Caroline ffiske was a Conservative Councillor for eight years. Published on 11 February 2021.

Several weeks ago, those of us who care about the rights and dignity of women and girls thought we had won an important victory in the current 'gender wars'. The Times newspaper reported that the Office of National Statistics has belatedly remembered that sex is real and matters, not just because science and truth matter, but for the myriad of policy applications that use data captured by the Census. Why capture data that isn't accurate? What is the Census for?

The Times reported that, for the forthcoming 2021 Census, the ONS has been persuaded to require people to answer the sex question with either biological sex, or legal sex if they hold a gender recognition certificate, rather than via 'self-ID' as had been planned. That wasn't perfect. Why not just biological sex? After all, the ONS still plans a separate voluntary 'gender identity' question which will roll gender ideology out to every household in the country. (As if that were a good thing - body disassociation anyone?) I explored the history and the implications of this here. 

We then waited for the official announcement from the ONS; yet nothing was forthcoming despite the Census being weeks away. Now, according to FairPlayforWomen, the ONS is wavering again. A spokes-person has said people will be able to report whatever is on their 'legal documents'.  The trouble is this is a form of self-identification - these documents can be changed without someone obtaining a gender recognition certificate. 

A group of Academics have written to the Times, again expressing their concerns. They say 'Sex remains a key determinant of outcomes across the full spectrum of public policy areas.... The public servants leading this process have failed to engage in a serious and timely way with those outside government who have expertise on the collection and use of population data in the social sciences. No robust evidence or argument has been provided to support such a fundamental change.'

They go on to say 'We are on the brink of losing robust, high quality data on sex in the UK. Once gone, we may never get it back'. Fairly serious, isn't it? It means the 'trans-humanists' have won - those who argue, against science, that sex is not real and does not matter. That an ineffable male or female soul is more important and should determine public policy and how we live. No more single sex spaces for women and girls. No more single sex sports. Women's language - evolved and evolving since we became human - is bigoted.

Well, we'll fight back while there is breath in our sexed bodies.  Not just for the safety, dignity, privacy, of women and girls (and men and boys). We'll fight back literally for the grounding of our society and how we live in science and reason. As biologist, Colin Wright, wrote 'I'm frequently asked why I focus so much on the nature of biological sex. It's because in my view this may be reality's last stand. If this undeniable fact can be denied en-masse, then we become hostages to chaos. We simply cannot afford to lose our collective tether to reality.' 

WomensPlaceUK have issued a call to action.  They've collaborated with others to write a report: 'The Political Erasure of Sex. Sex and the Census'. This traces the history of the capture of the Office of National Statistics by activists promoting trans- and gender ideology. They've outlined why it matters. They've sent the report to every MP in the country. They asked us all to write to our MPs to draw their attention to the report. They've provided a template letter.  Most importantly, they'd like us to ask our MPs to meet with us so that we can share our concerns. 

Sex is real. It matters. It matters for the dignity, safety, and privacy of women and girls. It matters for the actual physical and mental health of men and women. It matters that we choose to ground our society in science and reality. Please put these points in your letter when you write to your MP.