Rishi Sunak on Transgender rights: The danger's of his views

The role of a Prime Minister is to look out and make decisions in the best interest of their people while also keeping them safe and well. However, this was not the case for the UK’s PM Rishi Sunak.

On October 4th 2023, Sunak attended the Conservative Party conference and thoroughly expressed his views on many different topics such as a smoking ban and teaching core subjects until students turn 18 years old. Another topic spoken about at the conference were Sunak’s opinions on transgender people in the UK. The members of the conservative party were seen to be enthusiastically applauding him as he continued to degrade and endanger a huge community of people who are already seen as vulnerable.

The things Sunak has said at the conservative conference will impact transgender peoples lives for the worst. As a community who are already considered to be at risk of hate crimes, the opinions that were voiced last night in his closing speech will increase the rate of attacks and discrimination against trans people. People are now aware that they have the same views on trans people as their Prime Minister. Sunak quoted, “A man is a man, and a woman is a woman!” he also noted that, “We shouldn’t get bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be – They can’t.”

As a country it feels like we are moving backwards. It was reported that between October 1st 2017 and September 30th 2018, there were 369 murders of transgender people around the world. 9 transgender people were murdered in the UK during this period. You may be thinking, ‘That isn’t a lot!’, however, that is not the point. We have still lost people who had families, aspirations and without a doubt were loved. This number will rise over the years, and possibly even months, after Sunak’s speech due to the influence his views have on people. This will cause the younger generation to grow up with the same views, impacting trans people’s lives for the worst again.

Deniz Kizilkaya, a trans girl herself, speaks out on the issue; “It feels like it is happening all over again.” Deniz fled her home country Turkey with her family to escape the laws against transgender people. Now, imagine yourself in her position. Fleeing to somewhere you thought was safe, only for the country to adapt the same views as the one you left. It is becoming impossible for trans and LGBTQ+ members to feel a sense of belonging in a place that accepts them. Some fear they won’t be able to do simple tasks like wear a skirt or walk the streets at night.

In 37 countries across the world there are criminalisation laws against transgender people and in only 96 countries is it legal for transgender people to change their gender legally. Its nothing but a fact that this needs to stop and come to an end. Trans people should be recognised as people, regardless of their gender identity.