Thousands of trans rights activists have taken to the streets of central London, rallying for an “emergency protest” just days after a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman. Trans rights organisations, unions, and community groups united for what was dubbed an “emergency demonstration” in Parliament Square.
Protesters called for “trans liberation” and immediate “trans rights now”, with many brandishing flags and hoisting banners aloft. On Wednesday, the UK’s apex court issued a pivotal judgment, affirming that the terms “woman” and “sex” within the 2010 Equality Act pertain strictly to biological women and sex.
The verdict allows for the exclusion of transgender women with gender recognition certificates from single-sex spaces if deemed “proportionate”. Government said the unanimous decision by five judges brought “clarity and confidence” for women and service providers, while a Labour Party source said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had brought the party to a “common sense position” on the subject from an “activist” stance.
Statues daubed with graffiti
Supporters, trade unions and community organisations came together for what was billed as an “emergency demonstration” which started in Parliament Square before heading towards St James’s Park.
Activists demanded “trans liberation” and “trans rights now”, with some waving flags and holding banners which read “No feminism without trans women” and “Biology is not binary”.
At least two statues in Parliament Square were daubed with graffiti during the rally, with “fag rights” and a heart painted on the banner held by suffragette Millicent Fawcett, and “trans rights are human rights” sprayed on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader and statesman Jan Christian Smuts.
(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Protest organised to ‘put pressure’ on the government
Avery Greatorex, co-chair of Pride in Labour, told the PA news agency: “Not a single trans person or trans organisation was represented in that case, and so we weren’t given an opportunity to have a seat at the table, which is obviously a very concerning thing for our community when decisions are being made without us.
“So the protest was organised to put pressure on the Government, on the public to act.
“To be able to secure the rights of transgender people and to secure those protections, we need legislative power and we need lobbying power.”
(Image: Getty)
Trans activist: ‘We will continue to fight’
A spokesperson for Trans Kids Deserve Better said: “The transmisogyny that led to this court ruling is unacceptable.
“Though this ruling has brought another wave of fear to the trans community, we will continue to fight for our rights and freedoms.
“When you attack trans women you attack all trans people and all women. Our rights do not oppose each other, they go hand in hand, and we will keep fighting until we’re all free.”
(Image: Getty)
Protesters call for trans rights
Thousands of protesters have descended on Parliament, with signs stating “You can’t legislate us out of existence”.
Many believe that the Supreme Court’s ruling denies trans people the ability to fully transition by banning them from having the same rights as people born into the gender they are transitioning into.
(Image: Getty)
(Image: Getty)
