2 h. ago As a trans Australian, I was kicked out of a UK toilet. This is not the open

I used to be proud of my birthplace for its cosmopolitan tolerance. Visiting now, it feels like stepping back decadesI was visiting family in London when the British supreme court handed down its unexpected ruling: under the Equality Act, sex was now considered “binary” in law, which meant transgender people could be banned from single-sex spaces of their gender identity. The Labour government, which had come into office promising us “dignity”, capitulated. But, not to worry, soothed a minister, Pat McFadden, “There isn’t going to be toilet police.”A few days later the toilet police got me. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago UK equalities watchdog: Transgender people may be asked about gender status in workplace

Trans people who feel they’ve lost rights should ‘distinguish between rights in law and preference for things to be a certain way’, EHCR chair saidTransgender people may be asked about their gender status in the workplace, the equalities watchdog has said, with its chair arguing people should “distinguish between rights in law, and a preference for things to be a certain way”.Giving evidence to the women and equalities select committee, the chair and chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said trans people should not be fearful of the repercussions of April’s supreme court ruling, which found the word “woman” in the Equality Act refers only to a biological woman. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Trans lobby groups 'lied for years' that anyone self identifying as a different gender could access women's' toilets, equality chief says

Transgender people were misled about their rights to female only spaces by lobby groups, according to a senior member of an equality watchdog, Akua Reindorf, has said. 

Politics

8 d. ago Diner dates and bathhouse chili: the colorful, defiant history of the American gay restaurant

In his new book, Erik Piepenburg dishes on the US eateries that have served as LGBTQ+ havens and are still thrivingErik Piepenburg’s voice breaks when he speaks of the Napalese Lounge and Grille in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The restaurant known as “Naps” to locals is where a group of transgender people regularly come together to chat over beer-battered shrimp, deep-fried green beans and cheese curds. Many travel long distances to do so.“An amazing woman called Martha oversees it,” says Piepenburg, 54. “She told me the stories of people who drive there but can’t get out of the car, and of one young trans woman whose mom stayed outside so her kid could enjoy themselves. It’s not political, everyone was having fun just being able to be themselves. Naps shows how important gay restaurants are – and they are not new. Walt Whitman enjoyed eating in his era’s version of a gay restaurant. We’ve been finding one another for a very long time.” Continue reading...

Society

8 d. ago Diner dates and bathhouse chili: the colorful, defiant history of America’s gay restaurants

In his new book, Erik Piepenburg dishes on the US eateries that have served as LGBTQ+ havens and are still thrivingErik Piepenburg’s voice breaks when he speaks of the Napalese Lounge and Grille in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The restaurant known as “Naps” to locals is where a group of transgender people regularly come together to chat over beer-battered shrimp, deep-fried green beans and cheese curds. Many travel long distances to do so.“An amazing woman called Martha oversees it,” says Piepenburg, 54. “She told me the stories of people who drive there but can’t get out of the car, and of one young trans woman whose mom stayed outside so her kid could enjoy themselves. It’s not political, everyone was having fun just being able to be themselves. Naps shows how important gay restaurants are – and they are not new. Walt Whitman enjoyed eating in his era’s version of a gay restaurant. We’ve been finding one another for a very long time.” Continue reading...

Society

8 d. ago EHRC commissioner calls for trans people to accept reduced rights

Akua Reindorf said law never permitted self-ID, but trans campaigners call remarks ‘profoundly unhelpful’Transgender people must accept a perceived reduction in their rights after the supreme court decision on gender because they “have been lied to over many years” about what their rights actually were, one of the commissioners drawing up the official post-ruling guidance has said.Speaking at a debate about the repercussions of April’s ruling that “woman” in the Equality Act refers only to a biological woman, Akua Reindorf said trans people had been misled about their rights and there “has to be a period of correction”. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago EHRC commissioner calls for trans people to accept perceived reduced rights

Akua Reindorf said law never permitted self-ID, but trans campaigners call remarks ‘profoundly unhelpful’Transgender people must accept a perceived reduction in their rights after the supreme court decision on gender because they “have been lied to over many years” about what their rights actually were, one of the commissioners drawing up the official post-ruling guidance has said.Speaking at a debate about the repercussions of April’s ruling that “woman” in the Equality Act refers only to a biological woman, Akua Reindorf said trans people had been misled about their rights and there “has to be a period of correction”. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Lambda Legal, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ rights, exceeded fundraising goal by $105M

The legal aid group Lambda Legal has raised $285 million at a time when attacks on the rights of gay, intersex and transgender people have again intensified

Economics

2 w. ago Liberty in legal action against equalities watchdog over gender consultation

The human rights group said six weeks is not enough time to properly consult those affected, arguing it should be extended to at least 12 weeks.

Politics

2 w. ago Most LGBTQ+ adults feel Americans don't accept transgender people, Pew poll finds

LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. see lower social acceptance for transgender people than those who are lesbian, gay or bisexual, a new Pew Research Center poll found

Politics

2 w. ago Nicola Sturgeon: Supreme Court judgment on definition of woman 'massively overinterpreted'

Nicola Sturgeon has warned that politicians should update the law if the Supreme Court judgment harms the lives of transgender people.

Events

3 w. ago Trump’s ‘One, big, beautiful bill’ would ban care for transgender people on Medicaid and Obamacare

‘It's one more example of health care that they're trying to rip away,’ Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, tells The Independent

Politics