As was discussed in the House yesterday, the UK Supreme Court ruled last week that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.

A Member:

Hear, hear.

That decision has been a lightning rod for people who want to kick the trans community, and, unfortunately, we heard a lot of that in the House yesterday. Huge fear and anxiety exist in the trans community not only because of years of onslaughts, misrepresentation and bigotry but because of that shocking decision by the UK Supreme Court.

Whilst in theory the Equality Act 2010 does not apply in the North, which is a point that was emphasised in the House, one council in this jurisdiction has already jumped the gun and wants to implement provisions of the Supreme Court ruling. My message to that council is that its decision will put people at risk, especially the trans community, so it should retreat and retract. Despite attempts to talk up the Supreme Court decision by saying how it may help women, it will do nothing of the sort. Discriminating against trans people will not end the epidemic of violence against women and girls, which is usually caused by a family member or an ex-partner, who is most often a male. Taking rights from the trans community will not offer affordable or free childcare to anybody. It will not offer reproductive healthcare or any other material benefit for women who are facing oppression. The war on trans rights is being waged by far right and reactionary forces in Britain and Ireland that do not give a damn about women or any oppressed people on these islands. Unfortunately, the Executive are following suit by cruelly banning puberty blockers for the under-18s. That ban is a form of state violence.

Among all the spoofing, and when you clear the smoke, you find that the reality is that trans people are more likely to experience violence than most of the population. Some people should listen to this point when I say that, for decades, the women's movement has challenged the idea that biology is destiny. Now, we are being dragged back to an oppressive gender binary, which should be resisted. Most ordinary people do not want any part in that reactionary fantasy. My message to the trans and non-binary communities is solidarity. My message to those kicking down is this: stop your obsession with other people's genitalia. It is bizarre, unhealthy and is damaging people's lives. Fair play to the activists who have already come out to protest against that shocking court decision. Do not stop the fight. People Before Profit is with you every single step of the way.