Pride in Labour 🌈 🌹

ALT This afternoon, LGBT+ Labour's leadership informed the National Committee that they'll be delaying the AGM to an unspecified date, on the justification that it's unclear whether trans people will be allowed to run as their own gender. Make no mistake: the National Committee are doing this because they’re running scared and knew we would win a democratic vote next weekend. If they planned to make these changes to the elections, they would have done so before our slate was announced, not when our campaign was picking up steam. It’s beyond disgusting that an LGBT+ organisation is willing to betray its trans members in such a fundamental way just to cling on to committee positions. It is not, however, a surprise: it simply confirms what we already knew about the cliquey, careerist and top-down way in which the organisation has been operating. LGBT+ Labour has failed to speak up for trans members, and is now content to deny their existence. We fully intend to contest LGBT+ Labour AGM...

ALT For half my life, I've fought for underrepresented groups, from those in care to neurodiverse people to trans rights now. As I left care, I felt the need to get involved in politics to combat the corruption of social care. After the murder of Brianna Ghey, I knew I had to stand. I recognised, as all trans people did, that this kind of attack on trans people would not stop without someone being there to challenge narratives peddled by the media and organisations falsely claiming to stand for women's rights. When I was asked to stand as Trans Officer for LGBT+ Labour, I felt like I had finally reached a position where I could truly advocate for trans people within the new Government's LGBT+ affiliate. What I was met with was frankly insulting. An organisation with so much potential, but that is completely uninterested in fighting for trans rights, other than a few lone voices on Committee. They completely ignored every concern I ever brought to them and actively excluded me from...

ALT I first got involved with the Labour Party after seeing local candidates and activists campaigning in local elections during my first year at uni. Seeing people working together to improve their community brought back a faith in party politics that I’d lost after growing up in a small town under austerity. I’ve always been a passionate advocate for LGBT+ rights, and in Labour I found a community of people who were open-minded and welcoming, and made connections with other LGBT+ people and allies involved in politics working towards a more inclusive future. Unfortunately, since the election I’ve been disappointed to see LGBT+ voices not included in the Labour government’s decision making: from extending the Tories’ cruel and unsound ban on puberty blockers to the embrace of an interpretation of the Equality Act that makes trans people less safe and less able to be involved with public life. I’m a strong believer in what the Labour Party can be - my experience of the membership has...