Sam Smith has sent an inspiring message to their LGBTQIA+ fans amid the rise of anti-trans hate in the UK. Over the last few days, conservative politicians have ruthlessly targeted the trans and non-binary community with hateful rhetoric.
On 3 October, Health Secretary Steve Barclay announced a series of new proposals for the NHS that would strip away trans-inclusive policies. “We need a common-sense approach to sex and equality issues in the NHS – that is why today I am announcing proposals for clearer rights for patients,” he claimed during the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.
One proposal that Barclay mentioned would repeal a 2021 NHS policy that allowed transgender patients “the right to use any spaces, facilities and activities appropriate to their gender identity.” If passed, trans people would be moved to individual rooms or specific areas for treatment.
A day after Barclay’s shocking appearance, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a slew of transphobic comments during his keynote speech at the aforementioned conference. “Patients should know when the hospitals are talking about men or women.