Member-only story
Incoming
Very soon, the UK trans community will find out what new viciousness the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has in store for us. We might see an announcement as early as this week.
Already this is causing real fear within the trans community, and not entirely without reason. How bad can it get? And how should you respond?
Most days i am a dedicated glass-full-person. Bad things happen. But always look on the bright side. That is my mantra and it has, for the most part, stood me in good stead. This week, however, the UK trans community is staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.
It is clear from recent press revelations that the EHRC Commissioners have been infiltrated, substituted by a government whose only interest in Equality and Human Rights is whether it can be weaponised as part of the culture war. And it has paid dividends.
“[…] the EHRC Commissioners have been infiltrated, substituted by a government whose only interest in Equality and Human Rights is whether it can be weaponised as part of the culture war.”
When the government set up a whitewash inquiry designed to question the very existence of institutional racism in the UK, the EHRC nodded along amiably. It has been lukewarm on protecting the rights of disabled people. Less than fulsome in its support for a conversion therapy ban. And when it comes to trans people…
Libel laws forbid me from saying all i would like to say here. Enough to state that the folks running the EHRC today are no friends to trans people — as their recent cross-border sally into Scottish politics makes very clear.
“[…]the EHRC today are no friends to trans people[…]”
Defcon 2
As i write, this is the state of play. First, let’s go back to those weekend revelations. These imply — there can be little doubt of this — that the EHRC has “gone rogue”.
Commissioners issue guidance on the law. In ordinary circumstances, this is developed by experts in the field to which that guidance relates and then goes past the…
