The Trade Union Congress is calling on employers to stop discriminating against transgender people at work on Trans Memorial Day today.
From January to June 2009 at least 83 transgender people were murdered across the world, for no other reason than the fact that they were different. Trans Memorial Day will remember trans people everywhere who have been the victims of such violent crimes, and bring their stories to public attention.
In Britain the trans community continues to face violent physical attacks, alongside prejudice and discrimination in communities and at work. Just last month the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published Trans Research Review demonstrating the continued prejudice and discrimination faced by trans people in Britain. The TUC welcomes the Commission’s commitment to this issue and the guidance they will give public bodies to promote equality for trans people.
The TUC has worked with transgender union members and with representatives of the trans community to campaign for protection from discrimination. Although there have been improvements to the law, there remain gaps and exemptions that leave trans people without comprehensive protection.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Discrimination and hatred are part of the daily lives of far too many trans people in Britain, and employers need to make sure all their employees are working in safe environments, free from transphobia, violence and prejudice.
“Prejudice starts at school, and in its work to promote LGBT equality in education, the TUC has learnt that bullying on grounds of gender identity remains largely unrecognised. This can lead all too easily to the violence that trans people can face on the streets, and challenging the roots of such prejudice is long overdue.
“If Britain is to be a truly equal and inclusive society we need to understand the issues facing trans people, and develop practical steps to end discrimination in our workplaces and beyond.”
Next year the TUC will publish revised and updated guidance for unions on LGBT equality, which will put particular emphasis on tackling the discrimination faced by trans people in the workplace.