Trans people are suffering – but there is still hope for us

Being trans in the UK right now feels increasingly hopeless – but amidst that gloom, there are still flickers of light and love.

Let me explain.

Since the Supreme Court ruling that redefined the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ in the Equality Act 2010 to refer to ‘a biological woman and biological sex’, the country has taken a chilling turn toward the erosion of trans rights.

As a result, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued an interim guidance stating that trans women ‘should not be permitted to use the women’s facilities’ in places like hospitals, shops, and restaurants.

Just yesterday, the Football Association (FA) banned trans women from playing women’s football in England, while England and Wales Cricket Board bosses just implemented a similar ban.

For trans people like me, all of that – including the fear and uncertainty it brings – is terrifying.

And yet — not everyone has turned their back on us. In this climate, acts of allyship feel more meaningful than ever.

They’re not just gestures; they are lifelines.

One such place is the Hampstead Heath Ladies’ Pond, which reaffirmed this week that trans women are welcome. As someone who’s used their facilities and contributed to their inclusion training, this public statement of support is both heartening and affirming.

It means that, at least in one space, I can exist without fear of exclusion or humiliation.

Allyship on a broader scale matters too. Actor Nicola Coughlan recently used her platform to help raise more than £100,000 for trans charity Not A Phase, speaking out boldly against the Supreme Court ruling and anti-trans rhetoric.

Following her lead, over 400 actors and entertainment professionals — including Eddie Redmayne, Katie Leung, Bella Ramsey, Charlotte Ritchie, and Paapa Essiedu — signed an open letter supporting trans rights. This is what it looks like when people refuse to stay silent.

Then, in a moment that touched many this week, Robert De Niro made a heartfelt public statement in support of his daughter Airyn, who recently came out as a trans woman. ‘I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter,’ the 81-year-old actor said, ‘I don’t know what the big deal is — I love all my children.’

It is that simple. Trans people are just people. We want the same things as anyone else: safety, dignity, love, and recognition.

One recent campaign from Lush – who teamed up with My Genderation and Trans Actual – looked at what the UK could be like if sections of our politics and media weren’t so hostile towards trans people. 

Lush stores across the country now display hopeful and positive headlines around trans issues, such as ‘UK Leads On Trans Rights’, ‘Unrealistic Waiting Times Trashed’, ‘Hate Crimes at Historic Low’, and ‘Trans Youth Living Their Truth’.

Inside, you can buy a ‘Liberation’ bath bomb that sports the trans colours — with money going towards trans charities.

Unfortunately, this dream seems like a distant reality right now.

Off the back of the EHRC’s new guidance – it is horrifying that a body tasked with protecting human rights instead risks facilitating their removal for a vulnerable minority.

The impact is already being felt. Everyday acts — like going to the bathroom, the gym, or swimming — have become battlegrounds for dignity. Trans people who have used these spaces safely and respectfully for years are being pushed out of public life.

Personally, I’ve used women’s spaces since I was a teenager. The idea that I could be banned now is not only absurd — it’s something I will not accept.

No legal ruling will change who I am or how I live. And it’s important to say that out loud: the existence of trans people is not up for debate.

We are not erased by legal semantics. We are not defined by those who fear or misunderstand us.

Trans people are part of the natural diversity of humanity — that’s fact, backed by decades of medical, psychological, and sociological research. Institutions across the world affirm this.

Even the British Medical Association (BMA) has spoken out, calling the Supreme Court ruling ‘biologically nonsensical’ and ‘scientifically illiterate’, warning it will cause real harm to trans, non-binary, and intersex communities.

So while anti-trans forces may feel emboldened, we are not alone. Most importantly, we are not powerless.

The Good Law Project has raised over £300,000 to challenge the ruling. On top of that, former judge Dr Victoria McCloud is taking the UK government to the European Court of Human Rights over it.

At the end of the day, this is not a debate about whether trans people are real. We exist.

Even in places where it’s illegal to be LGBTQ+, trans people live, love, and resist. The real question is: how will the UK choose to treat us?

Will it continue down a path of regression? Will it strip us of our rights and embolden discrimination under the guise of law? Or will it choose dignity, equality, and compassion? 

Either way, trans people aren’t going anywhere.

It is vital — now more than ever — that those who care about human rights continue to speak up.

We cannot afford neutrality and we need our allies to be by our side. So I can continue to hold on hope for a better world.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.