Luton North MP Sarah Owen and Jarrow & Gateshead East MP Kate Osborne have stated that trans women are women as they seek election to lead the Women & Equalities Committee – one of the most influential groups in the House of Commons.
In a tweet marking Transgender Awareness Week in November 2020, Owen said: “Trans rights are human rights. Trans men are men. Trans women are women.”
During a Commons debate the following year, Owen accused media outlets of “spinning the most vicious bile about trans people” and said the fight for LGBTQ+ rights was far from over.
Meanwhile, in a New Year’s Eve post last year, Osborne wrote: “My new year’s resolution is to block terfs [trans-exclusionary radical feminists].”
Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government has taken varying approaches to trans rights since entering power. Labour confirmed it would not make it a hate crime to misgender people, appearing to row back on remarks made by the Prime Minister while he was Leader of the Opposition.
However, the Government will also make it easier for transgender to legally change gender by removing the requirement for a panel of doctors and lawyers.
