These types of surveys should therefore be a wake-up call for politicians (Picture: Sharon Kilgannon)
I wasn’t surprised when I found out that more Britons (25%) have negative views towards trans people than they did in 2021 (16%), according to a YouGov poll this month.
That’s because, in the last few years, I have watched certain sections of the media and politicians become increasingly hostile towards us, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seeming to mock trans women in a speech earlier this year.
But I don’t want to focus on that.
There were also really positive results, which showed that women – in particular lesbians and bisexual women – are supportive of trans people.
Furthermore, a vast majority of the British public were either positive or neutral towards trans people, with most Britons having paid little to no interest to the trans rights ‘debate’ – the latter according to YouGov stats from last year.
This doesn’t mean people are unaware of the discrimination and prejudice trans people face in society. In fact, paired with those same YouGov stats from last year, almost half of Britons (49%) said that discrimination against transgender people is either a major or significant problem in today’s society.
This tells us quite clearly that people recognise the challenges and barriers we face as trans people in our everyday lives.
My cisgender friends ask me regularly how I am doing, and are appalled to hear about all the negative media attention, as well as politicians using my community as pawns in a culture war. They see how relentless it is, and often tell me they are worried about my well-being and safety.
Conversations about trans rights online often go very differently.
A vast majority of the British public were either positive or neutral towards trans people
There, people have strong opinions about us without seemingly ever having actually known a trans person personally, or holding any type of experience or expertise in the field.
Once people get the chance to know us, their views often change as they realise that we are after all just human beings that deserve respect and dignity.
Nothing exemplifies this more than when people try to pit women against us.
It was clear from the latest stats that women in general are much more supportive of trans people and their rights than men, which personally isn’t a surprise to me.
Lesbian and bisexual women were found to be the firmest supporters of trans rights, with an overwhelming 68% of lesbian women and 66% of bisexual women feeling ‘very positive’ towards trans people.
It therefore goes without saying that anyone claiming to be speaking for lesbians while holding an anti-trans stance are in a minority, and do not speak for the vast majority of queer women.
Despite constant negative narratives that pit women’s rights against trans rights, I believe there is no true conflict there and we should find solidarity with each other.
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As someone who has been a feminist for as long as I can remember, worked with feminist organisations, has an MA in gender studies, and worked for a centre for survivors of sexual abuse, I feel it is entirely inaccurate to say there’s some sort of infringement between women’s rights and trans rights.
What’s truly sad to me is that the constant negative national attention on trans issues seems to be having an effect on everyday people’s views.
This is particularly troubling, given that hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community have been on the rise.
These types of surveys should therefore be a wake-up call for politicians and those in positions of influence that they need to step in and fight against prejudice, as well as make society a safer place for everyone.
The UK feels like it is at a turning point, where we can either submit to anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, or we can condemn these views in favour of creating a more just, free and equal society for all.
I therefore ask you, reader, and our journalists and politicians: What do you want your legacy to be? Do you want to be remembered as someone who fought against the rights of a vulnerable minority and made their lives harder – or do you want to be someone who fought for what’s right, and did your best to ensure everyone can live their lives free of discrimination and abuse?
The choice is yours.
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Almost half of Britons said that discrimination against transgender people is either a major or significant problem in today’s society.