Joint statement in response to leaked NEC Paper

A joint statement from Georgia Meadows (LGBT+ Labour's Trans Officer), Labour for Trans Rights, and Pride in Labour

We unreservedly condemn the content of the leaked paper due to be discussed by Labour’s National Executive Committee tomorrow. The proposals to restrict trans members’ engagement in internal democratic procedures - including by blocking trans women from standing in All Women’s Shortlists, excluding them from National Women’s Conferences, and preventing them standing as Women’s Officers - are not effective ways to “clarify” anything. We would also question whether the exclusion of trans women from Women's Conference is a proportionate means to achieve a legitimate aim, as trans issues have come up time and time again during the conference, this seems to completely remove trans people from that debate. It is a blatant attack on trans rights and is seemingly an attempt to isolate trans people even further within the Labour Party and the labour movement more widely.

Trans people are already greatly underrepresented in British politics, and if passed, this decision by the NEC will further harm trans people’s ability to engage with the democratic process and make them feel unwelcome at a time when the trans community is increasingly under attack. 

Equality and positive action is all about increasing diversity, access and fairness in public spaces. There are no trans or gender non-conforming MPs, and our community is underrepresented both in the Labour Party and across devolved and local governments.

We urge all Labour NEC members to vote this paper down and for the Labour Party to adopt meaningful policies to combat transphobia within the party. The Labour Party must set an example and stand on the right side of history.

Now more than ever, we desperately need LGBT+ Labour to act: the LGBTQ+ community is under attack like never before. Every route must be explored to turn the ship around. We need visible, loud and effective advocacy, not hushed conversations around a table in a room that shuts out trans voices. We urge LGBT+ Labour to use their privileged position as a Labour Party affiliate to advocate for us properly.

We remain committed to acting as a voice for trans people within the labour movement and advocating for trans people in the Labour Party and in the UK more widely.

Georgia Meadows (LGBT+ Labour Trans Officer)

Labour for Trans Rights

Pride in Labour