Groups urge UK public to ‘contact your MPs’ after EHRC trans guidance finalised

Human rights groups have urged the UK public to voice their concerns over the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC’s) “single-sex” Code of Practice after it was handed to the government on Friday (5 September).

The UK’s top human rights regulator, which has faced criticism for its policies on trans people, announced it had shared a finalised version of its Code of Practice for services, public functions, and associations, with equalities minister Bridget Phillipson.

The finalised Code, which is not publicly available at the time of reporting, was updated as part of a consultation following the FWS v Scottish Ministers Supreme Court ruling that determined the 2010 Equality Act’s definition of a woman referred to a “biological woman.”

A draft version of the changes, shared as part of a public consultation which received over 50,000 responses, recommends trans people take ID with them into ‘single-sex’ facilities such as toilets and changing rooms.

EHRC chair, Baroness Kishwer Falkner, said the changes reflect “over ten years of new legislation,” including the Supreme Court ruling.

It is now set to be reviewed by the government which, if approved, will begin the process to make the provisions statutory. The Code of Practice likely won’t be made public until then.

EHRC Code should not be reviewed ‘behind closed doors’, experts say

Responding to the news, LGBTQ+ nonprofits and activist groups urged members of the public opposed to legislation being created “behind closed doors” to contact their local MPs as soon as possible.

Jude Guaitamacchi, founder of Trans+ Solidarity Alliance, accused the EHRC of attempting to reduce “the human rights of trans people in this country,” telling PinkNews: “It has rushed through 50,000 consultation responses with the help of AI, subverting our Equality Act and turning it into a trans bathroom ban.”

In August, EHRC chief executive John Kirkpatrick stated: “Our use of supervised AI technology alongside expert legal analysis is a responsible and widely-used approach that ensures we can give proper consideration to all responses whilst delivering the guidance that public bodies urgently need.”

Guaitamacchi continued: “We have to fight this – and bring transparency and democracy to this process rather than allow rights to be taken away behind closed doors. For trans people and anyone who cares about us – tell your MP now to stand up against terrifying overreach.”

Guaitamacchi added that it was imperative to “see what the EHRC has created” and “scrutinise it properly with a free vote,” urging those contacting their MPs to petition for the Code to be made publicly available.

“Politicians must not approve any Code of Practice that fails to respect trans people’s basic human rights, and an approach of blanket and mandatory trans exclusion will destroy the UK’s standing as a global leader on LGBT+ rights.”

Trans group publishes email template for contacting MPs over EHRC guidance

TransActual, an LGBTQ+ rights organisation, produced an email template for members of the public who wish to voice their concerns but are unsure where to start. You can find who your local MP is and their contact details by typing your postcode here.

“People cannot give up,” Keyne Walker, TransActual director, told PinkNews. “This is a major change to how the UK applies human rights to one minority, being put in place by a body proven to support an ideology hostile to that minority.

“They have used AI… and they have admitted that they will not be passing over any evidence to MPs until after Parliament has voted,” Walker continued. “This is not how serious politics is done.

“Any MP who does not demand a full and thorough debate of what is being done to trans people does not deserve to be an MP. That is why we are calling on people to write to their MP to remind them of this.”

Beyond Reflections, a mental well-being charity, echoed the call in a statement to PinkNews. The organisation’s CEO, Dr Gillian Russel, encouraged everyone to “write to their MP” as soon as possible.

“All eyes are now on the government to ensure the EHRC guidance is subject to the necessary scrutiny which will secure respect and dignity for ALL those impacted by the updated Code of Practice, including the trans+ community,” Dr Russell continued.

The call comes after an open letter signed by over 80 organisations and activist groups urged prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to hold a “meaningful debate” on the Code’s new provisions.

Maxine Heron, a spokesperson for the trans charity Not A Phase, one of the organisations to sign the open letter, argued the new Code of Practice could put “the lives and well-being of women at risk,” not just trans women.

“There is no sufficient data to suggest a removal of trans people from single-sex spaces would make women safer,” Heron continued. “Following a 186 per cent increase in transphobic hate crimes over a 5-year period in the UK alone, it is clear that forcing trans people to disclose [their identity] would put more of our community in harm’s way.”

Heron similarly urged members of the public who wish to “support and protect our human rights” to contact their MPs as soon as possible.