Trans+ Solidarity Alliance brought together a panel of trans+ legal experts for a parliamentary briefing hosted by MP Nadia Whittome’s office
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY GETTY/CANVA
Yesterday evening (14 May), Trans Solidarity Alliance (TSA) brought together an all-trans+ panel of legal experts for a parliamentary briefing, which was attended by over 60 people, including MPs, Lords, parliamentary staff and community advocates.
This landmark moment for trans+ advocacy and representation was hosted by MP Nadia Whittome’s office and chaired by TSA’s Jess O’Thomson. The panel included executive director of the Trans Legal Clinic, Olivia Campbell-Cavendish, barristers Robin White, Crash Wigley and Oscar Davies, and Dr Sandra Duffy, lecturer in Human Rights Law at the University of Bristol.
During the briefing, speakers described how the recent Supreme Court ruling has already deepened discrimination against the trans+ community and has put the UK at risk of being found to be in breach of its international human rights commitments.
“In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act, it is vital that MPs understand the potential legal implications for their trans constituents. I’m grateful to the Trans+ Solidarity Alliance for bringing such a knowledgeable panel of trans legal experts to Parliament to brief MPs. It is essential that MPs oppose any rollback of trans rights, which have very real and serious consequences for the trans people we represent,” stated Nadia Whittome MP.
“The issues for us are about safety, are about freedom from discrimination and about the liberty to be who we are. For us, this is about equal access to healthcare, to education, to employment, such simple things,” said Olivia. “We can’t engage in this particular discussion that’s being led by fundamentally anti trans groups because we’re busy trying to survive.”
Dr Sandra Duffy said: “The Supreme Court ruling is not the beginning of the crisis in trans human rights in the United Kingdom, but it has given rise to an increased intensity in rights violations. It also potentially breaches the UK’s regional and global international human rights obligations.”
With Crash saying: “The judgment has jeopardised the United Kingdom’s compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights, and some of the Court’s comments would appear to put trans people in a significantly worse position than they were even prior to the enactment of the Gender Recognition Act in 2004.”
“We know that the Supreme Court judgment didn’t reflect the will of Parliament. You only have to read the remarks of Lord Filkin, who introduced the Gender Recognition Act, in summing up the debate, to say in terms that the possession of a gender recognition certificate meant (people) should be treated in the opposite sex for Equality Act purposes,” Robin added.
“The briefing was important in that politicians were shown, by a fully trans panel, what the effects of the Supreme Court have been and will continue to be for trans people and the wider community if nothing is done to redress their rights and dignity. There is no dignity in forced ostracisation and alienation,” Oscar stated.
Keep up to date with the organisation’s work: transsolidarityalliance.com.
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