The Trans Safety Network is a transgender organisation that aims to "explore and analyse institutional and organised harm against trans people in the UK".[1] The group aims to document and analyse information on organized anti-transgender movements.[1]
| Abbreviation | TSN |
|---|---|
| Formation | October 2020[1] |
| Type | Community interest company[2] |
| Purpose | Defence of transgender rights and opposition to organized transphobia |
Region served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Shash Appan |
| Affiliations | Consortium[3] |
| Website | transsafety |
History
editTrans Safety Network was launched in October 2020, in response to the increase in anti-transgender campaigns and political lobbying in the United Kingdom. The ultimate impetus for the group's establishment was reports of DVDs on the "transgender agenda" being mailed to schools. TSN determined that they originated from Truth in Science, a Christian creationist organisation.[4]
TSN has been active in criticising the treatment of transgender people by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). In February 2022, TSN was a co-signatory to an open letter calling for a review of the EHRC by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), which was also cosigned by organisations such as Stonewall, Liberty, the Good Law Project, Mermaids and LGBT Youth Scotland.[5] In 2023, the group's director, Jess O'Thomson, met Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the UN independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, who was preparing a report on LGBTQ rights in the UK.[6] TSN opposed a recommendation from the EHRC to amend the Equality Act 2010 to replace rights and protections based on one's legal sex with "biological sex".[7] In January 2024, GANHRI announced the commencement of an investigation into the EHRC.[8]
In 2022, TSN opposed attempts by the government to exempt gender identity from a proposed ban on conversion therapy.[9] In April 2023, the TSN publicized restrictions being imposed upon tweets containing LGBT-related keywords on Twitter, including disabling previews.[10][11] On 24 June 2023, O'Thomson was assaulted and injured while reporting for TSN by far-right demonstrators organised by Turning Point UK at a Drag Queen Story Hour event in Lewisham, with another activist left bloodied.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c "About us". Trans Safety Network. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ "TRANS SAFETY NETWORK CIC". Companies House. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ "Trans Safety Network". Consortium. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ "Trans Safety Network Interview". Organise Magazine. Anarchist Federation. 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ "Major LGBTQ+ organisations spark international review of the EHRC". Stonewall. 2022-02-10. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ Baska, Maggie (2023-05-24). "Grassroots trans group uncovering EHRC 'attacks' and the UK's well-connected anti-trans movement". PinkNews. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ O'Thomson, Jess (2023-04-06). "The EHRC wants to redefine sex. Here's what it means for trans people". OpenDemocracy. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ Hansford, Amelia (2024-01-08). "EHRC to be investigated by UN group following complaints from LGBTQ+ charities". PinkNews. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ Ferreira, Lou (2022-06-10). "MPs will debate a ban on trans 'conversion therapy'. Here's what to expect". OpenDemocracy. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ Reber, Dylan (2023-04-05). "Twitter May Be Restricting Visibility of LGBTQ+ Content in Direct Messages". The Advocate. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ Power, Shannon (2023-04-03). "Is Twitter Censoring LGBTQ+ Content? What We Know, What We Don't". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ "United Kingdom: Right-wing Protesters Attack And Injure Reporter Jess O'Thomson At Drag Storytelling Event". Coalition For Women In Journalism. 2023-06-24. Retrieved 2024-06-30.