The Debate:

“This House believes there are more than two genders” 

Chairing The Debate:

Alan Pearce

“From the Chair desig.

When I was asked to Chair this debate I almost turned it down without further ado. On the face of it, it seems so obvious. There won’t be much of a debate, I thought. So did my wife.

But when I did a bit of research into the subject I became embroiled in points of law, in quirks of thought processes, in remarkable changes in social mores and acceptability. Which is more important – what the law says, or what the majority of people think? Is the latter the way in which the former changes?

Life moves on – do we have to move on with it? Or not. Who thinks what? Can we influence it anyway? When one country legalises something, do others necessarily have to follow suit? (e.g. drug use/abuse; shops opening on Sunday) Where do our social standards come from, exactly? Does it actually matter? Who are we to judge?

So the subject is not a single subject in its own right – it impinges of the fundamental way in which the law and society both fundamentally and mutually exist.

I’m looking forward to a lively debate.

Do come along.”

Alan Pearce