Rishi Sunak is facing backlash after making a transphobic comment during Prime Minister’s Questions when the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, who was transgender, was in attendance at Parliament. Sunak ridiculed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for U-turning on “defining a woman,” referencing an interview where Starmer had said “99.9% of women haven’t got a penis.” This sparked criticism from Brianna’s father, who called Sunak’s comments “dehumanising” and pushed for an apology.
While Brianna’s family has been invited to a meeting about online safety with the prime minister and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, opposition MPs and some Conservatives have called for an apology. Labour MP Liz Twist and Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch both criticized Sunak’s comments, with Badenoch calling it “shameful” to link Starmer’s position on gender and sex with Ms. Ghey’s grief, while Tory MP Dehenna Davison expressed disappointment at the joke made at the trans community’s expense.
Amidst this controversy, Ms. Ghey was in Parliament to attend a debate on mindfulness in schools. Her attendance sparked an important conversation about the need for empathy and understanding, alongside the broader issue of transphobia in British politics.
This incident has reignited the longstanding issue of transphobia and discrimination against the trans community, and could potentially impact policies and public discourse about transgender rights and protections going forward. As the debate continues, many are calling for a more respectful and empathetic approach to discussing the experiences of transgender individuals in society.
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