Trans rights aren’t a political issue, they are a moral one

13 Nov Trans rights aren’t a political issue, they are a moral one

Posted at 16:07h in Blog by Aby Hawker

“Trans rights aren’t a political issue, they are a moral one.”

I read an article last week which really struck a chord with me as a trans ally, so I figured it was worth sharing.

Over the past seven years that I have been specialising in trans+ inclusive communications, “the trans debate” has come up time and again, it crops up in interviews with the most unexpected people: journalists, politicians, authors, celebs – you name it.

It would appear that you don’t have to be trans, or for that matter even know a trans person, for your opinion to be sought.

This has resulted in the conversation moving into the mainstream in a way which would not be acceptable if we were to replace the word trans with any other identity.

In his brilliant article in the Independent, journalist Ryan Coogan said the following:

“Trans rights aren’t a political issue, they are a moral one, which is why we need to get rid of the word debate in this regard. Discussion around racism, feminism, homosexuality – and any other identity – are matters of basic human compassion, and shouldn’t be the subject of “debate” because the debate itself is so dehumanising to begin with. A lot of anti-trans arguments fall flat when you replace those buzzwords with “people who are just trying to live their lives.”

Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eEjN_zNv

So how should the great and the good respond when the question crops up?

Look no further than Graham Norton for guidance:

“When I’m asked about it I become part of the discussion… I’m painfully aware that my voice adds nothing to that discussion. ‘If people want to shine a light on those issues – and I hope people do – talk to trans people, talk to the parents of trans kids, talk to doctors, talk to psychiatrists, talk to someone who can illuminate this in some way.’”

We need to put trans people at the heart of the conversation and start from a position of empathy and compassion. That will only be achieved when we stop asking for uninformed opinions which simply serve to fuel misinformation and hate.