Rishi Sunak’s Anti-Trans Jokes Are Condemned By MPs And LGBTQ+ Charities
June 19, 2023The Labor party’s shadow Equality Secretary, MPs from across the political spectrum and LGBTQ+ organisations have slammed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his derisive comments about trans women in a leaked video.
As ’US Today’ writes, cross-parliamentarians have spoken out about Sunak’s words in the leaked footage, calling his behavior “disgusting”, and Anneliese Dodds, the shadow secretary for equality, said that “trans people should not be used as a political toy”.
On Sunday (June 18) secretly leaked filmed footage of Sunak addressing Tory MPs at a social event hosted by the 1922 Committee – a purely Conservative group of MPs that meets weekly when Parliament is in session.
Video captured at the June 5 party shows Sunak poking fun at Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey for “trying to convince everyone that women clearly have penises.”
Image Credit: Canva
The Prime Minister then continued: “You all know I’m a big fan of everyone learning math until 18, but it turns out we need to focus on biology.”
His anti-trans comments drew laughter from Tory MPs.
Dodds, the shadow secretary of state for women and equality, said in an interview: “Rishi Sunak’s childish giggles at a sensitive and complex issue are certainly not appropriate.”
“Trans people should not be used as a political toy and these issues should not be trivialized for political purposes.”
A senior Tory MP condemned Sunak’s comments in a statement, calling them “deeply depressing” and saying that we Conservatives should “try to understand and support them, not belittle and demonize them”.
The SNP’s shadow culture secretary, John Nicholson, described the prime minister’s behavior as “both bland and evil”. add to: “How repulsive they are with their taunts and bullying.”
Kate Osborne, the Labor MP from Jarrow, tweeted: “It is abhorrent that Rishi Sunak is publicly and privately escalating his Kulturkampf – by ditching trans people to distract from the Tory-created cost-of-living crisis.”
“Using trans women as a punchline is a new low for this terrible PM.”
Stonewall, the largest LGBTQ+ organisation in Europe, has called on Sunak to issue a public apology.
The charity’s chief executive, Nancy Kelley, told PinkNews: “No minority community should be the subject of jokes. It is incredibly disappointing that the Prime Minister has chosen to mock trans people in front of his fellow MPs.
“This is a far cry from its promise to rule with compassion and would be unacceptable in any modern workplace. The Prime Minister should apologize for his actions.”
When asked to raise the issue, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told PinkNews: “You have heard the Prime Minister speak about his enormous compassion and understanding for people who are questioning their identities and that they are treated with dignity and respect should be treated.”
“On this particular issue, he has raised this in public interviews with Piers Morgan and ConservativeHome. Of course, I can’t go into the political aspects, but he’s made the same more general statement in interviews.”
TransLucent, an organisation campaigning for visibility, acceptance, legal recognition and healthcare for the trans, non-binary and gender-balanced community in the UK, issued a heartfelt statement on Sunak’s comments.
Statement by TransLucent reads: “We are outraged but not surprised that footage has surfaced of our Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, MP, mocking trans women.
“Here are some of the words we hear from trans people describing and suffering from gender dysphoria. Despair… injustice… jealousy… disgust… sadness… disgust… hopelessness… self-loathing, drowning and, more disturbingly, rejection, homelessness and suicide.
“Mr Sunak may find all these words funny – that trans people don’t deserve respect, compassion and empathy. We don’t.”
Government policy guidelines leaked on Monday (June 19) suggest UK schools will be banned from allowing students to make a social transition without parental or guardian permission, effectively outing trans children to family members.
The full publication of the guidelines is expected to take place later this week.
Read related myGwork articles here:
Leaked Video Appears To Show Rishi Sunak Mocking Trans People
Rishi Sunak Plans Review Of Trans Rights
Non-Binary People Are Now Protected From Discrimination Under The UK Equality Act
UK Review Of Gender Recognition Risks “Trans Travel Ban”
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