Earlier this week, akt submitted its response to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) consultation on proposed changes to its code of practice, following the Supreme Court ruling in April. You can read what I said about not forgetting or failing the young people akt supports in our initial reaction to that ruling here.
Understanding and responding to the consultation has been a challenge for a small, very busy charity like akt, especially at a time when demand for our support remains sky high. But from the outset, we knew we wanted the EHRC to listen closely to the voices and experiences of the young people that akt supports. And those young people desperately wanted to be heard, loud and clear.
Over the past few weeks, 20 of them have shared their thoughts and feelings with us. I have been blown away by the passion, conviction and brilliantly argued points that they made in favour of more – not less – inclusion and acceptance. I am beyond proud to see so many future leaders of our community speak out so thoughtfully and confidently. But I also felt in their words the confusion, distress and fear for the future that has only got worse since April.
“Unfair, unkind and unnecessary” – Scarlett
“Everyone deserves equal access and inclusion.” – anonymous young person
“The law and any guidance should focus on protecting trans people from discrimination – not justifying it” – anonymous young person
“I am so frightened for the future. I am 23 years old. I just want to live my life like everyone else” – James
“I feel unwanted in society and afraid” – anonymous young person
“This makes me feel disgusted and afraid. It is such a step back and it will cause so much harm to trans people.” – anonymous young person
It is akt’s view that the proposed changes are difficult to understand and risk stretching the resources and causing confusion for housing and homelessness service providers tasked with putting them into practice. That will make it even harder to secure safe, appropriate places to live for trans young people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or living in hostile environments. And that means we risk letting down generations of young people – whose lives are difficult enough as it is – who should not have to choose between a safe place to live and being who they are.
Importantly too, the proposed changes are almost silent on how housing and homelessness service providers, associations or clubs can stay within the law while being or remaining trans inclusive. It is unfair to put those providing services for homeless young people in a position of uncertainty, where they risk breaching the law, whatever they do.
akt remains absolutely committed to working with the government, the EHRC, local authorities, housing providers and those supporting young homeless people to ensure that trans young people, already at disproportionate risk of homelessness, know that they are safe, respected and welcome in the places designed to protect them. We do not unfortunately have simple answers to these challenges, but we are happy to help providers ensure that your services are or remain safe and trans-inclusive. Please contact us at contact@akt.org.uk if you would like to discuss further.
At akt, we have already seen an increase in hostility since the Supreme Court ruling and the powerful testimony from the young people we support describes the toll that is taking right now on their wellbeing and ability to live their own lives. Having already been rejected by their families or communities simply for being who they are, this is making their lives even more uncertain and difficult.
The proposed changes, as they stand, will make it more likely that young trans people will end up with nowhere safe to go and access being denied to spaces and services that could, literally, save lives. This could mean even more young people sofa surfing, staying in unsafe places and rough sleeping for a group of young people who are already at much greater risk of homelessness than their peers.
As the body that exists to protect the young people we support and their rights, akt has used our response to ask the EHRC to really see and listen to these young people and to shape the revised code of practice in ways that reassures and includes not only them, but future generations.
We can – and must – do better for them. We will continue to amplify the voices of the young people akt supports, whatever comes next.