Next week is Trans+ History Week which runs from 5 to 11 May 2025
Trans+ History Week is dedicated to celebrating the rich history of transgender, non-binary, gender-diverse, and intersex individuals through stories, events and lesson books for the whole world to use.
At NCVS, we believe that education and awareness around trans+ identities is more vital than ever.
NCVS is committed to inclusion and believes everyone deserves dignity, respect and safety. We do not tolerate discrimination or prejudice in any form and we will always promote trans-inclusive spaces.
We know the April 2025 UK Supreme Court ruling that the Equality Act's definition of a woman excludes trans women has created huge distress and anxiety for trans, non-binary, intersex and gender non-conforming people, and for all allies.
Like many others, we are concerned that the ruling has led to confusion and uncertainty. It has also been widely misrepresented. Some reactions risk overreaching the actual legal implications and are instead perpetuating a climate of fear, hostility and exclusion.
The Equality Act 2010 continues to protect trans people's rights
- There is currently no legal obligation for any organisation to change or roll back any of their trans-inclusive policies.
- Trans and non-binary people continue to be protected from discrimination, harassment and victimisation under equality legislation.
- The Equality Act 2010 continues to protect trans people’s rights to safety, dignity, and access to appropriate spaces.
Legal professionals and experts with lived experience are currently working to provide additional clarity. While the ruling may inform future legal arguments, it does not require immediate or exclusionary action by employers, businesses or service providers.
The immediate action we encourage you to take is to challenge anti-trans rhetoric and stand in solidarity with trans+ communities.
Why this impacts on all human rights
This ruling could have a catastrophic impact on human rights for all. It promotes segregation and could increasingly narrow what any woman can and should look like, wear, act or be able to do. Our most marginalised communities are the first to be impacted, but when human rights start to fall, they ultimately fall for everyone.
Jamie Wareham, Founder of the organisation behind Trans+ History Week said: “We have not seen this kind of removal of human rights since segregated bathrooms on the basis of race. It is, perhaps, the single biggest rollback of civil rights the UK has ever seen.”
What you can do to show support and solidarity
- Connect with local organisations to show your group / organisation is a safe space for trans people. These groups can also assist with signposting to further information, support, and services that are available:
- Nottingham Pastel Project - Trans Rights advocacy and lobbying non-profit. Seeking to establish Nottingham as the UK's first official Trans Sanctuary City.
- Notts Trans Hub - Local charity offering peer support, community groups, and social events for transgender, non-binary, and gender-questioning adults in Nottingham and surrounding areas.
- Nottingham Against Transphobia - Stand up to transphobia and show solidarity with the trans community.
- Notts Trans Pride - Show your support at Notts Trans Pride which is taking place in Nottingham on Saturday 21 June 2025.
- Nottingham Chameleons - A social and support group for anyone on the transgender spectrum, their families and friends.
- Notts LGBT+ Network - Local charity offering support and advice to the city and county's LGBT+ community, their family and friends, as well as local organisations and businesses, since 1975.
- If your organisation has toilets used by workers or the public, you can make clear you continue to welcome trans people.
- In this useful blog post, Matthew Carlile has developed a series of free Trans Rights resources, including Guidance for Trans Inclusion in education and the workplace which you can use, share and edit for your own context.
- Read articles by Trans+ journalists to learn how the UK got to this situation. If you’re unfamiliar with the background to the Supreme Court ruling, its implications, and why this matters, this useful article by Jess O’Thomson in Prospect Magazine was published on 28 April 2025.
- Follow national LGBTQIA+ civil society and advocacy organisations, such as TransActual, Equality Amplified, Consortium and Proud Changemakers.
- TransActual has produced a resource (published in 2021) which outlines "easy actions you can take" to help create positive change for trans people (includes 10, 60 and longer minute actions). Download it here.
- Promote and celebrate Trans+ History Week 5 – 11 May 2025. Trans+ History Week is a social enterprise to ensure its activity benefits the community and is a launchpad project of independent LGBTQIA+ nonprofit publisher, QueerAF. Download a workbook and more resources at https://www.wearequeeraf.com/transhistoryweek/
