Nadia Whittome urges MPs to listen to mass trans rights lobby

A mass trans rights lobby in Westminster, took place on Wednesday 25th June, with Labour MP for Nottingham East, Nadia Whittome, urging other MPs to listen to concerns. Over 900 people were in attendance of the lobby which marked the largest LGBTQ+ lobby in parliamentary history, followed closely by the campaign against Section 28 in the late 1980s.

Queues to get into Parliament for the trans rights lobby reached three hours at some points during the day, according to the Trans+ Solidarity Alliance. Among those notable names joining the lobby were: Drag Race star Bimini, artist Daniel Lismore, and singer Kate Nash, the latter of whom is best known for her hit song ‘Foundations’ but who recently released ‘GERM’, a song in defence of trans people, calling out those who wish to exclude them.

The lobby came in response to the EHRC’s interim guidance following the Supreme Court ruling on defining a ‘woman’, and the implications this guidance will have on the community. A consultation regarding the guidance has been opened; with allies to the trans community urged to respond before the closing date on 30th June.

Speaking to Attitude Magazine, MP Nadia Whittome said: “Trans people from right across the country have come to Parliament in a mass lobby to tell their MPs how concerned and frightened they are about the EHRC guidance.

“The EHRC interim draft guidance is really dangerous, because it effectively creates this blanket ban on trans people being able to access certain public spaces, like toilets or changing rooms, for example. We know already that trans people, particularly trans women, face disproportionate and increasing rates of violence and harassment. This puts them in even more danger. We’re calling on the EHRC to rethink its interim guidance, and if it doesn’t change significantly, then we’re calling on the government to reject it when it lays its statutory guidance.”

She added: “I would challenge any MP, any human being, to listen to stories like the ones all of us have heard today. Of people feeling driven out of public spaces. Effectively being drive out of public spaces. Of people facing daily harassment, violence even, on the streets. I would challenge any MP to listen to that and not be supportive of them.”