However, with a rise in right-wing, populist administrations (Hungary, US), so has followed what’s been dubbed the ‘culture wars’ and the ‘war on woke’. What’s followed, even in places like my home in Scotland, and the wider UK, is nothing short of an erosion of our human rights – and the othering of some of our most vulnerable communities.
After a lengthy – and at times vitriolic – debate, late last year, the Scottish Parliament passed the Gender Recognition Bill. The bill sought to significantly improve the process to allow trans people to be legally recognised in their chosen gender, in line with other countries in Europe such as the Republic of Ireland, Malta and Iceland. Indeed, many other countries have gone further in supporting trans communities than the legislative change in Scotland would achieve.
However, during the five-year passage of the legislation, there were vocal opponents, expressing concern that making it easier for trans men and women to be recognised in their chosen gender, would endanger women and girls in their safe spaces. Rational space for debate was hijacked by loud voices on both sides, leading to anger and division. A wedge was driven between communities which were once allies in the fight for equality. The winners were those who sought to drive that division, stoking fear and hate – the populist playbook writ large.
The legislation in the Scottish Parliament passed by an overwhelming majority of 86 votes in favour, to 39 against, with supporting votes from all five political parties.
Yet, in the first such move since Scotland won devolved power in 1999, the UK Government stepped in to block the legislation, claiming a clash with UK-wide equalities legislation.
Throughout, some of the media reporting has been as polarised as the atrocious levels of debate on social media. I clearly remember a story in a tabloid newspaper about changing room policy in a leisure centre being illustrated with an image of a hairy man in frilly underwear. It felt like we had regressed to the dark days of the mid-1980s when tabloid hysteria and vilification of gay men and HIV was rife.
What has been forgotten in all of this is the estimated 0.5%, or one in 200, of the UK population. They remain one of our most vulnerable and marginalised communities. Hate crimes on trans people have increased by 16%, with 2,630 crimes reported to police. Such incidents are massively underreported according to the UK National LGBT Survey.
They will find the same barriers to being legally recognised in their chosen gender. They may not be treated sympathetically in official settings. They may be buried with the gender they chose missing from their death certificate. And they are most definitely being singled out, othered, and now, considered by some as a threat to women and girls. Gay men who experienced growing up in the 1980s will know all too well how such vilification feels. As will others in communities which have been singled out for abuse.
At this year’s Trades Unions Congress LGBT Conference at the end of this month, I will propose a motion from the NUJ calling on the TUC LGBT committee to support the NUJ Ethics Council’s work to provide guidance for journalists and content creators. We want them to use accurate information and prevent misinformation that can add to misunderstanding, fear and contribute to transphobia.
We will also urge the TUC and unions to identify within their equalities’ strands, opportunity for those with protected characteristics to come together to fight for equality, rather than be torn apart by distrust and division.
LGBTQ+ rights are human rights – and they are under attack. The fight for equality is never won. Pride is a protest and will only be achieved by coming together to fight for our collective human rights.
James Doherty was the first out and proud gay President of the NUJ and founding Chair of its LGBTQ+ network. This piece belongs to a series of articles commissioned by the IFJ to mark Pride Month and amplify the voices of the LGBTI+ journalists and trade unionists from different regions across the world, which too often go unheard. LGBTI+ rights are a union issue.