Today in Brighton we organised an event for Transgender Day of Visibility, with less than 20 hours notice we arranged a location, speakers and received messages of support from Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn MP and Brighton Pavilion MP and Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas MP.
Here is Caroline Lucas’ message of support for the trans community:
“I’m sorry not to be with you this afternoon. I received the invitation to join you yesterday evening, but unfortunately I’ve got long-standing commitments at the Green Party conference in Liverpool.
“Whilst I’m not able to be with you in person, I wanted to send these few words. Firstly, just how immensely proud I am to be an MP in such a vibrant, understanding, and accepting city. But we should not be complacent.
“Not whilst there is currently NO legal recognition for Trans youth under the age of 18; not whilst there is currently NO legal recognition for non-binary people; not whilst the Trans community in Britain, and elsewhere, continues to face violence and discrimination.
“Mahatma Gandhi said: “make injustice visible”; and today, on International Transgender Day of Visibility it’s an opportunity to embrace his message, to celebrate the transgender community, and to challenge injustice when we encounter it.
“The power of being visible is immense, it cannot be underestimated. It sends the message that we will not be ruled by fear and hate, and in Brighton and Hove we lead the way on spreading that message.
“To all attending the event today – raising awareness of the discrimination experienced by the transgender community is vital. I hope this occasion is an opportunity to make some noise, to celebrate, and importantly, to be seen.”