The are set to debate a motion stating “trans women are women” and “trans men are men”, with leader Ed Davey publicly backing it.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s programme, Davey said he wanted the motion to pass, arguing that the current Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on single-sex spaces, following the , is not sufficiently clear or helpful for businesses.
The calls for the current EHRC guidance to be replaced with more inclusive rules, while affirming that “trans women are women” and “trans men are men”, and that women’s and trans people’s rights are not in competition.
Liberal Democrats could trigger a cross-party parliamentary review of trans rights
It also calls for reform of the Gender Recognition Act, a cross-party parliamentary review of trans rights and greater oversight of the EHRC. If passed, the motion would become party policy and commit the Lib Dems to campaigning and lobbying Parliament for these changes.
The debate has prompted criticism from , whose chair, Zoe Hollowood, accused it of taking a “sledgehammer to women’s rights” and warned it could return the party to the “culture wars”.
Speaking to , she said: “Polling consistently shows that Lib Dem voters and members believe single-sex spaces should be protected based on biological sex. Ignoring this reality is a betrayal of women everywhere, including in our own party.”
Groups welcome Ed Davey’s pro trans comments
Davey’s comments and support for trans rights have been welcomed by the community and groups advocating against the EHRC guidance.
director Alexandra Parmar-Yee (she/her) said in a news release: “The legal framework for trans equality is fundamentally broken, causing widespread harm to trans people and those who don’t conform to gender stereotypes.
“This situation is unjust and unworkable, and Ed Davey is absolutely right that it’s for Parliament to fix. We hope this government will listen, and stop hanging inclusive businesses and charities out to dry.”
The vote is taking place today, 21 September, at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton.