So, like, tons of protesters gathered outside the EHRC’s Glasgow offices to demand that the guidance excluding transgender people from using toilets and other services be scrapped, you know? Both sides of West George Street were jam-packed with activists fighting for transgender rights, which was a pretty big deal.
There were signs calling out UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his response to the Supreme Court ruling defining “woman” based on biological sex under the Equality Act, which got people all fired up. The EHRC interim guidance, released right after the ruling, said trans women shouldn’t use women’s facilities and trans men shouldn’t use men’s facilities because it would mess up the whole single-sex vibe.
The guidance mentioned that in some cases, trans women (biological men) shouldn’t use men’s facilities and vice versa, which was a bit confusing, you know? It also said that if there were facilities for both men and women, trans people shouldn’t be left without anywhere to go. They suggested having a “mixed-sex toilet” along with separate male and female facilities, and workplaces had to provide single-sex options, which didn’t sit well with the protesters.
People were saying that this whole thing was just a fancy way of segregating transgender individuals, which didn’t seem cool at all. Some even went as far as calling the guidance “authoritarian and cruel”, which really got the crowd riled up. One sign straight-up said, “Keir Starmer is a fanny”, which definitely got people talking.
The protesters weren’t just focused on Starmer, though. They also chanted “Labour out” and even took shots at JK Rowling for her anti-trans stance. One person shouted, “F*** your segregation, let us piss”, which pretty much summed up the mood of the crowd. They were also calling for the removal of EHRC’s chair, Baroness Kishwer Faulkner, showing they meant business.
Dr. Kirstie Ken English, one of the organizers, was not happy with the guidance, saying it went way beyond what the Supreme Court ruling intended. They felt like it was limiting how trans people could exist in public spaces and could lead to harassment based on appearance, which was totally not okay. They believed the guidance was giving the green light to discriminate against trans individuals, which was just not cool.
The whole situation was described as “scientifically illiterate” by some, including doctors from the BMA, which added more fuel to the fire. Organizers encouraged people to speak out against the guidance, reach out to their local representatives, and support trans groups to make a difference.
During the protest, various speakers addressed the crowd, sharing their thoughts on the issue. Ellie Gomersall mentioned that the guidance was a “political decision” and urged people not to be fooled by it. Fiona Brittle from the PCS union showed solidarity with the protesters and called out the powers that be for trying to divide working-class folks instead of addressing real issues like public services and healthcare.
The public response to the protest was mixed, with some showing support by honking their car horns, while others hurled insults as they passed by. It was clear that this issue was causing quite a stir in the community.
In the end, the protesters made their voices heard loud and clear, standing up for the rights of transgender individuals in the face of discriminatory guidance. The fight for equality and inclusion was far from over, but the passion and determination of those gathered outside the EHRC’s Glasgow offices were undeniable.
