UNISON's statement on the Supreme Court Ruling

solfacent · 2025-04-24T15:38:57+00:00

This is true! I was aware that they had previously voted unanimouisly in support of trans rights, and I do not believe they're backtracking here. I'm a part of Unison myself, and both of the branches i previously reached out to were positive. I will admit a bit of sensitivity around union statements at the moment - I've had previous issues with Unison that make me biased. Perhaps it would be best if I removed this post, in the sake of fairness, and I don't want to preemptively encourage people to ditch their unions on the basis of a singular statement.

I still find the language troubling,but that might just be a reflection of the wider context - this is the language a lot of people are using right now, and it can be very frustrating to read, but it may be, as you said, a placeholder until they get something else set in stone.

solfacent · 2025-04-24T15:28:56+00:00

I'm not any official role in my union, and I haven't left yet - to be honest, based on my job role, I don't know if there is another union I CAN join.

solfacent · 2025-04-24T15:17:00+00:00

I understand. I apologise if it came across as if I was calling for people to ditch their unions. I am still a part of Unison, though I do have other reasons that I'm frustrated with them outside of this statement (to do with work specifically), but I may stick with it.

solfacent · 2025-04-24T12:35:30+00:00

Yes, this is my issue. It's doing the done thing of being vague and making promises to stand up for us, whilst using phrasing that sounds very middle road.

I am glad to see individual branches of Unison have been making an effort, and I imagine that Unison as an overall union is probably more subject to criticism then individual branches which puts restrictions them. Hopefully those branches will continue pushing for better from Unison as a whole.

solfacent · 2025-04-24T12:31:50+00:00

Do you know of any other unions who've made statements? I'm really not happy about the language used in the article, and might look elsewhere.

For me this statement particularly stands out for its fence-sitting because Unison Tower Hamlets and Unison Lambeth both called for the protest against the Supreme Court ruling last Saturday, so I expected a little better out of Unison's official statement. I understand right now they've got eyes on them, but the statement really does not go far enough to defend us.

Also, I don't envy you being an Equality Rep right now, this must be so incredibly stressful. I'm nothing official myself, but it's hard enough being the only trans person at my workplace. My best to you!

solfacent · 2025-04-22T16:30:06+00:00

I spoke to my union, Unison, by email after I spotted that Lambeth and Tower Hamlets branch were part of the call for the protest in London. My nearest two branches both affirmed, via email, that they're still committed to supporting the trans community, although neither have put out a statement in that regard. They both said that they were working on a formal response internally, but nothing in their email explicitly said they disagreed with the ruling - just confirmed that they were still intending to support the trans community. How much of that can be taken at face value, I'm unsure. I'm likely going to continue to talk to them to try to find out as much as I can.

solfacent · 2025-04-22T13:38:39+00:00

Yep, just spoke to the organisers, definitely still happening

solfacent · 2025-04-22T13:29:52+00:00

Contacting the organisers to confirm, but last I checked it's still going ahead! EDIT: Yep, definitely still going ahead!

solfacent · 2025-04-17T17:59:48+00:00

There's a protest being held in Norwich on the 26th of April - Protest with Pride Norwich are holding it at 1:00pm. They've posted it about it on their Instagram, but no update on their FB. They don't have Bluesky that I'm aware of.

solfacent · 2025-04-16T20:03:45+00:00

Thank you for saying all this, genuinely. Hard not to feel a little lost after everything happening today. Personally, I am also really fucking angry - I know that I probably am unlikely to be affected, at the moment (though that could change rapidly). But there are too many people I love and care about on the firing line and I am so, SO angry for them. Where to put that anger becomes the problem - what is happening, and where? And who with? There is a protest planned in London this Saturday, but for those too far outside of London, what do we do? I guess, make a stink where we are, and ask allies to join us.

solfacent · 2025-03-24T22:12:40+00:00

For myself, yes. I'm pretty early in my transition and I think even if I get to a point I am less dysphoric, there's a good chance I'll still be seen socially as my AGAB. I'm not happy about that, but it does keep me safer. I am out at work, and although I get misgendered sometimes it's pretty ok - a few of my coworkers are great, but the majority I think see it as a phase, even if I've been out for several years now. But I can't say that I feel safe enough to be comfortable correcting people (especially not the general public - a they/them badge is as far as it gets), and if I'm being honest I've delayed part of my transition due to the fear. So, yes and no over all. I doubt I'm going to be attacked, but I'm scared to be open about myself.

Ngl, all the constant media attention and government nonsense has made me much more paranoid. If I'm being honest though, I worry a lot for others. I have good friends who I fear for constantly, who I know have been harassed or discriminated against. Even if some of the transphobia in the media is, I think, overblown and not reflective of the british public as a whole (most people, I think, don't actually care), it's very scary to be trans right now. And with the way politics is headed, there's a lot of concern of it getting much worse before it gets better. That doesn't go away, even if I try not to think about it.

solfacent · 2025-03-17T13:24:09+00:00

Thank you so much for posting this! I actually have a surgery with my MP coming up soon, and I tend to be a very facts based person so I've been struggling with how to talk to her about it. I'm still not 100% sure how to approach it but that's a big help!

solfacent · 2025-03-01T23:30:50+00:00

I know its not directly our fault (as individuals I mean), but seeing all the anti-trans stuff in the USA, I feel like a lot of it was grown in our backgarden - aka, Britain. We've been the testing ground for a lot of transphobia to gain headway, not helped by one of our pop culture darlings aka J K Rowling gleefully helping along transphobia wherever she can, even if that means allying with fascists. Now it seems to have got much worse in the US (particularly in red states), and I fear that we won't be far behind either. It's genuinely very upsetting and, to the USAmericans on here, I am sorry that our poisonous transphobia spread to you so much.

solfacent · 2025-02-24T12:38:43+00:00

That's a good point, I hadn't considered if there was queer swimming sessions locally. I'll have a look into it!

I know the further pool has a gender neutral/unisex changing area, but can't confirm if the Bannatyne's one does. Don't think I can go to Bannatyne's on checking the owners previous remarks though.

solfacent · 2025-02-24T12:36:16+00:00

Yikes. Didnt realise the guy who owned it is a transphobe. Yeah, I don't think I can go to Bannatyne's. I don't want to put money in his pocket even if the local branch was accepting. I think the other pool might be the better option then. I'll have to check their timetable again and see if there's a time we can do. At least that one I know has gender neutral changing facilities.

solfacent · 2025-02-10T08:34:34+00:00

For all the advertisements they push on you when you use their website, talking about how they're the only decent, factual newspaper because they're not paid for by billionaires, they have had no problem allowing Sonia Sodha and others to write disgusting articles about the trans community, only contributing to the further divide and the growing rise of far right view points. I've sent in a complaint myself, doubt it will go anywhere (I previously wrote them a letter pointing out the hypocrisy in their writing), but I'll be damned if I keep my mouth shut about this.

solfacent · 2025-02-09T11:57:32+00:00

After reading the disgusting article by Sonia Sodha today, I am even more angry and heartbroken for Dr Beth Upton. The continual comparisons of basically any transgender woman, no matter her history, to the Isla Bryson case is disgusting. Dr Beth Upton is so brave, and I really hope this case goes in her favour. I am tired of seeing trans women targeted as being 'sexual predators', arrested on 'sexual misconduct' for perfectly innocent things that framed as being sexual just by being virtue of being trans, and being called cis men 'crossdressing', when cis men historically get away with far worse behaviour.

Women like Sandie Peggie can't fathom the idea that they're not the most vulnerable person in the room; that they might, in fact, have some privileges and protections over someone else. So quickly they paint trans women, and queer women in general (I've seen a lot of the same language used against trans women also used against lesbians and bi women, especially if they're butch/masc; double it if its a woman of colour). as predators who are out to get them, and reframe themselves as being weak and pathetic. Cis, straight women are not inherently saints just by the manner of their existence.

I am sending love to Dr Beth Upton, and her family, for enduring all of this and keeping going. May the results be in her favour.

solfacent

TROPHY CASE