Badenoch reportedly described trans women as “men using women’s bathrooms.”
Vice World News have reported that the UK’s Minister for Equalities, Kemi Badenoch MP, can be heard on an obtained recording from 2018 questioning same-sex marriage and asking “what are transsexuals looking for?”
“It’s no longer about minority rights in terms of race any more or nationality,” Badenoch can be heard saying, “it’s now, you know like, it’s not even about sexuality now, it’s now like the whole transgender movement, where, OK well we’ve got gay marriage, and civil partnerships, so what are transsexuals looking for?”
Badenoch can also be heard saying: “Even when, you know, so, people hear about, you know like the whole bathroom thing, it’s actually more of an American thing but they have a similar problem, that, right so now it’s not just about being free to marry who you want, you now want to have men using women’s bathrooms.”
It’s alleged that in the recording, ‘the minister also appears to mock gay marriage, and the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013’, although no exact wording was detailed in the report.
The word ‘transsexual’ is considered offensive and outdated by many and, as pointed out by Vice, “Misgendering trans women may go against UK equality laws”. In 2019, an employment tribunal ruling concluded that, “Calling a trans woman a man is likely to be profoundly distressing. It may be unlawful harassment.”
Part of Badenoch’s literal job description is as Minister for Equalities is “addressing the discrimination and inequalities that LGBT people face”.
Deputy Labour Party leader Angela Rayner tweeted that the comments are “disgusting”, adding “With hate crimes and transphobia on the rise we need an Equalities Minister who will stand up for trans people, not add fuel to the fire of abuse and discrimination faced by LGBT+ people in our country.”
Rayner added: “Everyone should be able to be themselves and be celebrated, supported and loved for who they are. The Equalities Minister should not be in the job if she does not believe that”.
Everyone should be able to be themselves and be celebrated, supported and loved for who they are. The Equalities Minister should not be in the job if she does not believe that.
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) September 17, 2021
Stonewall, the UK’s leading LGBT+ rights charity, said: “It is the responsibility of the Minister of State for Equalities to be a champion for all marginalised communities, regardless of personal opinion. We call on the Minister to clarify her remarks and reaffirm her support for all LGBTQ+ people urgently.”
It is the responsibility of the Minister of State for Equalities to be a champion for all marginalised communities, regardless of personal opinion.
— Stonewall (@stonewalluk) September 17, 2021
We call on the Minister to clarify her remarks and reaffirm her support for all LGBTQ+ people urgently.
The audio recording of Ms Badenoch’s comments was not released, and the government has claimed that they were taken ‘out of context’.
In an absolutely schoolyard defence, a government spokesperson said: “The Minister for Equalities is working hard to deliver for LGBT people, whether that is modernising the process of applying for a gender recognition certificate, driving forward LGBT rights in the workplace or banning conversion therapy.
It continued: “This 2018 comment has been taken out of context, with the Minister making a clear point about striking the balance for equality and fairness when there are multiple and often competing demands between different groups. It should not be used to misrepresent her views.”
What a load of sh*t.