Thousands of trans rights protesters have gathered in central London and Edinburgh following this week’s landmark Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman.
The demonstrations were organised days after the UK’s highest court confirmed the terms “woman” and “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act “refer to a biological woman and biological sex”.
And now, activists have descended on the two capitals to demand “trans liberation” and “trans rights now” – while others chanted: “One struggle, one fight, Palestine, trans rights!”
In London, statues of suffragette Millicent Fawcett and former South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts were both defaced with pro-trans graffiti.
Among the groups supporting that protest are Trans Kids Deserve Better, Pride in Labour, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual.
The demonstrations were organised days after the UK’s highest court confirmed the terms “woman” and “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act “refer to a biological woman and biological sex”
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In London, statues of suffragette Millicent Fawcett and former South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts were both defaced with pro-trans graffiti
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Avery Greatorex, who co-chairs Pride in Labour, said: “Not a single trans person or trans organisation was represented in that case, and so we weren’t given an opportunity to have a seat at the table.”
A rally and march organised by Resisting Transphobia also took place in Edinburgh.
Greatorex added: “The protest was organised to put pressure on the Government – on the public – to act. To be able to secure the rights of transgender people and to secure those protections, we need legislative power and we need lobbying power.”
A spokesman for Trans Kids Deserve Better said: “The transmisogyny that led to this court ruling is unacceptable. Though this ruling has brought another wave of fear to the trans community, we will continue to fight for our rights and freedoms.”
In a social media post ahead of the protest, Resisting Transphobia said the ruling was “a sham that legitimises the hate movement to force trans people out of public life, and is an attack on everyone’s freedom and autonomy”.
LATEST ON THE LANDMARK SUPREME COURT RULING:
The march in the Scottish capital saw demonstrators gather at the foot of The Mound before marching to Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh’s UK Government building
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‘Not a single trans person or trans organisation was represented in that case, and so we weren’t given an opportunity to have a seat at the table,’ protesters said
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PICTURED: Trans protesters march through St James’s Park
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While the march in the Scottish capital saw demonstrators gather at the foot of The Mound before marching to Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh’s UK Government building.
The Supreme Court’s ruling means trans women with a Gender Recognition Certificate can be excluded from single-sex spaces if deemed “proportionate”.
The Government said the unanimous decision by five judges brought “clarity and confidence” for women and service providers.
According to the head of Britain’s equalities watchdog, the ruling means trans women cannot use single-sex female toilets, changing rooms or compete in women’s sports.
Palestine flags, union banners and trans symbols were all seen in the capital
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Baroness Kishwer Falkner, the EHRC chairwoman, has promised to pursue organisations which do not update their trans policies
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The protests come after transgender celebrities and activists vowed to defy any new rules on single-sex bathrooms resulting from the judgment.
Married at First Sight star Ella Morgan declared: “I still myself as a woman, whether I am on paper or not,” while Sex Education actor Ant Lexa told Channel 4 she felt “unprotected” by the ruling.
And Rose Schmits, an artist from Channel 4’s The Great Pottery Throw Down, vowed to “p*** on the steps of Downing Street” before using a men’s toilet.
But Equality and Human Rights Commission chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner has described the judgment as “enormously consequential” – and promised to pursue organisations which do not update their policies.
