“Britain needs a strategy for trans people”, says Stonewall chair

• Aparna Sreevalsan
• 21 July, 2023

 

• Stonewall chair Iain Anderson says, those on either side of the transgender rights debate need to “lower the temperature” and end “megaphone diplomacy”.
• People should be able to fulfill their lives and flourish, be able to live with the person they choose.
• Stonewall looks to have changed its position on the controversial topic of single-sex spaces.

LGBTQ+ charity organisational Stonewall’s chair Iain Anderson says Britain needs to evaluate where the country is headed on Equality legislation.

Anderson was talking to Sky News’ Beth Rigby’s about the organisation’s stance on trans rights issues.

“Stonewall took a decision to be trans-inclusive. I fully support that decision. I am calling for respect, I am calling for allowing people to be able to fulfill their lives and flourish”, he responded by asking whether Stonewall supports those lesbian and gay people who disagree with Stonewall’s stance on trans rights.

Separately, he supported the idea of starting a conversation with recently established groups like the LGB Alliance, which has critiqued Stonewall’s efforts to advance trans rights.

“I am absolutely up for a conversation with all those who wish to see all LGBT people make progress.

“Too much of this conversation is taking place on Twitter, so my challenge to the LGB Alliance, my challenge to those that don’t agree with me is, is there an opportunity to come together.

“What I’m saying is Britain needs a strategy for trans people. It needs to perhaps a look at where we are with our equality’s legislation”, he added.

According to Anderson, the UK has gone from being at the top of European rankings in LGBTQ+ progress to the 17th rank.

He responded to a question on some of the harassment directed towards gender-critical figures like J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series.

Those on either side of the transgender rights debate need to “lower the temperature” and end “megaphone diplomacy”, the chair of the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall said.

“We need to lower the temperature on all sides of this wherever you sit on this. We need a strategy for [discussing trans rights] as opposed to megaphone diplomacy.

“That’s what I really hope for, that’s what I hope we can do in the months ahead and maybe through the general election period ahead. I want policymakers of all shapes and sizes, to form a strategy for trans people.”

Since Stonewall promoted the idea that trans people should be accepted for who they say they are and made the phrase “trans women are women, trans men are men, and non-binary people are valid” widespread, it has come under fire.

It has campaigned for broader legal acceptance, access to certain single-sex facilities and services, and the administration of “puberty blocker” medications to transgender youngsters.

“Gender-critical” philosophers, who contend that biological sex cannot change are vigorously opposed.
They dispute Stonewall’s claim that denying a trans person’s identity constitutes transphobia and contend that doing so isn’t hostile.

The argument over what may and cannot be spoken has spread throughout the workplace, academic institutions, and legal systems.

With Anderson telling Rigby that he favours legal exemptions that can be used to keep transgender persons out of women’s prisons and restrooms, Stonewall looks to have changed its position on the controversial topic of single-sex spaces.