Quakers in Britain have come under fire from trans-exclusionary groups, anti-trans campaigners, and bigots for their refusal to abandon the transgender community following the recent escalation of transphobic rhetoric in the UK.
A Christian group that has long been at the forefront of human rights causes, they've had a reputation for doing what is right even against public pressure for hundreds of years, and have stood against the slave trade, refused to participate in wars, pushed for the equality of women, accept the LGBTQ+ community and equal marriage, and fought for prison reform to name just a few of their better known positions.
During the Quaker's British Yearly Meeting, which took place on 25th May, officials condemned the interim guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on trans people in single sex spaces which was released shortly after a recent UK Supreme Court case about the definition of woman in the Equality Act 2010. The interim guidance put forward that trans people should not only be banned from single sex spaces that best align with their gender identity, but also their sex as assigned at birth, effectively segregating them into their own spaces, or unisex spaces. This guidance has been largely condemned by human rights groups across the world.
The Quakers have said that the EHRC interim guidance 'goes beyond the scope' of the Supreme Court ruling (which it very much does), and have said that they will not abide by it, something that they are not required to do under law as of yet. They said that 'it is non-statutory and therefore does not have the force of law. We see the Equality Act itself as our primary legal guide when making decisions'.
Paul Parker, the recording clerk, said that the interim guidance 'is already contested and subject to legal challenge'. He went on to say that the British Quakers would 'welcome and affirm trans and non-binary people' in their spaces. 'We must respect the dignity of each person to live with integrity, informed by the truth of their lived experience'.
During their meeting a Quaker trustee said that 'The rights and inclusion of people belonging to our communities and using our buildings are not, and should not be, just about toilets. We will continue to work to make our corner of the Commonwealth of Heaven on Earth a more welcoming and accessible place. This is what Love requires of us.'
This is far from the first time that the Quakers have backed LGBTQ+ rights here in the UK, having previously backed same sex marriage, attended numerous Pride events across the country, and having pledged to support trans people in a public statement in 2023.
The Quakers decision not to follow the highly questionable and difficult to enforce guidance, something that they are well within their legal rights to do, has resulted in them receiving criticism from a number of vocal anti-trans voices.
Helen Joyce, the head of the anti-trans group Sex Matters, who has previously said that trans people are 'a huge problem to a sane world' and expressed her desire for 'reducing or keeping down the number of people who transition', waded into the topic. Joyce has said 'Early Quakers were famously supportive of women’s rights – they would surely be shocked and ashamed if they could see the destruction of that proud legacy'. Personally, I would likely side with the group that has fairly consistently backed decent, moral social change over the woman who made comments that sound frighteningly close to a Nazi.
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