Monday, April 19, 2004 AD
In those days, Israel had no king...
Ladies: planning a trip to the UK in the near future? Watch out when you go to the "bathroom" in any public place: that heavily made-up, rather broad-shouldered woman with big hands and a suspiciously-pronounced Adam's apple - who appears to be using the "facilities" in the neighbouring cubicle while standing up - may well be a man.
But think twice before complaining to the manager: you could find yourself under arrest for breaching a transsexual's rights of confidentiality, thanks to the UK's bright, new, shiny Gender Recognition Act. This allows transsexuals to be registered as the gender of their choice (even if they retain the, um, functioning parts of their birth-gender). Any later revelation of their original birth-gender is then potentially a criminal offence.
This article, from conservative Anglo-Catholic publication New Directions, looks at the implications of this insane law for the church, especially after exemptions that would have protected the church were voted down - thanks only to the votes of Church of England bishops sitting in the House of Lords!
What a great country.
But think twice before complaining to the manager: you could find yourself under arrest for breaching a transsexual's rights of confidentiality, thanks to the UK's bright, new, shiny Gender Recognition Act. This allows transsexuals to be registered as the gender of their choice (even if they retain the, um, functioning parts of their birth-gender). Any later revelation of their original birth-gender is then potentially a criminal offence.
This article, from conservative Anglo-Catholic publication New Directions, looks at the implications of this insane law for the church, especially after exemptions that would have protected the church were voted down - thanks only to the votes of Church of England bishops sitting in the House of Lords!
What a great country.
