This week, a series of dramatic events ended with the UK equalities watchdog withdrawing its controversial "interim advice" that it published following the Supreme Court ruling in April – and taking the unusual step of urging a government minister to quickly publish the new statutory guidance.
Trans rights in the UK were also criticised by the Council of Europe, which then received a fresh legal submission regarding the UK's commitment to providing legal gender recognition for trans people.
There's a lot to unpack here, which we do in today's top story. In order to focus on analysing this news, we've put our investigative series The Gender Clinic Files on hold until next week – when we'll be exploring how to fix the Trans+ healthcare crisis, so do keep an eye out for that.
The Queer Gaze this week looks at what it means for young LGBTQIA+ people when Black queer history is marginalised in British classrooms. Green Party leader Zack Polanski offers a masterclass in responding to transphobic British broadcasters, and we pay tribute to Miss Major, the legendary trans community organiser, who died this week in her home.
Jamie is on an extremely well-deserved (and, if the rumours are to be believed, also extremely gay) holiday this week, so – for the first time – the newsletter is written by me, Vic Parsons. Hi! I hope you enjoy it.
Information is a tool for liberation, and you deserve it free from outside pressures and adverts, and safe in the knowledge that every pound you support it with is also driving a mission to support queer creatives to change the media - for good.
Please, sign up today.
Vic Parsons
QueerAF Lead Investigative Journalist
Understand the LGBTQIA+ headlines and keep track of the latest queer content and perspectives. The QueerAF newsletter this week is written by Vic Parsons, the explainer by Vic Parsons and the Queer Gaze by Declan Dadzie.
💬 This week:
- The EHRC: An eventful week for trans rights, with the withdrawal of the EHRC's controversial interim advice on the Supreme Court judgment.
- RIP Miss Major: The Black trans elder, author and community organiser died at her home in Little Rock, Arkansas, this week. May she Rest in Power.
- Black History Month: We look at the impact of Black queer history being absent from UK classrooms, in the latest Queer Gaze in our BHM series.
Skip the doomscrolling and support queer creatives instead. We are QueerAF – and so are you.
EHRC withdraws transphobic interim opinion on Supreme Court ruling and demands ministers 'act at speed' to publish new statutory guidance
The equalities watchdog's move came in an eventful week for British trans rights
TL;DR: The Council of Europe warned the UK about excluding trans people from public spaces this week, prompting two trans activist groups to ask Europe to reopen its monitoring of British gender recognition law. The next day, the equalities watchdog took down its interim advice for businesses about operating single-sex spaces – and then took the unusual step of pressing the equalities minister to quickly publish its new statutory guidance.
Upgrade to read
Time to become QueerAF
Enter your email to read the full story and understand the LGBTQIA+ news every Saturday.
There’s a better way for the LGBTQIA+ community's stories to be seen, heard, and celebrated in the media. Join us to help rewrite the narrative and change the media for good.
Already have an account?
Sign in
