Bristol pledges commitment to trans rights

“When we discuss trans rights, we are talking about how we treat fellow human beings – we are not engaging in an abstract debate.”

This was a reminder from Andrew Brown, who tabled a motion that “made history” by pledging a commitment to protect, uphold and advocate for the rights of one of the most marginalised groups in the city.

The cross-party motion to recognise trans rights as human rights passed with an overwhelming majority at a Bristol City Council meeting on Tuesday, with 40 voting in favour.

The Tory group voted against the motion over concerns it risks “brushing aside sex-based rights” and freedom of expression. Six councillors abstained from voting.

Seconding the motion, Jenny Bartle, a Green councillor for Easton, spoke about their trans friends’ personal struggles accessing healthcare or gender-affirming surgery they need.

“Discussing the plight of trans people in the week of Pride is essential because trans people in this country face a constant onslaught of bigotry and discrimination,” Bartle told the chamber.

“Passing this motion will make real changes to the lives of trans people, to our workers and to our most vulnerable community members.”

Zoe Goodman, a Labour councillor for Filwood, shared a personal statement on behalf of a non-binary person.

“I feel so incredibly sad in not feeling able to present and share my story in the public gallery,” Goodman read.

“I am proud of who I am and, regardless of what anyone says or thinks, I know who I am. Unfortunately, with the horrific abuse that trans people receive, including for speaking up on these issues, not just online but also via horrific and cruel transphobic media focus, I wanted to protect myself and my family from abuse.”

The statement went on to recount the journey of someone who knew they were in the wrong body from the age of nine and the pain they suffered, especially during puberty.

The statement concluded: “Please support this motion to help protect the rights of trans and non-binary people to live, work and learn in out city freely and be themselves.”

Speaking on behalf of the Tory group, Steve Smith, a councillor for Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze, said: “All of us can agree that trans and non-binary people are as deserving of our love, compassion and support as anybody else.

“What we can’t agree to is skipping over the fundamental differences that do exist between trans and biological men and trans and biological women. This motion does that.”

He continued: “Is a trans woman entitled to all the same rights as a biological woman? Our answer would be sometimes yes, but not always. There are sex-based rights that people have fought a long time for and I think we need to be very careful of brushing those away by assuming that trans women are women in every case, that trans men are men, in every case.”

Smith added that the motion, in talking about taking action on anti-trans propaganda, “risks a dangerous incursion into the freedom of speech”.

Karen Self, the vice chair of Trans Pride South West, supported the motion in the council chamber, saying: “We struggle to get our voice heard against a cacophony of transphobic rhetoric, much of it aimed to scaremonger.

“The truth is that trans people are ordinary citizens trying to go about their lives. We are engineers, teachers, lawyers, health workers and every other profession you can think of. We make our contribution to society and the city just like any others, especially to its valuable cultural and LGBT+ economy.”

There were concerns expressed by some. Louise Sommerville of ‘gender critical’ group Women’s Voices Matter outlined objections in a 20-page public statement that was signed by some 30 women, around half of whom are Bristol residents.

Sommerville wrote of concerns that the motion is unlawful and breaches the Equalities Act, a view also expressed by Gary Hopkins of Knowle Community Party, who abstained from voting.

She called on the council to “ensure any policy does not negatively impact protected characteristics, such as sex, disability and religion and belief”, adding: “It is your lawful duty to provide adequate single sex toilets and we specifically request that you note the current lack of provision for women.”

The statement concluded: “We believe that women have the lawful right to be able to communicate with members with regards to the rights of women and children, some of which may be breached if this motion passes.”

Responding to some of the objections, Brown, a Lib Dem councillor for Hengrove & Whitchurch Park, reminded the chamber that the motion had been accepted by the council’s legal officer.

“I can’t agree that trans people should be regarded as some sort of third party or always regarded as the gender they were assigned at birth,” said Brown.

He also denied the suggested conflict between women’s rights and trans rights, saying: “Both parties suffer from a patriarchal society that is not reconciled to differences of gender expression and identity. The turning of cis women against trans women does nothing to advance the rights of either group.”

Main photo: Betty Woolerton

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