New coalition Trans Equality Together launched in Dublin yesterday

A new coalition that aims to create an Ireland "where trans and non-binary people are equal, safe and valued", Trans Equality Together, has been launched at the Mansion House, Dublin.

The official launch was hosted by Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland yesterday, June 13, and featured representatives from TENI, BeLonG To and LGBT Ireland as well as ally groups and public figures. Ailbhe Smyth chaired the vibrant event, which marked a hopeful new path for Trans-centred organisations.

The primary objectives of Trans Equality Together are to promote positive attitudes toward Trans and non-binary people, advocate for Trans-positive policy and legislative changes (particularly in relation to gender recognition and healthcare), and counter negative and false information and messaging surrounding Trans people in the media and online.

Today, we were proud to launch Trans Equality Together, an Irish coalition working to create an Ireland where trans & non-binary people are equal, safe & valued.

We're excited to work alongside all of our coalition members to promote trans rights in Ireland. pic.twitter.com/CnOMwCEmmr

— TransEqualityTogether (@TransEqTogether) June 13, 2022

Sara Philips, chair of TENI and and co-director of Trans Equality Together, gave an emotional speech at the launch, stating: “The trans community don’t live out on their own, we are part of our communities.”

“There are lots of groups doing excellent work throughout the country to support the Trans community and protect and promote our rights," Sara remarked. "But attacks on Trans people’s rights are also increasing and are focused on hindering or repealing legal reforms on gender recognition; halting medical care; limiting civil protections; and decimating gender equality.

“The aim of Trans Equality Together is to bring together the diverse array of organisations that work with the Trans community directly and those that are our allies – to demonstrate to politicians, policymakers and the wider public the breadth of support that exists for Trans rights and the challenges that we, as a community, are facing right now,” she continued.

Fellow co-director of the coalition and CEO of BeLonG To, Moninne Griffith, noted the silencing of trans voices in the inhumane "debate" for their rights.

“Trans people in Ireland are a tiny minority of the population whose voices have rarely been heard in national discourse. They have been marginalised, denied access to healthcare, and demonised in the press.

“Trans Equality Together will work to create an Ireland where Trans people are equal, safe and valued," Moninne stated. "We do not want to see the sort of divisive rhetoric and villainisation of Trans people taking hold in Ireland that we have witnessed in other countries.”

LGBT Ireland CEO and third coalition co-director Paula Fagan, outlined Trans Equality Together’s plans for policy and legislative changes.

“In Ireland, we have demonstrated strong leadership on Trans rights in the past,” she said, citing the Gender Recognition Act of 2015 which allows persons over 18 to have their true gender recognised in law based on self-declaration.

“Now, we need to acknowledge and address the gaps that exist in relation to gender recognition for under-18s; and gender-affirming healthcare for people of all ages," Fagan continued.

"Over the coming months and years, Trans Equality Together will be working closely with Oireachtas members and policymakers to highlight these gaps and ensure properly resourced services and supports are in place for Ireland’s Trans community.”

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland, was in attendance to welcome the new coalition, saying that the work that Trans Equality Together is setting out to do “is vital right now”.

“When you can bring your full self to work, to school, and into society it benefits your family, your friends and your city, and that’s really important.” @LordMayorDublin Alison Gilliland, speaks at the launch of Trans Equality Together this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/TlXHaLyyn8

— TransEqualityTogether (@TransEqTogether) June 13, 2022

“The challenges that the community is faced with are well-documented and it’s so very important that people and groups have a structure like this new coalition,” she offered.

Other speakers at the launch event included young adults Tiernan Arnup and Jayson Pope - who detailed their personal experiences being Trans in Ireland; parents Lynne Tracey and Enda Twomey - plus LGBTQ+ and gender rights activist Ailbhe Smyth.

“The aim of Trans Equality Together is to bring together a very wide range of organisations throughout the country, including those who work directly with the trans community, and those who are allies.”

Thank you to Ailbhe Smyth for opening this afternoon’s launch. pic.twitter.com/TEcmn6N8Rp

— TransEqualityTogether (@TransEqTogether) June 13, 2022

Alongside TENI, BeLonG To and LGBT Ireland on the coalition are a growing list of queer and ally organisations including Amnesty International Ireland, Bród West Cork, Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC), GCN, Intersex Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Irish Network Against Racism, the National Women’s Council, Outhouse, and Trans Limerick Community.

On RTÉ Liveline this week, misinformed rhetoric was spread on Joe Duffy's radio show regarding Self ID laws, despite many callers not realising that the Act has been in place for seven years and only 230 people have availed of it.

The likes of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Hazel Chu and Stephen Byrne have decried the programme's one-sided conversation.

In the context of increasing transphobic and homophobic attacks, this #liveline conversation is incredibly irresponsible.

We stand with trans people today and every day. The fight for equality continues 💙

— ICCLtweet 🏳️‍🌈 (@ICCLtweet) June 9, 2022

Caught one of the #liveline 'debates', many things can be up for discussion but each person's entitlement to human rights should never be. If you're going to talk about Trans why not talk about all the positive things Trans Community have given us.#TransRightsAreHumanRights

— Hazel Chu (@hazechu) June 13, 2022

The 'arguments' on today's Liveline are moronic.

A man talking about how he's afraid for his lesbian daughter sharing changing rooms with with transgender women ignoring that the same things would have been said of his daughter in changing rooms with straight women years ago.

— Stephen Byrne (@stephenbyrne) June 13, 2022

This is cruel radio, and should be a source of deep regret for our public service broadcaster #liveline

— Ken Foxe (@kenfoxe) June 13, 2022

My timeline is cluttered with nonsense on #Liveline today.
For the slow learners.
1. Self-ID has been the law of the land since 2015. The sky hasn't fallen in.
2. It went through the normal legislative process of readings in Dáil, committee stages, Seanad & presidential sign-off

— Dub8Lady (@DubLoony) June 13, 2022

On four consecutive days, Joe Duffy has boardcasted transphobic rhetoric including bringjng a member of “the countess” organization onto his liveline show to talk about not being allowed into the NWCI's conference to ask a question about the addition of gender-neutral language

— Trans & Intersex Pride Dublin (@DubTrans) June 14, 2022

We've had the gender recognition act since 2015 and the sky hasn't fallen in. I am a woman with a daughter and I feel in no way undermined, erased or threatened by trans women & men going about their lives. Let's not mainstream this terfy nonsense #Liveline pic.twitter.com/PWorNYATwy

— Cllr Catherine Stocker (@CatzStocker) June 13, 2022