Trans rights activists gather in St Helen’s Square, York

Dozens of people demonstrated in St Helen’s Square from 1pm on Saturday (April 11).

It followed the ruling by the UK’s highest court last April that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act “refer to a biological woman and biological sex”.

Judges, at the time, stressed their ruling did not diminish transgender women’s protections against direct discrimination.

But the protesters in York felt the ruling had resulted in uncertainty for transgender people, including around daily tasks such as which public toilet they should use.

Julie Forgan, from the York branch of the Unison union, during the protest on Saturday (April 11) (Image: Dylan Connell)

A trans rights activist in St Helen’s Square, York, on Saturday (April 11) (Image: Dylan Connell)

Julie Forgan, from the York branch of the Unison union which represents public sector workers, said what the ruling means for some of its members remained unclear a year on.

“People have gone into workplaces and been concerned about what their employer’s going to say about where they can use the toilet, which is a disgrace,” she said.

“People should be able to use the toilet where they want to use the toilet and not feel intimated by that kind of thing.

“As trade union reps, we’ve had to step in and sort out issues around that.

“That should not be something that needs to happen – it’s a human right to be able to use the toilet where you want to use the toilet.”

Trans rights activists in St Helen’s Square, York, on Saturday (April 11) (Image: Dylan Connell)

Trans rights activists in St Helen’s Square, York, on Saturday (April 11) (Image: Dylan Connell)

Julie said Unison is “very strongly in favour of trans rights because anything that divides communities means that we can’t fight effectively in unity”.

“Unison has a very strong trade union policy in support of trans rights.

“I’m here to show solidarity with everyone else who is here.”

Julie called for change to happen on a national level, saying: “People’s human rights need to be respected nationally, and positions should be made very clear that we respect everyone’s rights.”

Green Party representatives at the trans rights protest in St Helen’s Square, York, on Saturday (April 11) (Image: Dylan Connell)

A placard during the trans rights protest in St Helen’s Square, York, on Saturday (April 11) (Image: Dylan Connell)

She called on leaders to call out incidents of discrimination and abuse against transgender people.

“I think a lot of it has happened because people like the far-right have taken up the issue of trans rights and discriminating against trans people,” Julie said.

“It’s very important that everyone else speaks out against it, and that trans rights become integral to what we’re all fighting about together.”

Karen Cook during the trans rights protest in St Helen’s Square, York, on Saturday (April 11) (Image: Dylan Connell)

Karen Cook, the mother of a transgender teenage boy, attended the protest from Lincolnshire.

“I’m here because I’m really cross that trans people are being removed out of normal society,” she said.

Karen said transgender people had become ostracized, adding that it was negatively impacting a “small group of society who are absolutely lovely”.

The mother said she had previously been involved with Girlguiding and held a sign with the Girlguiding promise: “A guide is a good friend and a sister to all guides”, in protest to the organisation telling its members transgender girls must leave Girlguiding by early September.

Girlguiding said that since the Supreme Court’s ruling, it had undertaken “detailed considerations, expert legal advice and input from senior members, young members”, its council and board of trustees.

In an update last month, the organisation said trans girls who are members can stay until September 6.

It added that any trans girl or trans woman who is currently volunteering in a role open to women only will be required to move by this date to a position that is open to males or females.