Showing up for our trans friends

I’ve talked before about mental health in the LGBTQ+ community and how as a result of society we are more at risk of poor mental health outcomes. While things have generally been going in a positive direction and we have made some tremendous strides over the last few decades, we have gone from being first place out of 49 European countries for LGBTQIA+ equality in 2015 to number 22. The UK Supreme Court ruling on trans equality in 2025 and recent publication of the EHRC Guidance earlier this month has been described as the biggest rollback of LGBT rights since Clause 28.

For those that missed that in the 80s and 90s, Clause 28 forbad the “promotion of homosexuality” and a whole generation of kids grew up without getting an opportunity to learn about themselves, and in that absence to be LGBT was to be something invisible; something unsavoury and unspeakable. Many of us who lived through this years remember that well and I’ve worked with many clients who are still unpacking the impact of those lost years.

The new guidance effectively bans trans people from accessing single sex spaces that match their gender, instead requiring them to use facilities that match their sketchily defined “biological sex.”  It’s so badly thought out that a non trans man could walk right into a Ladies toilet and claim that he’s trans. A man wishing harm would no longer need to pretend to be a woman to access those spaces, and, even though the imagined threat of someone being ‘in disguise’ is still something that belongs in a daft slasher movie instead of there being any basis in reality, he can walk right in there now.

To enforce the guidance, people are being asked to actively not mind their own business and snitch and snoop on other people using the space who they suspect might be trans, which of course follows the transphobic playbook of any woman appearing less feminine than thee. I’ve already heard of non trans friends being challenged when they’re simply using the bathroom as they always have, and we might expect more of that.

Transphobia seems to be everywhere now and the ruling seems to have given any bigot free reign to say what they like.

So we’re on the same page, right? This is wrong. This is hurting people. What can we do about it to support our trans friends, loved ones and colleagues?

Over on bluesky, my friend Fergus Murray has made an excellent starter list: https://bsky.app/profile/oolong.co.uk/post/3mmwifuvfv22s

You might consider getting in touch with your MP, MSP or the Prime Minister, let them know how this affects you and the people you care about and ask them to take action.

You can also support charities who are actively fighting this, and providing help to trans members of the community. This is not an exclusive list, but do take a look:

• Transactual: https://transactual.org.uk. (More info on easy actions you can take right now: https://transactual.org.uk/change-actions/)

• Scottish Trans: https://www.scottishtrans.org/support-us/

• Trans+ Solidarity Alliance: https://www.transsolidarityalliance.com

• Mermaids: https://mermaidsuk.org.uk

• Mindout: https://mindout.org.uk

• Galop: https://www.galop.org.uk 0800 999 5428)

• The Equality Network: https://www.equality-network.org

• LGBT Health and Wellbeing: https://lgbthealth.org.uk

• LGBT Youth Scotland: https://lgbtyouth.org.uk

While things are more difficult at the moment, we know from history that darker days pass, and that when we work together and look after each other we can make positive change happen. Let’s do this!

If you’d like to work with me on your own mental health, you can get in touch with me via the website or email directly on mckellarcbt@gmail.com.

*The picture accompanying this is of the amazing 66 foot x 35 foot trans pride flag being flown by LGBTQIA+ activists in Yosemite National Park in May 2025.