04/05/2025
Brighton based gay magazine GSCENE reports that hundreds of activists, from across the LGBTQIA+ communities and progressive political organisations, united to protest outside the Scottish offices of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, an organisation that has long been criticised for abandoning the very minorities it was set up to defend. The EHRC has been slammed by many LGBT+ organisations over many years, and its capitulation to anti-transgender feminists, has been described as "horrifying to watch". GSCENE goes on to say "In the wake of the judgment, the equalities watchdog, the EHRC published interim guidance ahead of full advice that will be confirmed in the summer and will need the sign-off of UK Labour ministers. The interim guidance states that trans men should not use men’s toilets and single-sex spaces and trans women should not use women’s toilets and single-sex spaces. Dr Kirstie Ken English, who researches LGBTQ+ populations for University of Glasgow, said: “We see this ruling and the EHRC guidance as extremely harmful, impractical as well, and violates trans people’s right to privacy. “It’s about trying to force trans people out of public spaces, trying to force us back into the closet, trying to force us not to exist. That’s why we’re here today.” Placards displayed included some that read "YOU (Anti-trans feminists) do not get to define my lesbianism", "No to degrading dystopian strip searches" and "Trans Rights do Not Undermine My Rights - Lesbians with Trans people".
