{"id":1621,"date":"2024-01-23T14:57:48","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T14:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/edi\/?p=1621"},"modified":"2024-01-23T15:04:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T15:04:07","slug":"dr-sabine-sharp-a-brief-history-of-trans-activism-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/edi\/2024\/01\/23\/dr-sabine-sharp-a-brief-history-of-trans-activism-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Sabine Sharp: A Brief History of Trans Activism in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” next_background_color=”#000000″ global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=”322″ _builder_version=”3.0.106″ menu_id=”7″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” background_layout=”dark” module_class=”main-navigation” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#1d1d1d”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner locked=”off”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”3.17.6″ featured_placement=”above” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” date_format=”j M Y” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_layout=”light” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Photo credit:\u00a0David Hiney<\/p>\n

We often focus on American examples when we consider the history of trans activism \u2013 remembering flashpoints of history like the Stonewall riots and key figures like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Leslie Feinberg. It\u2019s important, however, to look at the history of trans activism in the UK. This history can illuminate the current landscape of political and media debates about trans issues. Two books I\u2019ve found invaluable for thinking about trans activism in the UK are Trans Britain: Our Journey from the Shadows <\/em>(2018), edited by Christine Burns, and The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice <\/em>(2021) by Shon Faye.<\/p>\n

Among essays on various topics from early gender identity clinics to TV and film representation, Trans Britain <\/em>offers insightful chapters on some of the key events and figures who helped shape trans rights in Britain over the twentieth century. Michael Dillon and Roberta Cowell were two of the first people in the UK to undergo medical transition procedures (in 1946 and 1951 respectively) and to change their legal sex. Meanwhile, the court cases of Sir Ewan Forbes (1965), and of April Ashley (1970), shaped legislation around gender recognition.<\/p>\n

As these examples demonstrate, British trans activism has often taken a quieter approach than that of the US. Transitioning in the UK \u2013 whether medically or socially \u2013 was long a matter of wealth, status, and connections. Dillon and Cowell had close connections with medical practitioners. Meanwhile, Ashley\u2019s and Forbes\u2019 legal cases related to property claims: in Ashley\u2019s case, maintenance payments from her ex-husband Hon. Arthur Corbett, heir to a barony; in Forbes\u2019 case, his inheritance of a baronetcy.<\/p>\n

In a similar vein, the UK\u2019s first major campaign group on trans issues, Press for Change<\/em>, adopted strategies that leveraged members\u2019 establishment connections. As Christine Burns writes, \u2018The trans formula for activism was to educate people, make friends in high places, win arguments on the facts and use strategic litigation to break down an unwilling government\u2019 (Trans Britain<\/em>, p. 128). Press for Change<\/em> used members\u2019 personal influence to attend major political party conferences; organize meetings with civil servants, politicians, and medical professionals; and put forward legal cases to the European Court of Human Rights.<\/p>\n

Press for Change <\/em>focussed largely on trans people\u2019s rights to privacy and to participate in public life. While their focus on respectability might now be uncomfortable, their work led to changes in legislation in the early 2000s on employment discrimination and harassment, as well as prisoners\u2019 rights \u2013 changes which undoubtedly had a massive impact on ordinary trans people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n

More recent trans activism in the UK has shifted away from the approach of leaning on friends in high places, as Shon Faye explores in The Transgender Issue<\/em>. In the twenty-first century, trans people have adopted tactics including charity and community organizing, mutual aid groups, solidarity funds, demonstrations, protest marches, and coordinated social media campaigns.<\/p>\n

The focus of trans activism has become more coalitional, addressing issues of class and poverty that cut across trans communities and other vulnerable groups including sex workers, the homeless, migrants, prisoners, children, and young people. But that\u2019s not to say that Press for Change<\/em>\u2019s tactics should be forgotten \u2013 as Faye writes, \u201call will be necessary in our struggle\u201d (The Transgender Issue<\/em>, p. 267).<\/p>\n

Turning back to this history of trans struggles for liberation in the UK shows us how we\u2019ve got where we are today. Looking at the past can help us think strategically about our actions in the present to build better futures for trans communities.<\/p>\n

Dr. Sabine Sharp – the University of Manchester Library<\/p>\n

Have a look at how to Become ALLOUT ally on our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.0.106″ in_same_term=”off” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”on” button_icon_placement=”right” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”light” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Related<\/h1>\n

Related posts:<\/h3>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>

Aisha Akram and Stephen Doyle: Mental Health Awareness Week (11th \u2013 17th May)<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/div>

Heike Holubek: Berlin Pride (Part 1)<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/div>

Heather Lennox: Learning about Asexuality<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.0.106″ area=”sidebar-1″ orientation=”left” show_border=”off” background_layout=”light” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” _builder_version=”3.0.90″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” module_class=”footer-section” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” global_module=”380″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” global_parent=”380″ locked=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.0.89″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Contact Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us” global_parent=”380″ text_text_color=”#aaaaaa” parent_locked=”off” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_class=”contact-us” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

+44 (0) 161 306 6000<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Find Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_id=”address” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Connect With Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Social Media” global_parent=”380″ parent_locked=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n