As a society we need to be tolerant, accommodating and respectful of those who have transitioned and those who are going through that process, but we are also obliged to ensure the safety of biological girls and women.
The determination of a ‘woman’ and a ‘man’ is however not one for government to rule on – it should be left to the sporting (or other) body concerned. It is up to those organisations to determine their rules for participation, not government.
Classic Liberals generally believes that:
- Women’s sports should be exclusively for biological women. (While there may be some exceptions, although none come to mind, the “men’s” category should be an “open” category, open to men, women and those transitioning. This would however not be required under law. It would be up to the sporting bodies concerned to decide on categories and composition for their sport. Some sporting bodies may provide a ‘mixed category’ ostensibly for biological men and women – such as mixed-doubles in tennis. It should be up to that sporting body to determine the composition of each category.)
- Women’s changerooms should similarly be exclusively for biological women. (We are however open to be persuaded to broaden that classification to include men who’ve had their genitals removed. Those transitioning could use unisex facilities should there be any. This would also not be required under law. It would be up to the building owner and/or manager to decide. Such party would however be required by law to hold adequate insurance to cover financial compensation resulting from any damages suffered because of it not providing a safe facility.)
- Women’s prisons should be exclusively for biological women. (We are however open to be persuaded to broaden that classification to include men who’ve had their genitals removed. There may be a need to establish separate prisons for those transitioning – to ensure they are protected from hostile men and to protect women. If that’s the case, we (once elected to government) will ensure such facilities are established. If a prison is privately managed, that manager must ensure the safety of all prisoners, and will be liable to compensate any who have been injured or assaulted by their failure to do so.)
Classic Liberals also believes that should a biological woman wish to set up a group only for biological women, she should have the right to do so. Similarly, if a person wants to set up a group exclusively for biological women and those who identify as women, that person should be free to do so. Government should have no say in the composition of a private group, no matter how large that group is.