Hundreds of trans activists united for a mass lobbying day in Westminster over the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC’s) interim guidance on single-sex spaces.
It comes following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that determined the legal definitions of 'man' and 'woman' must be based on 'biological sex'.
More than 1,400 people signed up for the event on Wednesday, which is believed to be the largest LGBT+ mass lobby since the fight against Section 28 in the late 1980s.
Jude Guaitamacchi, founder of the Trans Solidarity Alliance, said the EHRC's draft guidance—if made law—would have a “devastating” impact on the lives of trans people in the UK.
As a trans person and trans rights campaigner, Jude is among many who have been left confused and concerned by the guidance.
“It offered absolutely no clarity whatsoever,” Jude said.
“I was being described as a biological woman, but also faced with the idea that I can no longer use men’s bathrooms—and might not be able to use women’s either because of how I present. I don’t really know where I’m supposed to go.
“But more importantly, it’s a violation of our human rights—and that’s what we want politicians to understand.”
According to EHRC guidance, in settings such as hospitals, shops, and restaurants, "trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women's facilities." However, it also emphasises that trans individuals must not be left without access to any facilities at all.
In practice, this would mean transgender women — who are biologically male but identify as female — can be lawfully excluded from women-only spaces in certain circumstances.
The Supreme Court ruling, which was announced on April 17, was welcomed by groups such as For Women Scotland—a gender-critical organisation supported by JK Rowling—which argues that permitting transgender women in single-sex spaces poses a risk to women’s safety.
But it has sparked anxiety and fear across the trans community, particularly over access to public spaces. Many fear it will hinder their ability to challenge discrimination and reduce the support they receive from authorities that should be supporting them.
“Imagine waking up every day and seeing people demonise your existence when all you want to do is get by,” Ru Paul’s Drag race star and trans activist Bimini Bon Boulash told The Standard.
“The trans community are a marginalised community that needs support, not this hostility.”
Speaking outside the Palace of Westminster on Tuesday, Bimini suggested that the political spotlight on trans issues may be a deliberate distraction from more pressing national and global challenges, including homelessness, poverty, and hunger.
Bimini warned that singling out a minority group is “dangerous”, particularly amid a surge in transphobia, and urged politicians to refocus on addressing the real issues facing society.
Referencing the Supreme Court ruling, Bimini said: “It's built on a lot of rhetoric that is false.
“If you know about the history of homosexuality and the way that it was spoken about in the 70s, it feels very similar to that.
“It’s almost like there's a level of trying to erase trans people and that's never going to happen.
“Trans people have always existed throughout history and they will always continue to.
“So I think showing support to trans people, who are an already marginalised group that just want to exist, I think it’s really important.”
Artist and designer Daniel Lismore expressed serious concern over the UK government and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) potentially undermining the rights of trans and intersex people.
“I’m here today because trans people are being attacked,” Daniel said.
“The EHRC very quickly came up with these rules which are going to exclude people, and that's not human rights — that's a board that is meant to protect everybody, and they haven't.
Daniel added: “Trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people have been around for thousands of years [...] they've been documented and it's real and it's nothing new.
“It makes no sense for the EHRC to promoting hatred and it’s causing people real damage, real harm and misery.”
The mass lobby has taken place just days before the EHRC’s consultation period on the proposed changes comes to a close on June 30.
