The newly elected leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski, has insisted supporting trans rights is non-negotiable for him and transphobic rhetoric will “not be tolerated”.
Polanski, 42, was announced as leader of the Greens at the start of the September after he defeated Adrian Ramsay and Ellie Chowns by 20,411 votes to 3,705.
Speaking to The Canary, Zack Polanski – who has previously spoken out in support of trans rights – reaffirmed his commitment to the community.
“Transphobia will absolutely not be tolerated under my leadership, and it will never be acceptable in the Green Party,” he told the outlet.
In terms of policies, the Greens have long led the way when it comes to trans rights, with the left-wing environmental party’s manifesto for the 2024 general election including several promises directed towards the LGBTQ+ community.
The manifesto pledged end new cases of HIV by 2030, create “readily available tailored provision” for LGBTQ+ people’s mental health, retain a “full, evidence-based and age-appropriate” sex education curriculum that discusses LGBTQ+ lives and introduce self-ID for trans people – which means trans people would be able to change the gender marker of their official documents without the need for surgeries or a medical diagnosis.
The current system in the UK requires trans people to receive a medical diagnosis for gender dysphoria before they are allowed to change their gender on legal documents, while non-binary people are not recognised at all.
With this noted, the Green Party added in its manifesto that it would also formally recognise non-binary and intersex people on legal documents through an X gender marker.
However, in the wake of the controversial Supreme Court decision in April, which ruled that the legal definition of the protected category of ‘sex’ in the 2010 Equality Act refers to biological sex only, there appeared to be a divide in opinion amongst Green leadership.
Former co-leader Adrian Ramsay refused to answer whether he believed trans women are women following the ruling, dodging the question and telling Radio 4’s Today programme that the decision gave “some clarity in terms of the Equality Act”.
“The important thing here is not to get hung up in divisions, in definitions,” Ramsay added.
“Last week’s ruling has highlighted the potential for some services to be provided based on sex. The question is how do we ensure that both women and trans people have access to the services they need, in a way that meets their needs and preserves their dignity.”
He went on to say that Green members who hold anti-trans should not be expelled from the party and have “the right to express that view”.
Ramsay’s refusal to clarify his opinion stood in deep contrast with then co-leader Carla Denyer who has consistently spoken up for the trans community, telling PinkNews in the lead up to the general election last year that “pushing for greater trans equality and trans rights in society doesn’t threaten my rights as a woman at all”.
Subsequently, later in April, Denyer denied there was a rift in the party of trans rights, telling Sky News: “Green Party policy is clear that trans women are women, trans men are men, and non-binary identities exist and are valid.
“I support that policy and I know that Adrian and I are united in standing up for trans rights and for women’s rights.
“I don’t see those in conflict, I understand some people will express themselves slightly differently, and I absolutely understand why a man, a cis-man, might feel slightly uncomfortable defining womanhood from the outside.”
The post Zack Polanski says transphobia will ‘not be tolerated’ in the Green Party under his leadership appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.