Daily Telegraph criticised for anti-trans NHS women’s wards article

Trans campaigners have heavily criticised a front page headline in the Daily Telegraph as an example of “gutter press journalism,” with one telling PinkNews that they will be reporting the article to press regulator IPSO.

The Daily Telegraph published an article about trans women being treated in NHS hospitals on the front page of Friday’s edition under the headline “Trans row as men get access to women’s NHS wards.”

The piece, based on an “investigation by The Telegraph,” went on to allege that “hospitals routinely allow male patients to share female wards if they self-identify as women.”

Daily Telegraph article “incites hatred and fear,” say trans campaigners

It claims that trans women are not women.

“A physically intact male has the right to choose to be treated on a ward for women that is simultaneously declared to be single sex,” it reads.

Trans campaigners have condemned the article and its headline for fuelling hate against the trans community.

Ugla Stefania, better known as Owl, a non-binary filmmaker and activist, told PinkNews: “The headline is clearly meant to incite hatred and fear, and implies that hospitals in the UK are suddenly allowing ‘men’ to use their wards.

“It’s complete gutter press journalism, and a newspaper should be ashamed of publishing such low quality content with no basis.”

Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers have been legally obliged to give trans people access to facilities in accordance with their gender identity, including single-sex space, for years.

This exception to this requirement is where operators can show there is a “proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.”

Owl, who writes a column for the Metro, said they are planning to complain to IPSO about the Daily Telegraph article, adding: “I truly hope that IPSO will make a similar ruling to this clearly inaccurate and vile article.

“Trans women are women, and have been using women’s wards for well over a decade along with other women, and the official policy is that trans people use services in accordance to their gender identity. There is no sudden change, and this is clearly meant to stir up outrage and fear about trans people.”