How the Legal World Can Help in Advancing Trans Rights

Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Riots that took place in June 1969. Also referred to as the Stonewall Uprising, these riots began in the early hours of June 28, 1969 in New York when the New York Police Department raided a gay club in Greenwich Village; The Stonewall Inn. The raid led to six days of further protests and violent clashes.

Pride events are held this time each year to recognise and celebrate the contributions of the LGBT+ community to society and also create awareness, increase visibility and promote equality for LGBT+ rights.

Over the last year the pandemic has disproportionately affected LGBT+ people; they have lost the sense of community, they have been rejected by their families and have been in danger of facing homelessness.

As for the older ones and those with financial problems the risk of isolation has been even greater as they would be finding difficulties in having access to virtual events and online resources.

The trans community has been affected even more disproportionately in the last 15 months, and it has been proven that COVID-19 does discriminate as it has caused mental, physical and social wellbeing issues and access to healthcare. Trans people have not been receiving healthcare tailored to their needs. Their transition to their true selves and the necessary change of their names have been postponed.

They have been attacked by gender critical institutions on social media and even legislative change campaigns; for example, the government has been reviewing the public toilets in England so that they are gender-specific and avoid gender neutral facilities, calling even those that were gender neutral to adapt to the gender specific standards where this is possible In December, the British High Court also ruled that people under the age of 16 would need a court order in order to be given puberty blocker drugs, although this has now been amended to allow parents to give permission with a court ruling. Moreover, gender critical organisations have become more prominent and influential in the public discourse for trans rights.

This Pride month we celebrate the values of unity, equality and visibility. As part of this endeavour, the INSPIRE Gender and LGBT+ strands have joined forces with the amazing Rachel Reese, CEO of Global Butterflies, to raise awareness of the challenges faced by trans people and discuss the rise of transphobia in the UK, as well as ways in which allies and employers in the legal world can support the trans community.

Global Butterflies is an organisation that offers training to companies that are committed to promoting a safe and inclusive workplace for trans and non-binary people, and is a trailblazer in advocating for LGBT+ rights. To learn more about their services offered, please visit their website here.

Below you can listen to our insightful discussion with Rachel Reese on how orgnaisations can advance trans rights and equality, and how the legal world can also support the trans community.