News / Politics
Politicians walk out of meeting as pleas made for council to reverse support for trans people
The leader of Bristol City Council has criticised the recent Supreme Court judgement on trans rights that restricts who can access single-sex services.
Green councillor Tony Dyer said the ruling “falsely pitted women’s safety against trans rights”.
In April, five judges at the Supreme Court issued a ruling that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act refer only to a biological woman and to biological sex.
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The legal definition of a woman in the act does not include transgender women, according to the judgement.
This could lead to restrictions on trans women accessing female-only services.
However, Dyer said the council will still support the rights of trans people, despite the ruling.
Speaking in a full council meeting, Dyer said: “Bristol City Council is committed to providing and promoting inclusive services for everyone in Bristol, including trans and gender-diverse people.
“Our ambition is to create a fair, safe, accessible and inclusive city where everyone feels they belong and has a voice and an equal opportunity to succeed and thrive.”
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Read more: Multiple venues declare themselves safe spaces for trans people
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Later in the meeting, a member of the public made a statement to councillors saying that the council should reverse its stance supporting trans people in light of the Supreme Court ruling.
This prompted several councillors, including a few who are trans or non-binary, to stand up and walk out of the chamber, and they waited until she had finished speaking before they returned.
Wendy Stephenson said: “I present this statement on the third anniversary of a silver motion that stated the council resolves to recognise that trans men are men and trans women are women.
“Following the Supreme Court judgement, the council must withdraw the motion and its trans-inclusion and gender identity policy.
“The negative impact of the council’s position has been felt by women across Bristol.
“Bristol Women’s Voice excludes most of the women in Bristol because it only wants members who will not question the unlawful presence of males in female-only spaces.
“These positions are not a surprise when Bristol City Council says that men can be women and women can be men.
“The council and Bristol’s voluntary sector are part of an ideologically captured, mutually affirming circle.”
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The comments made by Dyer were welcomed by Labour councillors, who said trans rights “need to be respected”.
Labour councillor Kelvin Blake said: “I’m proud to say that while we are speaking today, we have the Pride flag flying outside City Hall.
“To my knowledge, everyone in the chamber supports that. It’s an important gesture of support to our LGBT+ community.
“We need to do our bit to ensure we’re kind and supportive, among what has been quite a difficult and sometimes febrile debate.
“Kindness is something that should be at the forefront of our approach to these issues.
“Trans people need their rights respected. I welcome your comments, Tony, at the start of the meeting; I think that was a really important intervention.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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