Amid ongoing internal debates over trans rights, Your Party founders Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana have publicly honored Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR). Their social media posts came on a day when their former party, Labour, along with other major political groups, issued no official recognition for the day.
Held annually on November 20th, Trans Day of Remembrance is a solemn occasion to memorialize transgender individuals who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence.
Both politicians used their platforms to voice solidarity with the trans community. Corbyn posted, “On Trans Day of Remembrance, we mourn those who have lost their lives to transphobic violence, hatred and discrimination.” He emphasized that “trans rights are human rights,” calling for a collective commitment “to building a kinder society where everyone can live in peace, dignity and freedom.”
Similarly, Sultana shared a message stating, “We honour the lives tragically taken by transphobic violence and hatred, and we reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where every trans person can live openly, safely and with the dignity they deserve.”
This show of unity comes during a turbulent period for Your Party, the independent political alliance they launched in July. The group, which includes six MPs, initially saw a surge of public support, gathering hundreds of thousands of mailing list subscribers.
However, the party has since faced public friction. Sultana previously accused Corbyn and other male members of operating a “sexist boys club.” Furthermore, the party's stance on trans rights was thrown into the spotlight when one of its MPs, Adnan Hussain, stated that trans women are “not biologically women” and suggested the need for "safe third spaces," comments that sparked controversy.
In response, Sultana had to affirm that trans rights were a core policy and that transphobia was not welcome in the party. The situation escalated last week when Hussain announced his departure from Your Party, citing a “toxic” culture within the group.
Contrast with Other Parties
The silence from the Labour party, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, and other centre-left parties on TDoR stood in sharp contrast to messages from the Greens and the Liberal Democrats.
The Green Party, under the leadership of trans ally Zack Polanski, posted a message of solidarity, stating they “stand shoulder to shoulder with transgender people in the face of increasing transphobic rhetoric in our society and politics.”
The Liberal Democrats also released a statement, vowing that they “will always stand up for the rights of everyone in the LGBT+ community.” As expected, right-leaning parties such as the Conservatives and Reform UK did not issue any TDoR messages.
