Trans Weekly: Holding the Line, Building the Future

Week of 6 November 2026

A Note Before We Begin

Hello, friends.

This week's news is mixed, and some of it is hard. Before we get into it, a reminder: your existence is not a debate. Whatever is happening in Westminster, Washington, or your social media feed, you belong here. There is a community around you, and it is growing louder, braver, and more organised.

Make a cup of tea, and let's go through it together.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Spotlight on Scotland: Representation Is Winning

We'll start with the good news, because there is real good news.

After the May 2026 Scottish Parliament election, Holyrood now has two openly trans MSPs, and trans councillors are serving in local authorities too. This matters. When trans people sit at the tables where decisions are made, policy changes, and so does the public conversation.

The national picture is difficult, including the ongoing fallout from the For Women Scotland litigation. Even so, Scotland shows that grassroots organising and visibility can still break through. These elected representatives got there because communities knocked on doors, ran campaigns, and refused to be invisible.

Keep an eye on: how our new MSPs handle Scottish policy debates in the coming months. If you're in Scotland, consider writing to them. A message of support or a story about your lived experience can strengthen their hand.

🇬🇧 The UK Picture: Naming the Challenge Honestly

We won't sugarcoat it. Many in our community feel that the UK is in a prolonged retreat on trans equality under Andy Burnham's Labour government. Commentators across platforms describe Labour, the Conservatives, and Reform UK as either indifferent or openly hostile.

Some of the key concerns being raised:

• Youth healthcare continues to be eroded, leaving young trans people and their families in limbo.
• Non-binary people remain excluded from explicit protection under the Equality Act. Dr Helen Webberley and barrister Oscar Davies discussed this recently.
• Public sentiment: a survey shared by queerguide suggests three in four trans women feel less accepted than they did a decade ago. This survey hasn't been independently verified, but for many of us it matches what we feel day to day.

Some families and individuals are considering leaving the UK altogether. If that's you, your choice is valid. If you're staying and fighting, that's valid too. Neither path is a failure.

A bright spot: the Green Party, including voices like Lynne Jones, continues to stand as a consistent advocate for trans rights. They point back to the more progressive parliamentary inquiries of the mid-2010s as proof that a better consensus existed before and can exist again.

🇺🇸 Across the Atlantic: Lessons From the US Midterms

The US midterms have pushed trans rights to the centre of American political debate, and the UK keeps coming up in it.

Progressive organisers are pressing Democratic candidates to defend trans people openly instead of backing away. Some activists have explicitly cited UK Labour as a cautionary tale of what happens when centre-left parties compromise on equality. Trans journalist Erin Reed has firmly pushed back on commentators who excuse candidates for wavering on trans issues.

The results are uneven. In Washington state, for example, trans representation gained ground while setbacks hit youth sports participation.

The takeaway for us: our struggle is being watched internationally, and the UK's direction is a warning other movements are taking seriously. Our organising here matters beyond our borders.

💪 What You Can Do This Week

• Contact your representatives. MPs, MSPs, MSs, MLAs, and councillors all count. Short, personal messages are effective.
• Check in on each other. Message a trans friend. Hard news lands harder when we're alone.
• Support trans-led organisations with your time, money, or a share on social media.
• Allies: speak up in spaces where trans people aren't present. Correct misinformation at work, at family dinners, and online. Your voice carries weight in rooms we can't always enter.
• Rest. Resilience includes recovery. Stepping back to look after yourself is part of staying in this for the long haul.

👀 On Our Radar

• Burnham's government: any movement on Equality Act guidance, healthcare access, or single-sex space exemptions.
• Holyrood: how the new trans MSPs shape the Scottish policy agenda.
• US Democrats: whether the party leans into defending trans rights after the midterms or retreats, and what that signals for centre-left parties here.

A Closing Thought

Progress has never moved in a straight line. Two trans MSPs in Holyrood would have been unthinkable not long ago. The ground we've gained was won by people who kept going when the headlines were bleak, and the ground still ahead will be won the same way.

Look after yourselves. Look after each other. We'll see you next week.

With love and solidarity, The Trans Weekly Team 🏳️‍⚧️

If you're struggling, reach out to trans-led support services such as Switchboard LGBT+ (0800 0119 100) or Mermaids (for young people and families). You are not alone.