Stonewall exec Ruth Hunt doubles down on transgender support: ‘They really, really need us’
Ruth Hunt speaks at Stonewall summer party (Stonewall/Twitter)
Stonewall CEO Ruth Hunt gave her unequivocal support to the transgender community at the charity’s summer party in London on Thursday, telling a gathered audience of activists, media and influencers that it’s time for the LGBT+ community to be vocal about on trans rights.
Hunt said that the trans community has stood by its queer compatriots for many years, “waiting for it to be their turn … it’s their turn now. They really, really need us.”
Hunt’s support for the trans community comes after a group of radical lesbian activists hijacked last week’s Pride in London parade to protest against transgender rights. This includes proposed reforms to the Gender Recognition Act which would streamline the process for transgender people to legally change their gender. The government began a consultation on reforming the act earlier in July.
“As a cis lesbian who has for a long time stated unequivocally stated trans women are women and trans men are men, I know the vitriol that evokes in some parts of our community,” Hunt continued at Thursday’s Stonewall event.
“We really need to be vocal. It’s not enough for us to be passive anymore. We need to say, ‘We stand with you, they do not speak for us, we are with you.'”
Hunt called for all allies of the trans community to fill out the Gender Recognition Act consultation form to show their support for trans rights, “because, I absolutely promise you, those who hold trans people with utter disdain are filling that survey in. We need you to do it, too.”
Eyal Booker at Stonewall summer party (Twitter)
Thursday’s event highlighted the need for trans equality, with celebrity guests including drag queen Courtney Act and Love Island‘s Eyal Booker holding signs reading, “Come out for trans equality.”
On Sunday, Hunt condemned Pride in London organisers for failing to protect trans people taking part in Saturday’s celebrations by allowing radical group Get the L Out to effectively overtake and lead the parade.
“That a transphobic group who are actively working against the community were able to walk the length of the route, that they faced no obstruction and were able to distribute leaflets filled with myths and lies, is hard to believe,” wrote Hunt.
Hunt continued: “Facing up to your privilege isn’t easy. But it’s essential because ignoring it can lead you to make assumptions and decisions that put people in danger.
Courtney Act aka Shane Jenek at Stonewall summer party. (Stonewall)
“Yesterday was a demonstration of that in action, with a transphobic group able to protest unhindered in the interests of the ‘safety of everyone’. Not everyone was safe – trans people were left feeling exposed and alienated by their own community.
“Pride in London had a duty to act and protect trans people yesterday. They didn’t. They had a duty to condemn the hatred directed at trans people. They didn’t.”
