I am proud to be a member of the Labour Party but am very aware of issues of transphobia in the party. The new group Labour Trans Equality has issued a consultation document defining transphobia in the Labour Party. So my blog today is really easy. To ensure as many members see it as possible I am happy to platform it in this blog today.
Defining Transphobia in the Labour Party
A Consultation…
Background
In light of recent events and potential developments in policies affecting trans people Labour Trans Equality (LTE) believes it has become urgent and necessary to have a discussion about what is defined as transphobia in the Labour Party and its affiliated organisations. This is a Consultation Document to initiate this process. It will be revised to take account of responses to the Consultation
LTE will use these responses in order to raise awareness and campaign for change within the Labour Party in order to increase the representation and voice of trans/non-binary people within the Party and enable them to take part in all its activities safely and without fear.
Data protection is important to us. All submissions will remain confidential. Responses will be destroyed and identity details will be removed unless we are given permission to use them.
You can respond by emailing with your submissions: admin@labourtransequality.org.uk
The deadline for receiving responses is Monday 1st March 2021.
Introduction
To be Trans or Non-Binary is not a lifestyle choice. Trans people have the right to a full happy life and not live in denial and misery. They are citizens with rights and must be treated as such.
In the past few years, elements of the press and other media, together with certain individuals and organisations have engaged in what can only be described as a campaign against trans people based on misrepresentations and in some cases outright lies about the threat that trans people and trans women in particular pose to society and especially to women
This anti-trans campaign is generating hatred normalising abuse and attempting to isolate trans people. It is both damaging and potentially life-threatening.
When the consultation on the reform of the Gender Recognition Act was announced, anti-trans campaigners used misinformation to demonise trans people and claim their rights conflict with women’s rights. Unfortunately, some anti-trans activists who are members of the Labour Party and affiliated organisations have been both active and complicit in this process.
The wider trans community is made up of people who express a range of gender identities including male to female, female to male, non-binary and non-gender and other gender identities. Some people may have transitioned from expressing themselves in their birth sex into living in their preferred gender identity while others have not. This is a personal decision which is acknowledged in the Equality 2010 and Gender Recognition Acts 2004.
Scientific evidence about the effects of testosterone on epigenetic neural development, suggests why some people are born with a gender identity different from their physical body. This is consistent with many trans people’s experience of knowing they were a different gender from a young age.
Transphobia can take the form of discrimination, bullying, harassment and abuse or all four. It causes emotional distress, psychological physical and economic harm to individuals and collectively to the trans community. Transphobic abuse and attitudes are reflected in social media, in education in the workplace in short in all areas of everyday life not least in political parties and organisations.
All trans people must therefore feel safe to interact at all levels of the Labour Party and its affiliated organisations.
Defining Expression of Transphobia In the Labour Party
For further information contact us by email: admin@labourtransequality.org.uk
This consultation paper will be available from 31st January 2021 with responses to it requested by 1 March 2021.
Copies can be obtained by contacting admin@labourtransequality.org.uk or
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Responses should be sent in confidence to admin@labourtransequality.org.uk
Follow us on Social Media:
1. Twitter: Labour Trans Equality @LabourLte
2. Facebook: Labour Trans Equality @LTE2021
3. Website: www.labourtransequality.org.uk
30th January 2021
Ends……….