Jameela Jamil tells Boris Johnson ‘not in my name’ as she stands with trans sisters over alleged single-sex spaces ban
Jameela Jamil. (Amanda Edwards/Getty)
Jameela Jamil has once again emphasised her solidarity with the trans community, this time telling Boris Johnson that she stands with transgender women over alleged plans to ban them from women’s spaces.
The Good Place actor was responding to a Sunday Times article from last weekend, which was based on a leaked government report about long-delayed plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) that suggests the reforms are to be scrapped.
Johnson’s government is also reportedly planning to introduce “new protections” for women’s single-sex spaces, which would attempt to prevent trans women using many public facilities including toilets and changing rooms.
This latest attack on trans rights by the Tories, which came as the UK’s coronavirus death toll passed 53,000 and as global Black Lives Matter protests otherwise dominated the news, has been broadly criticised by LGBT+ groups and politicians.
Today, using the hashtag #NotInMyName, cisgender women are coming out in support of trans rights and particularly in defence of trans women, who bear the brunt of the latest attack on equality in the UK.
“Trans rights are human rights,” Jameela Jamil tweeted yesterday (June 15).
“I would have any trans woman in my protected spaces as they need protection more than anyone.
“They are in the most danger in our society. They are us. They are our sisters. Boris Johnson, this plan to push them out is #NotInMyName.”
https://twitter.com/jameelajamil/status/1272576830310998016?s=20
Jamil, who came out as queer earlier this year in response to criticism of her taking part in HBO’s ballroom show Legendary, often uses her online platform to champion LGBT+ rights and queer issues.
The actor, model and activist is the latest cis woman to add her voice to the growing disquiet over alleged plans to roll back trans rights in the UK.
Stonewall’s new chief executive, Nancy Kelley, was also among those tweeting her support.
“Hi Boris Johnson, Lizz Truss,” she said. “I’m a cis woman, a lesbian and a lifelong feminist. I want the government to protect and uplift my trans siblings, not roll back their rights and make them feel desperately unsafe.”
Hi @BorisJohnson @10DowningStreet @trussliz. I'm a cis woman, a lesbian and a lifelong feminist. I want the government to protect and uplift my trans siblings, not roll back their rights and make them feel desperately unsafe #TransRightsAreHumanRights #NotInMyName pic.twitter.com/BNJAz2ZX1G
— Nancy Kelley (@Nancy_M_K) June 16, 2020
According to anti-trans campaigners, who Liz Truss appears to be listening to, trans rights are a threat to women – an assertion fiercely disputed by women and feminists, including those now using #NotInMyName to oppose Truss’ plans.
“I have NEVER felt threatened by a trans woman,” tweeted queer filmmaker Deborah Espect.
“Not in a toilet, nor anywhere else. Trans women are women, trans men are men, non-binary people are non-binary. And I will PROTECT them.”
https://twitter.com/DebEspect/status/1272807705468600320?s=20
The hashtag campaign was started by Mermaids, a charity that supports trans and gender-questioning children and their families.
https://twitter.com/Mermaids_Gender/status/1272566801268965376?s=20
