On April 16th, The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. This decision resulted from a legal dispute on whether women with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) should be treated the same as cisgender women under the UK’s Equality Act 2010. Despite the legal complexities, the ruling sends a chilling message: the very existence of trans people is now up for political debate, threatening their dignity and safety.
This development is unsurprising, considering that the trans community—particularly trans women—have become the centrepiece of a growing political culture war in the UK. With the involvement of household names like J. K. Rowling in 2019, the discussion has intensified, fuelling both political and media coverage. Despite our failing NHS and soaring rent prices, both the media and politicians have decided that 0.5% of our population is our country’s greatest concern.
Trans women have been villainised, portrayed as threats to womanhood, who utilise ‘gender ideology’ to invade cis women’s spaces. Cases, such as that of rapist Isla Bryson, have been used as proof of the dangers of self-identification. Not only are cis women unsafe, but children too. Similar to a virus, ‘transgenderism’ has been portrayed as a social contagion, leading to rushed childhood transitions and eventual regret.
These arguments fail to line up with statistical realities. As of 2022, a children’s Gender Identity Disorder (GID) service referral took an average of 152 weeks to complete, hardly a rushed process. While some may regret their decision, the NHS route is a lengthy and multidisciplinary approach that aims to provide a full evaluation of the individual, before they undergo transition.
While trans people—particularly trans women—are portrayed as predators, they are over four times more likely than cisgender people to experience violent victimisation, including rape, sexual assault, and aggravated or simple assault. Additionally, more than one in four transgender people (28%) have experienced crime, compared with just 14% of those whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth. The narratives we see in British media and politics not only ignore this victimisation, but actively contribute to it.
Despite a documented rise in transphobic hate crimes, the Government’s approach remains clear: ignore the significant and focus on the trivial. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to make a cheap trans jibe during PMQs was hardly surprising. Nor is Keir Starmer’s U-turn on the definition of a woman, flip-flopping from being a trans ally to now embracing the Supreme Court’s ruling. Populist leaders will always match their views to the consensus, and at this time, it’s that “trans women are not women”.
In this hostile climate, symbols of solidarity are more important than ever. The ‘Protect The Dolls’ t-shirt, designed by Connor Ives, is one of these. First appearing at the end of Ives’ London Fashion Week Show, the slogan advocates for the protection of trans women, using the affectionate slang term ‘dolls’. The shirt was released through Ives’ website, with all proceeds being donated to the non-profit, Trans Lifelines. A massive success, the t-shirt has been worn by celebrities such as Tilda Swindon, Charli XCX and Pedro Pascal.
While celebrity support and slogans do serve their purpose, we need to take community action that goes beyond fashion statements. For those looking to make a tangible difference, UK organisations like Gendered Intelligence, and TransActual provide vital support services and advocacy for the trans community. Donating to these groups, volunteering time, or simply listening to trans voices, all make a difference.
As a queer man, trans people are an integral part of my community. Their gender identity is not a virulent trend—trans people have always existed, across cultures and throughout history. Legislation may change, but that simple fact will not.
One only has to watch Jennie Livingston’s seminal documentary Paris is Burning (1990) to see the brutal realities faced by trans women, when they are excluded, marginalised, and left to fend for themselves. Many of the voices from this era, never made it out alive. We owe them remembrance, and more importantly, resistance.
Do we want to recreate the conditions that lead to such suffering, or should we live and let live? Trans women are not the enemy, and they have never been. If we, as a society, spent as much time extending compassion and understanding as we do to spread division and fear, perhaps we could begin to solve the real issues facing our country: the cost of living crisis, a struggling NHS, and unaffordable housing. Many threats need our attention—an already vulnerable community is not one of them.
Words by Thomas Stanier
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