why pressing mattered - 20 years of press for change
DESCRIPTION
Presentation by Christine Burns on the 20th anniversary of the formation of Press for ChangeTRANSCRIPT
Why Pressing Mattered
Christine Burns MBEMonday 27th February 2011
Happy Birthday PFC !
About Press for Change• Formed in 1992
• “To campaign to achieve equality and human rights for all trans people in the UK through legislation and social change”
• 7 Vice Presidents
• Non-hierarchic, facilitative, approach
• No office, no secretariat. A bedroom-based campaign
Trans rights in the UK in the early 1990’s
• Unchanged since 1970
• Defined by outcome of Corbett v Corbett case (April Ashley) in 1970 and R v Tan 1974
• Not affected by Sex Discrimination Act (1975)
Trans Rights in 1992• Change name
• Change documents
• Change birth certificate
• Marry in assigned gender
• Employment protection
• Goods, services, housing
• Rape / sexual offences
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Mark Rees
Stephen Whittle
AlexWhinnom
Sarah and Myka
The Early Years• 1992 – PFC formed in Grandma Lee’s Tea Shoppe
• 1993 – Drafting of the objectives, rules for campaigners, first newsletters. Recruited myself
• 1994 – Fringe meeting at the LibDem conference. Other modest appearances at meetings. Parliamentary Forum.
• 1995 – Labour and Conservative conference fringe
• 1996 – Alex Carlile Bill / P vs S and Cornwall County Council / First web site
• 1997 – Labour Party Landslide / PFC goes digital
We Gain Supporters
We Are Seen
We Rewrite The Rules
We Network with Allies
We Win Ground
• 1997 – Promises and invites from Labour
• 1998 – Legislative Consultation / Corrie
• 1999 – Employment protection / the right to NHS treatment / Hayley gets Married / the Interdepartmental Working Group / Sheffield & Horsham
• 2002 – Goodwin & I vs UK
We Learn Lobbying
Adjusting to the Post-GRA World
We Move On
• 2005 – Implementation of the GRA / Launch of LGBT History Month
• 2006 – Medicine and Media / SOGIAG
• 2007 – Gender Duty / Trans with Pride / MS / Parting Company / Personal Pursuits
Trans Rights in 1992• Change name
• Change documents
• Change birth certificate
• Marry in assigned gender
• Employment protection
• Goods, services, housing
• Rape / sexual offences
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Trans Rights in 2012• Change name
• Change documents
• Change birth certificate
• Marry in assigned gender
• Employment protection
• Goods, services, housing
• Rape / sexual offences
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
A New Generation
The End of the Beginning