Huge protests condemn Supreme Court attack on trans people

Easter weekend saw tens of thousands of people take to the streets across Britain to oppose the Supreme Court’s attack on trans people.

As many as 25,000 people marched in London, with 2,000 more in Edinburgh and thousands more joining protests across Britain, from Orkney to Plymouth. National unions made statements in support. Trans and cis people – queer and straight people – women, men and nonbinary people of all ages – all stood united against a legal decision that takes Britain closer to the nightmare that is the USA under Trump. 

The ruling might have led trans people to fear leaving their homes, but the opposite was the case: protestors filled city centers and took the streets. Reports from attendees around the country talked about big turnouts and a mood of radical, militant defiance in the face of this attack. 

Despite confusion around the exact legal implications, no one should underestimate the danger this ruling poses. It will give confidence to every bigot seeking to attack trans people.

Not just that – it pushes everyone back towards a narrow world where gender is policed even more intensely and cisgender women in particular are attacked if they don’t look ‘feminine’ enough. Far from defending women, trans attacks make things worse for women. As one activist and rs21 member told the final rally at the London protest,

I’m a trans woman and I’m angry. If all that energy and all that money went into real feminist organising, fighting against the gender pay gap, against austerity, for women’s shelters and socialised childcare we’d be in a much better place.

The bigots won’t stop here. Only a day after the ruling, Equality and Human Rights Commission Chair Kishwer Falkner announced that the commission was working on a new, legally binding code of practice which would ban trans women from women’s toilets and mandate misgendering trans and non-binary people throughout the NHS. The Labour government hasn’t just adopted Conservative transphobia – Tory-appointed Falkner remains in post – but are determined to be even worse. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Health Minister Karin Smyth actually condemned the Tories under Theresa May for not being transphobic enough.

The transphobes have the support of the rich and powerful – the MPs and the media, Rowling on her yacht, the Supreme Court judges who let transphobic organisations into their hearings but not trans groups. But in fact their numbers are tiny, while thousands have come onto the streets at short notice to defend trans people.

The support from unions is important. The London protest was supported by national unions including the Communication Workers Union CWU, the performing arts and entertainment union Equity and the college and University and College Union. Militant grassroots unions like the IWW, the IWGB, the Sex Workers Union and UTAW also backed the action along with community groups like London Renters Union, queer and trans organisations and leftist groups. Other unions – such as the bakers of BFAWU and the train drivers of ASLEF – have also made statements in support.

Union support matters because of numbers – there are over 6 million trade union members in Britain, and these are organisations with LGBT networks and pro-trans policies. But it also matters because new legal guidance from the EHRC will impact staff in the NHS, schools and colleges, as well as patients and students. Workplaces will be some of the front lines in the battle over how any ‘new normal’ is enforced. A collective response from unions and their members will be vital – and is one of our places where we are most powerful.

And, of course, fighting this attack must become the theme of the hundreds of pride community events which will take place across Britain this summer. The big, commercialised prides like London and Manchester need to stop partying with corporates and defend trans people. This weekend shows that this is a movement that can gain the support of millions of people – we can win. Check out reports from cities around Britain below.

Join the fight

We are proud of the role both trans and cis rs21 members played around the country in the last few days, as organisers, MCs, stewards, welfare and more. A huge number of trans organisations, trade unions and other groups have come together in only a few days. In London and elsewhere, rs21 members were involved in planning protests alongside others from the beginning and will be keeping in touch with the other groups involved. rs21 has groups around Britain – you can join us here.

London, Saturday

Between 20 and 25,000 people joined the protest in London on Saturday – to the surprise of the cops, who told one steward that they expected 200 at most. The enormous demo completely filled Parliament Square before marching past the Department of Health to chants of ‘Not the clinic! Not the state! We decide our own fate!’ and ‘Wes Streeting! Blood on your hands!’ At the Department of Work and Pensions, marchers demanded, ‘Don’t cut PIP! Tax the rich!’ Slogans in support of Palestine were also raised, with Queers for Palestine joining the march.

Trans Kids Deserve Better Protest at the Telegraph, Thursday

The right-wing Telegraph is obsessed with attacking trans people – they have published over 150 transphobic articles in the last year. The morning after the Supreme Court ruling, teenage activists from Trans Kids Deserve Better climbed their office to drop a banner to highlight the fact that the Telegraph, in their words ‘reeks of transphobia. They use as slop for brainrotted transphobes to drool over as they pretend they stand for women. Don’t let them pretend they want trans kids safe, and don’t let them convince you they want women safe.’ One activist commented, ‘Why would a group of adults dogpile and bully oppressed children who just want to live as their true selves? They write countless articles on us, but do we ever get asked for our input? Of course not. They don’t see us as human children, just another scapegoat to demonise.’ 

Manchester, Friday

Over a thousand people took part in Friday’s march – like all the weekend’s events, bringing out huge numbers at short notice. Transphobic organisations claim that they speak for women – but in Manchester, as in London, huge banners highlighted the support of lesbians for trans people. The angry march was backed by Manchester TUC, and an activist from public sector union UNISON spoke, highlighting that UNISON National Women’s Conference this year passed a resolution affirming that trans women are women, with no votes against.

Edinburgh, Saturday

At least 2,000 people marched through Edinburgh. Protesters gathered outside Queen Elizabeth House, the headquarters of the British government in Scotland, before marching through the city. STUC, Scottish Trades Union Congress, has made a strong statement condemning the Supreme Court ruling, which concludes:

We stand in solidarity with all trans people for a better tomorrow and we will continue to fight.

Sheffield, Saturday

Around 1,000 people joined the protest in front of the Town Hall. Speakers stressed that trans people have always existed and always will, and will persevere and stand strong. Speakers also spoke about the need for oppressed groups and workers to stand together, and to stand in solidarity with Palestine. Eight or so transphobes attempted to disrupt the event, but were prevented from doing so, galvanised the crowd and left before the event was over.

Leeds, Saturday

Up to 500 people joined a protest in Leeds with speakers from trans support organisations, rs21 and Leeds Queers Against Fascism, with support from Leeds PSC drummers as well as chanting and singing. rs21 speakers rounded off the protest by stressing links between trans liberation and workplace struggles, and the potential future for trans youth, and then led around 100 people in a lively march through the city centre. Activists are planning to build on the protest by creating more trans-inclusive community organisations in the future.

Bristol, Saturday

Hundreds of people rallied in Bristol, where Trade Union Council secretary Sheila Caffrey told the protest

If this were about women’s safety, we’d see immediate investment into women’s shelters and emergency housing, instead of cuts and closures. We’d see a mass program of council house building to prevent women being forced to live in unsecured and violent households. We’d see immediate legislation that allowed women access to legal services, rather than the slashing of legal aid. We’d see massive investment into the NHS, so free, accessible and non-judgmental health support and services were readily available when needed rather than long waiting lists and support often being based on unequal research and historical bias… 

But instead we’ve seen continual cuts, closures and attacks on our public services…. Well, we say enough is enough! Cuts and closures are a political choice! Dividing our communities is a political choice! Attempting to pitch one oppressed group against another is a political choice.

Our choice is to say: Division and blame is the boss’ game, and we’re not going to play it!

Carla Denyer, Green MP and Green Party co-leader, also spoke.