In Australia and around the world, legislation is being introduced that replaces sex with gender identity. Advocates insist that there is no conflict of interest. But governments are not collecting data on the impacts of this legislative change. We're worried about the impacts on women of men using women-only spaces, including but not limited to: changing rooms, fitting rooms, bathrooms, shelters, rape and domestic violence refuges, gyms, spas, sports, schools, accommodations, hospital wards, shortlists, prizes, quotas, political groups, prisons, clubs, events, festivals, dating apps, and language. If we can't collect data, we can at least collect stories. Please tell us how your use of women-only spaces has been impacted. All stories will be published anonymously. If you know of other women who have been impacted, please encourage them to tell their stories too.
This site is run from Australia, New Zealand members of the LGB Defence, AWW Inc. and supported by LGB Alliance.
a teenage girl in melbourne was followed into a toilet block and raped by a 45 year-old man, according to this news report.
activists for gender identity campaign for women to not ask questions when they see men in their bathrooms. see e.g. this and this.
At my local yoga studio, there is a female change room, a male change room, and a gender-neutral restroom. Despite this, after a class 2 years ago, a male entered the female changing room (accompanied by his female friend no less) which is small and full of nude women who were changing and showering, myself included. No one said anything. So, even when a gender-neutral changing space is offered, the women's change room is still subject to the presence of men. I also suspect there is absolutely no way for the yoga studio to address this without risking the label of transphobic.
This year, I didn't feel safe going to the International Women’s Day festival in my area, because a trans-identified man was on a panel, so I didn't go. It is hard enough that men are taking limited positions on panels at women's day events, assuming the right to not only participate but to lead discussions about women's issues. It is frustrating to watch that happen, and to see other women supporting it rather than standing up against it. But this event was even worse, because this particular man had recently harassed me, via a friend and a contact of his. I had thought about going to the police, but his threats were subtle and I didn’t know if the police would take the matter seriously. He’s friends with a lot of other people I am also friends with locally, and has good standing with them. I was worried I would see him at the festival, even if I went to another event that wasn’t his panel, and then he might harass me in person. I’ve previously organized Women’s Day events, and I have worked in women’s programs and policy. It’s an important time for me. But I didn’t feel safe going. I was effectively excluded from what should be women’s space - I self-excluded, because I didn’t feel safe, knowing that this particular trans-identified man was part of it. I wonder how many other women are doing the same?
