Life Is Tough
Since the UK Supreme Court ruling and even more serious the 'Guidance' announced by the so called Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) I have never felt more under threat, the Trans community is under attack, elements of the society we live in are trying to make us disappear. This is a difficult time for all of us, yet I feel more emboldened, they will not defeat us....
So where are we now here in the UK, firstly without a doubt we are under attack more than ever before, the Supreme Court ruling has set back Trans rights in the UK, by some estimations as much as 20 years, but we have been in this situation before, we have always had to fight to be who we are and so the fight will go on. At the present time former High Court Judge, Victoria McCloud, a trans woman herself is preparing to challenge the Supreme Court Judgement at the European Court of Human Rights on the basis it violated her human rights. Thats a beginning, but we need more, the leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davis has asked for a debate in Parliament on the Court's ruling and how the rights of Trans People can be protected. This has not happened as yet, so I urge you to write to your MP and Mr Davis and insist this debate takes place.
The next thing to consider is the legal aspect, in law nothing has changed, the Supreme Court does not have the power to impose or change law, only parliament has that power and as yet that has not happened. The EHCR guidance is just that, guidance, it is not enforceable in law as I understand it. Again an Act of Parliament will have to come into force for the guidance to become enforceable. However, some are already implementing the guidance, notably Barclays Bank who have banned Trans - Women form using Female toilets and Trans - Men from using male toilets. Just who is going to enforce this ban and how they are going to check a persons sex assigned at birth has not been made clear, it is fraught with problems and no doubt legal challenges, we will have to see.
As I said at the beginning of this post I feel more emboldened, until now I have never written to my Member of Parliament, but now I have written to her, also a prospective candidate for Mayor and sent a message of support to Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish MP who is standing up for Trans rights in Scotland. It is not possible for me to be out all the time, personal circumstances prevent that, but I will be out for four days at the beginning of next month, shopping, visiting lovely places and having evenings out in restaurants, I have never had a problem and don't envisage any, but we shall see and I will report back on how my trip has gone in due course. In a recent YouGOV poll, although support for Trans people is waining and has dropped a bit however, when people who were polled actually knew a trans person the support became very strong. Our best form of defence is the general public, the 'silent majority' because when they actually meet us they realise we are not the dreadful people that some in the media and the detractor would like the general public to believe. In the meantime I wish all Trans and non binary people wherever they are the very best for the future........
It seems a common phrase -almost cliché - to write about a blogger's post: thank you for sharing. But, I think the truth is that's it's vital we do share what's going on.
ReplyDeleteThose attempted to decide or collective fates may talk in general terms, but the reality is that your, my, the lives of trans folks, and their families are all impacted by this cruel guidance. Organisations and businesses are struggling to balance what they must do against the rhetoric of what those who seek us harm, would like to have happen.
Perhaps in true British style - and coming to your comment of VE day, the opposite appears to be happening. Trans people and allies are mobilising and pushing back. On talking with our local MP - who bless him, spoke out in support of trans people in parliament - it's clear that most people are in support of a fair and inclusive country. Not one of divisions and authoritarian rules.
Thank you for your comment Lynn.... I agree it is vital we all talk about what is going on, without a doubt we have a huge challenge ahead... You are right this irresponsible 'guidance' will affect all of us, in fact it already is with Barclays and now the Scottish Parliament building banning trans women from female toilets. To general public, not perhaps close to Trans people this might seem like a small insignificant step, but it is the thin end of a very large wedge that will impact not only the Trans community but everyone especially CIS women. We do have support but it is going to be a long hard battle. We like most in this country want, as you quire rightly say, a fair and inclusive county, but and this seems such a terrible thing to have to say, on thais day of all days (VE Day) that we are going to have to fight to get that fair and inclusive society we all want....
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