Hundreds of UK firms sign letter urging government to reject trans exclusion guidance

Hundreds of UK businesses are joining campaigners urging the British Government to protect trans+ human rights and not approve statutory guidelines telling service providers to exclude trans people from gendered spaces and services. Campaigners Trans+ Solidarity Alliance and inclusive business network Safe Space UK have joined forces to organise an open letter from businesses to the Government expressing concern over the proposals, and are calling on more companies to join them.

Their letter, which organizers say has already garnered hundreds of signatures ranging from small local businesses to household names, will be closing for signatures at midnight on Friday 12th September – with more inclusive businesses being urged to add their names. It expresses “deep concern at proposals seeking to enforce blanket, mandatory exclusion of trans people from gendered spaces and services”.

The UK’s equalities regulator, the author of these proposed guidelines, told the BBC last week that it would likely be “difficult” for many to implement this in practice. The letter opposes any version of the final code that is similar to an earlier published draft advising service providers to enforce trans exclusion. The final version is not set to be published until after it is approved by the Government – who can now decide whether to insist on changes.

The letter says “any final code similar to this draft would tell organisations that we must adopt practices that are incompatible with modern business values, create unworkable operational challenges, and cause significant economic harm.”

“It's been heartening to have businesses across the country join us to declare themselves as safe spaces for the trans community, but this is under real threat. Now is the time for us all to stand up for our values and tell the Government not to mandate trans exclusion,” shared Safe Space UK founder Carys Daniels. “Hundreds of businesses have already signed, ranging from local independents to big companies, and we need your help. There are a few days left for your business to join them, reaffirming your values and making the message even louder.”

Trans+ Solidarity Alliance organizer Alex Parmar-Yee described the letter as “adding vital pressure on the Government to do the right thing and not wave through guidance which would violate trans people’s human rights and create unworkable challenges for the businesses and organisations told to implement it.” She added that there is a risk the guidance would function as a “trans bathroom ban” and “conflict with the values many businesses hold dear.”

You can read the full letter and businesses based or with a presence in the UK can sign it HERE.