LGBTQ

Ambitious campaign launches to fight for trans equality in the Labour Party: ‘There’s much work to be done’

Keir Starmer was famously branded a ‘wet wipe’ last year, partly for failing to address transphobia in the Labour party. (Getty/Robert Perry)

A new group dedicated to promoting trans equality within the Labour Party has launched, saying there is “much work to be done”.

Labour was heavily criticised for failing to address transphobia within the party in 2020, a year that saw Labour politicians quit rather than support trans equality, lose staff due to their “overtly transphobic” views, and align themselves with transphobic hate groups.

And as a result, trans and non-binary Labour members have been quitting the party in their droves, with the chair of the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights warning last August that Labour and Keir Starmer‘s inaction on transphobia would set the “party of equality” back decades when it comes to LGBT+ voters. Starmer maintains he is a “proud ally“.

Determined to tackle these issues, new group Labour Trans Equality has launched to work within the Labour Party to promote trans and non-binary equality.

The new group is co-sponsored by Wolverhampton councillor Anwen Muston, who was the first trans Labour councillor elected after 2000.

Muston said: “I believe that if we are to deliver effective and inclusive public services, we need Labour members of parliament and councillors who reflect their diverse communities, which of course include trans/non-binary people.

“There is much work to be done.”

Emily Brothers, Heather Herbert, Suzanna Hopwood, Dr Natacha Kennedy, councillor Osh Gantly, Dr Heather Peto and Astrid Walker are the other co-sponsors of the new group.

The group has five aims: “Increase the representation and voice of trans/non-binary people” within Labour; to encourage more trans people to join, vote and campaign for Labour; to be a “strong and clear voice” to trans Labour members and allies; to work with other groups in the party like LGBT+ Labour to promote trans equality; and to support trans Labour members to “take an active role in public office”.

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