Why Pressing Mattered

Christine Burns MBEMonday 27th February 2011

Happy Birthday PFC !

About Press for Change• Formed in 1992

• “To campaign to achieve equality and human rights for all trans people in the UK through legislation and social change”

• 7 Vice Presidents

• Non-hierarchic, facilitative, approach

• No office, no secretariat. A bedroom-based campaign

Trans rights in the UK in the early 1990’s

• Unchanged since 1970

• Defined by outcome of Corbett v Corbett case (April Ashley) in 1970 and R v Tan 1974

• Not affected by Sex Discrimination Act (1975)

Trans Rights in 1992• Change name

• Change documents

• Change birth certificate

• Marry in assigned gender

• Employment protection

• Goods, services, housing

• Rape / sexual offences

YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

Mark Rees

Stephen Whittle

AlexWhinnom

Sarah and Myka

The Early Years• 1992 – PFC formed in Grandma Lee’s Tea Shoppe

• 1993 – Drafting of the objectives, rules for campaigners, first newsletters. Recruited myself

• 1994 – Fringe meeting at the LibDem conference. Other modest appearances at meetings. Parliamentary Forum.

• 1995 – Labour and Conservative conference fringe

• 1996 – Alex Carlile Bill / P vs S and Cornwall County Council / First web site

• 1997 – Labour Party Landslide / PFC goes digital

We Gain Supporters

We Are Seen

We Rewrite The Rules

We Network with Allies

We Win Ground

• 1997 – Promises and invites from Labour

• 1998 – Legislative Consultation / Corrie

• 1999 – Employment protection / the right to NHS treatment / Hayley gets Married / the Interdepartmental Working Group / Sheffield & Horsham

• 2002 – Goodwin & I vs UK

We Learn Lobbying

Adjusting to the Post-GRA World

We Move On

• 2005 – Implementation of the GRA / Launch of LGBT History Month

• 2006 – Medicine and Media / SOGIAG

• 2007 – Gender Duty / Trans with Pride / MS / Parting Company / Personal Pursuits

Trans Rights in 1992• Change name

• Change documents

• Change birth certificate

• Marry in assigned gender

• Employment protection

• Goods, services, housing

• Rape / sexual offences

YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

Trans Rights in 2012• Change name

• Change documents

• Change birth certificate

• Marry in assigned gender

• Employment protection

• Goods, services, housing

• Rape / sexual offences

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

A New Generation

The End of the Beginning