Kemi Badenoch, the Women and Equalities Minister of the United Kingdom, has faced widespread criticism for her interventions on trans rights. In the House of Commons, Badenoch claimed that the Conservative Party is on the side of trans rights, despite evidence to the contrary.
The Tory MP faced questions from her fellow members of parliament regarding her stance on trans issues. While some expressed concern about the demonization of trans people, Badenoch offered no clear plan of action to protect the interests of genuine trans people.
Badenoch’s claim comes amid growing concern about the Conservative Party’s position on trans rights. The Tories have leveraged attacks on trans rights in the past, with some members of the party even suggesting that they should fight the next election on a “mix of culture wars and trans debate.”
In early April, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) responded to a letter sent by Badenoch seeking advice on possibly amending the definition of sex to mean biological sex in the Equality Act. The EHRC’s advice stated that such a change would bring greater legal clarity in eight areas, including making it easier to exclude trans women from women’s sports and single-sex spaces.
The EHRC’s response has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ activists, who argue that the exchange indicates the watchdog is keen to assist in the redefinition of the word “woman” to exclude trans women. The exchange has also prompted concerns about the EHRC’s ability to fight for human rights for everybody.
The UK government’s recent use of an “unprecedented” Section 35 order to halt Scotland’s landmark gender reforms from getting royal assent has further highlighted the contentious nature of trans rights in UK politics. With the Scottish National Party leader set to mount a legal challenge against the order, the debate over trans rights in the UK is far from settled.
Despite Badenoch’s claim that the Conservative Party supports trans rights, evidence suggests otherwise. The party’s actions, including the investigation of changes to the legal definition of ‘sex’ and the blocking of Scotland’s gender law reforms, have raised concerns among LGBTQ+ activists about the future of trans rights in the UK.
