Reilly D : « Considering Gender » Resident's Journal (volume 3, issue 8 ) : 2-3 in Am J Psychiatry 2008 : 165-8.

Emma

[Alison]

Post deleted

[Helen_Mortimer]

I am not convinced that they will issue the passports with a different gender marker to the ID Card. Implication? If we do not get the ID Register to recognise your acquired gender, you will loose the protection you already have.

And the comment that I placed in my letter means that I think this, once again, becomes an infringement of human rights. If the government has issued a document that I need for travel indicating that I am female and then withdraws that indication because I have not complied with a piece of optional legislation...

[Alison]

Post deleted

[Robyn]

HI there,

The prompt response that people are showing on this is fantastic. Earlier this evening the number of signatories had risen above 200. This promises that the petition will now get a response.

What we need to do now is keep this total growing and get the word out as much as possible.

Please also remember to print off the letter and send it in. If you do not think any of this will affect you, guess again. Please do read the letter and the posts on this forum where Alison has answered many questions already.

I have tonight done a few searches on the Internet to see how wide spread this is being publicised. I am finding this story pop up in several places. I also found an old story on Pink News ( http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9650.html ) which can be used as another way to high-light some of the issues behind what this campaign is all about.

If anyone has any doubts of this, you are more than welcome to research, as Alison has done, into the National ID Card and see the facts for yourself. By all means start here: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/passports- ... /id-cards/

You will note a number of details about the page: It is on the same site that hosts information about Passports. This is because it will be all linked together. The title "Ensuring safe & secure travel" contradicts the facts that Alison has exposed.

There is a link on the page to the act of parliament on Identity Cards ( http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/en ... 60015_en_1 ) on the page too.

A question raised by Ms Claire McNab ( http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 061502.htm ) in 2004 was not IMHO properly answered. I also do not feel that the issues raised have actually been addressed properly.

Press for Change has raised issues with the Government previously ( http://www.parliament.the-stationery-of ... 30we65.htm ) and there are people who are still involved with this. Alison has been in touch with these people and their input has been sought over this.

Direct quote from a news article published 3rd February 2009: Europe lacks a coordinated strategy on how to go about protecting personal data held on the cards ( http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/03 ... _analysis/ ).

I am really grateful that I have found several stories and posts on various public groups regarding this issue. These are not restricted to Transsexual groups, but also Gender-Queer groups. I haven't seen any public new on Intersex groups. I hope that these people do realise that this could affect them as well.

There is also the Facebook group, growing all the time ( http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=65686496220 ). This has over 50 members already.

So thank you to everyone who has shown their support so far. Please DO send is those letters to arrive no later than Friday and please DO get others involved.

Lets show the Government that we are a very vocal minority and we wish them to protect our privacy, not expose us.

Thank you,
Robyn

[Helen G]

o hai! Short-term lurker, first-time poster...

Just wanted to add that I've blogged this at bird of paradox http://birdofparadox.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/national-id-card-petition/ (my own place) and cross-posted it at Questioning Transphobia http://questioningtransphobia.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/national-id-card-petition/ (where I guest)

Oh, and Tweeted it, too http://twitter.com/helen_bop/status/1186776239

kthxbai

[Pollik]

I am really grateful that I have found several stories and posts on various public groups regarding this issue. These are not restricted to Transsexual groups, but also Gender-Queer groups. I haven't seen any public new on Intersex groups. I hope that these people do realise that this could affect them as well.

There is also the Facebook group, growing all the time ( http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=65686496220 ). This has over 50 members already.

There is also my FB group at http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53081872329 - which has stalled a bit, possibly because of Natacha's group, but there are three members that I recognise as being IS. I haven't seen any of them apply to join this group, however, but they are aware of the issue.

I agree with Robyn, I think the response to this has been phenomenal and growing all the time. We have also picked up maybe a dozen new members, which is also great news.

[Pollik]

That is terrific, Helen, thank you!!!

I think we need to be a little careful with the two Facebook groups:

- mine at http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53081872329 is focussed on ID cards

- Natacha's at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=65686496220 is focussed on the Equality Bill

I think that they are both important, and they both deal with opposing legislation that legitimises discriminatory practice, but they nevertheless do focus on very different aspects.

Polly

[Helen_Mortimer]

I'd just like to say that I find all this activity very exciting. Long may it continue... - well, until it's all sorted

[Pollik]

The two Facebook groups are now crosslinked.

The activity is exciting, isn't it? Be ready for the inevitable tears and anger, though. It won't all be bullish like this.

But I do feel positive aobut this group now, even while I find the ID cards issue rather depressing and a little frightening...the unkown usually is frightening, though.



Polly