Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)

The UK Supreme Court judgment on the definition of a woman impacts trans and intersex people in Northern Ireland. Many of them are living in fear and being driven out of public life, which is the intent of the judgment. The DUP has said that it will look at guidelines for schools, which means there could be further attacks on the rights of trans people. Many of these are eligible to be citizens of Ireland should they so choose. There has also been a ban on trans healthcare in the North. Yesterday, People Before Profit proposed an amendment that could have allowed that ban to be reversed but, unfortunately, it was not taken up by MLAs. People are mobilising in Belfast at 12.30 p.m. this Saturday to march for trans rights because the far right has also singled out this group as a very vulnerable minority. It is very important that we stand with trans and intersex people, whose rights we affirm in the Republic, and that we show our solidarity and support. Parties that are organised in both the North and the South should have the same position on this matter, North and South.

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