LADIES IN WAITING

UK Gov’t Launches World’s First Official Trans-Positive Campaign

A new campaign from the British government represents the country’s first effort to specifically support transgender equality.Among the many issues “Advancing Transgender Equality: A Plan for Action addresses are bullying, job training, trans-specific hate-crime laws, government-funded gender-reassignment surgery, political asylum for trans foreigners and encouraging gender minorities to run for office.

“Like everyone else, transgender people have the right to be accepted, to live their lives free of harassment, and to be free to achieve any ambition they choose,” said Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone. ‘Today is an important step, but I recognise that government can only go so far. So we will be working with schools, businesses and communities so that together, we can drive change and help consign transphobia to the past. Too many transgender people still face prejudice at every stage of their lives, from playground bullying, to being overlooked for jobs or targeted for crime.”

April Ashley (at right), who in 1960 became the first Briton to undergo gender-reassignment surgery, added, “Today’s announcement shows we are moving forward to breaking down barriers and educating people.”

Lawmakers of the world, feel free to copy the plan for your own use. Plagiarism is okay when it advances a great movement, right?

Image via Loz Flowers

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By: Evan Mulvihill
On: Dec 8, 2011
Tagged: England, Trans Rights, UK

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8 Comments

No. 1 · Dorothea from Germany · Member · 67 comments
Props to the UK! I’d also like to emphasise that the UK, unlike the USA, has a conservative Government.

@ author: As far as I know, the UK has already had government-funded SRS for years, just like Germany.

Dec 8, 2011 at 4:17 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 2 · James
Another reason to dig the brits :)
@ D from G: I’m not really sure what you mean by USA not having a conservative government though… it’s pretty thoroughly right wing from the house down to the local level, especially outside the major cities.

Dec 8, 2011 at 6:08 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 3 · Dorothea from Germany · Member · 67 comments
@James: Right, the Democratic Party is really conservative as well: pro death penalty, pro nuclear power, pro 2nd Amendment, anti legalising prostitution, anti trans people in the military… There is no progressive party in the USA. However, from the two parties that the USA has, the Democratic Party is the more progressive one. That’s what I meant.

Dec 8, 2011 at 6:42 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 4 · Alex
@Dorothea from Germany
“There is no progressive party in the USA.”
It’s called the Green Party. There is also the Peace and Freedom Party.

Dec 8, 2011 at 11:53 pm · @Reply · Flag
No. 5 · JM
Yay for the UK!

Dec 9, 2011 at 1:37 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 6 · Phil
She looks so iconically British.

Dec 9, 2011 at 3:59 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 7 · Dorothea from Germany · Member · 67 comments
@Alex: I know about the third parties, but they are tiny, have no power and are therefore of no importance for US politics. This must change. Marriage equality supporters need to stop sucking up to Obama and vote Green instead.

Dec 9, 2011 at 5:24 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 8 · Robert in NYC
Well done, UK, you put us to shame.

Dec 9, 2011 at 8:56 am · @Reply · Flag