Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson (pictured here) unanimously passed a motion saying trans women are women
Liverpool recently passed a motion saying that transgender women are no different from cisgender women.
Led by Mayor Joe Anderson, the motion passed unanimously on Wednesday, 19 September.
Tell me more!
This comes less than a month after a transphobic women’s group called ReSisters defaced the city with phallic-shaped stickers. The stickers read ‘women don’t have penises.’
Anderson told the council meeting that ReSisters promoted ‘hate against people who are different’. He also accused the group of bullying and intimidation.
The motion also encouraged developers to include gender-neutral restrooms in their building plans. Additionally, it promised to show solidarity in public ways. For instance, lighting council buildings in the colors of the trans flag. Plus flying the flag at the town hall one weekend a year.
The opposition
The Liverpool ReSisters have stated their concerns about self-identification. This is the process by which trans men and women self-declare their gender without the need for medical proof.
‘Self ID erodes vital safeguarding principles by preventing women and children from listening to their feelings of discomfort,’ a Liverpool ReSisters spokesperson told the council.
‘I urge the council to… listen with an open mind to all sides of the issue [and to] consider the complexity of self ID and the full impact its implementation will have on Liverpool citizens.’
Upon Mayor Anderson’s takedown of the ReSisters group, he received a standing ovation.
‘If you approached it in a different way and wanted to have a sensible discussion with us then we would have listened,’ Anderson stated. ‘But we won’t tolerate abuse of members of this community that we respect, value, and love.’
Reactions from LGBTI rights groups
LGBTI rights organization Stonewall told the BBC that this decision ‘sends a very powerful and very welcome message of acceptance.’
‘Not only has the council reaffirmed its commitment to trans inclusion and equality, it’s gone a step further with plans to host a public, visible celebration of trans equality in the city centre.’
‘The bullying and abuse of trans people is at epidemic levels [and] to change this we need to see more visible support and leadership from organisations and institutions across Britain.’
