How Bristol is supporting trans communities following recent Supreme Court ruling

Last Wednesday (April 16th) the Supreme Court ruled that “woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex,” whilst stressing that the law will still protect transgender people.

However, for many people, this has been a massive step back in equality. Protests have happened across the nation in solidarity to the trans community, including here in Bristol.

On Saturday (April 19th) a peaceful protest took over College Green in response to the legal defining of womanhood as based solely on biological sex.

The Bristol community has made it clear that they will not be staying silent on the matter, as outrage spreads across the UK.

Cracking turnout for the @TransPrideSW rally in Bristol today.

Three speakers used the "phrase fuck the Tories" in their speeches to rapturous applause & cheers from the luverly trans and cis ally crowd.#TransRightsAreHumanRights #fuckthetories #toryscum#transisbeautiful pic.twitter.com/51yeQ1cnal

— Lana Sings Bass (@LanaLovage) November 26, 2022

The rally was held in front of City Hall and featured a lineup of speakers including Labour councillor Kaz Self, Bristol’s first openly trans woman elected to office, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, and Married At First Sight star Ella Morgan.

Ella Morgan commented: “Protecting women is absolutely at the forefront of my end goal, but discriminating against trans women isn’t the solution, and we are now more at risk.

“This isn’t going to be an easy journey, but I want to make sure that I’m using my voice and experience to benefit so many others and anyone who wants to join me on this journey… segregation is not the answer.”

The event allowed for the trans, non-binary and intersex communities to relay the vital message that the government’s approach to trans rights is not only out of touch but actively harmful and an act of erasure. Placards reading ‘Trans rights are human rights”, “Erased in law”, and “No terfs on our turf” filled the green as people gathered to express their anger and solidarity with the trans community.

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Additionally, on Sunday (April 20th), Bristol University’s Doctor Who society have written an open letter addressed to the SU urging to reaffirm its support for transgender, non-binary and intersex students as a result of the ruling.

The letter expresses their concern over the potential harm of this and seeking clear protections and inclusive policies within the uni.

It reads: “As a trans-inclusive society, we recognise self-identification of our transgender members. We consider our society to be a safe place for transgender individuals, and would like to constitutionally protect this right to self-identification, regardless of whether or not our trans members are ‘out’ as trans or have received medical diagnoses of gender dysphoria/gender recognition certificates.”

They highlight that the ruling is “far from ‘protecting women’, as its defenders have claimed, this amendment increases the scope for misogyny against all individuals.”

The letter ends be saying: “We believe that it is important to support transgender students within the University. Bristol SU styles itself as a ‘union for all’, and a clarification of support for transgender students is necessary to affirm the truth of this.”

This letter is able to be signed by other students and staff at the uni. the whole letter can be found here.

In response to the letter, a spokesperson from the SU said: “We were disappointed and upset by the recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court on the application of the 2010 Equality Act, and the consequences that this may bring about.