As Proud@BMA, we are concerned by the Supreme Court ruling to exclude trans women with a Gender Recognition Certificate from the definition of “woman” in the Equality Act 2010. * We continue to uphold the validity of transgender and non-binary gender identities. * We are disappointed at the absence of trans voices in the Supreme Court’s hearings and at some of the reductive and imprecise language used in the ruling. * We believe that the ruling has not provided the clarity that some are claiming for it. * We are concerned about the significant increase in anti-trans rhetoric and abuse on social media following the ruling. * We fear that the ruling has the potential to lead to an increase in discriminatory behaviours or vigilante harassment of both transgender people and cisgender women in public spaces. We encourage everyone who is subjected to harassment or abuse to report it. Human rights are not zero-sum, and oppression of some will lead to oppression of others. * We acknowledge the ruling has resulted in significant uncertainty. Therefore, we await the guidance that will be issued by EHCR and subsequently by other public bodies (including the NHS) in response to the ruling, which we will respond to as appropriate at the time. Note: Proud@BMA is the network for LGBTQ+ elected members within the BMA and our independent views are not necessarily representative of the position of the BMA as a whole. We also ask all members to actively look for opportunities to support trans people you know or encounter. This is a particularly challenging moment for trans people as they see themselves being discussed and degraded for political gain. Thank you.
This is Proud@BMA's statement following last week's Supreme Court ruling. This represents the view of the Proud@BMA network rather than the whole BMA.
One of our co-convenors joined Saturday's urgent protest in Parliament Square to stand up for trans rights; we will continue to defend trans people.