On August 5th, 2026 the EHRC guidance for Service Providers on how to treat members of the Transgender community came into full effect. This ‘guidance’ effectively stripped away the dignity of an already attacked community by banning them from a simple and often taken for granted utility; the toilet. Like many Trans women, the introduction of this policy ate away at me. I didn’t leave my house for five days under the fear of what could happen. I sat up night after night worrying about my future and wondering what would happen next. I isolated myself and became smaller. I prepared for confrontation and mourned the loss of the UKs once progressive society. However, when talking to my friends, one of them said to me, ‘‘your determination to be yourself is inspiring.’’ Upon hearing this I stopped. I took a breathe and decided it was time to get off the mat and get back on the horse. It was time to make myself bigger and leave my house with my shoulders back, hair styled, and an outfit that made me happy. It was time to go be unapologetically me.
This isn’t the first time I have been hit with fear or worry towards a new government policy, comment from a pundit, or new campaign to target me and my community. I can say with certainty this won’t be the last either. Trans people have been enduring a sustained and coordinated campaign to ostracize and eventually remove us from society at large. The EHRC guidance is a tool in that campaign to create an unequal and repressive society for the Trans community.
‘‘The homophobic media discourse, toxic political landscape, and societal bigotry failed.’’
Now, this has happened before. Many will recall the introduction of Section 28 by then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1988. This law was meant to ban the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in schools and at local council level in the hopes of removing Queer and in particular, Gay acceptance from society. Twenty-Eight years later, I think it is fair to say that this failed. In fact, in the following years, public discourse began to shift from acceptance of this archaic and homophobic law to a new and proud acceptance of our Gay and Lesbian neighbours. Section 28 was repealed at the turn of the century and today it is seen as a failure of government. The homophobic media discourse, toxic political landscape, and societal bigotry failed. Attendance to Pride marches increased year on year, LGBTQ+ people were elected, and societal acceptance blossomed.
In times like the ones we face currently, it can be difficult for me to see this happening today. Polls show diminishing support for Trans people, once pro LGBT politicians and pundits have gone silent, and the online discourse has become toxic. The world appears to be getting smaller and more hateful. Or at least that is what those at the helm of this campaign would like us to think.
With being such a small and spread out community, it is very easy lose sight of the support and love we currently have. I often fall victim to this by allowing myself to be consumed by the pure hatred and transphobia our community faces online. In reality, although this hate grows, it is not the majority.
In fact, over the past few months and years, it has been my colleagues, friends, and family that have helped reengage my hope that things will get better. From simply (and most importantly) treating me like a human, to having a shoulder to cry on , to having a hand ready to help lift me off the mat. It has been this wide group of people (mostly cis) that have made the biggest difference in my life. It is important to remember that most people just want to live their own life and often spare little thought to how others choose to live. This type of thinking is what has helped me over the past few days realise that this is in fact my life and I get to decide how I want to walk the earth. No one gets to make that decision for me.
‘‘It is the Trans woman who shows woman that you can be unequivocally yourself’’
It is also worth noting, that Queer culture and Trans culture helps make our society a better and more interesting place. It is the Trans woman who shows woman that you can be unequivocally yourself, the Gay politician or business leader who shows the closeted 20 year old boy that you can excel, and it is the Lesbian footballer or athlete that demonstrates that not only can woman dominate in sports but you can love who you want while you compete too.
Despite efforts made by governments, pressure groups, and the media in the 60s/70s/8-s/90s/00s, the Gay and Lesbian community went nowhere. In fact they came out stronger and more defiant then ever before. This is what I believe is the future for the Trans community. With this current pressure campaign, Trans people will go nowhere. We have made the ultimate decision that any human can make and that is living authentically as ourselves. No matter what comes down the line, it will be the defiant, strong, and loud Trans community and our allies that history looks kindly on.
All of this is to say, no matter how dark and hopeless it appears, we will always get back up. Whether it be with the support of our cis allies, Trans Siblings, or Trans Elders, there is someone always waiting to extend their hand and lift us off the mat. As at the end of the day, it is us as a community, as a people, that will bring us closer to a society of true equality.
“The more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I thrive.” - Elliot Page