Around 80 people were out in Leeds
Trans+ rights activists rallied in towns and cities in Britain on Thursday against the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) code of practice.
The protests came as the 40-day period of “parliamentary scrutiny” of the code ended, with the Labour government set to announce the date it will come into force.
The EHRC code of practice instructs public institutions and organisations to deny trans+ people access to single-sex spaces. It comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s transphobic ruling last April that the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act 2010 is based on “biological sex.”
Around 80 people protested in Dortmund Square in Leeds.
Laura Miles, author of Transgender Resistance, told the rally, “There are events like this happening right across the country being called at short notice.
“The code of practice doesn’t immediately become law, but they will name a date when it does.
“What we’ll be campaigning for now is overturning the code of conduct and we have to develop a list of demands.” These should include “getting rid of the EHRC and overturning the ban on puberty blockers”.
Laura called for a coalition of “as many organisations, groups and individuals as we can to mobilise.”
Green Party councillor Cristiana Mirosanu read out a message from councillor Eden Hills. “The work to oppose this doesn’t end today,” she said.
“In Leeds Green Party we will continue advocating for inclusive approaches in community and campaign groups.
“We’ll continue being loud until trans+ people are able to live their lives.”
Around a dozen other protests took place on the same evening. They included around 20 people protested in Lambeth in south London, 25 in Hackney in east London and 25 in the neighbouring borough of Walthamstow.
Trade unionists have to organise at work to demand bosses don’t adopt the new guidance–and if they do, to defy it.
Union leaders can give confidence to worker if they declare that the union will back anyone who does so.
Taking to the streets can boost people’s confidence—the trans+ pride marches taking place this summer are an opportunity.
Fight every attempt to exclude, isolate and attack trans+ people
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