Trans Media Watch Memorandum of Understanding

Monday 14th March 2011

Lynne Featherstone's speech

INTRODUCTION 

Thank you Jennie for that introduction. And thank you so much for the kind invitation to speak this evening.  It’s a huge honour.

Obviously, I am here first and foremost as the Minister with responsibility for equalities. But I am also here as a long standing and passionate campaigner for trans equality.

And I can tell you from that experience, what is taking place here today is pretty incredible.

There will campaigners in this room today who like me will know what a struggle it has been to ensure trans issues even got a look in.

And here we have today one of the biggest public-service broadcasters with a reach of millions and millions of viewers everyday, making a firm commitment to improve the coverage of transgender people and transgender issues. 

I want to extend my warmest congratulations to Channel Four not only for taking this step, but for all you do to champion equality. You have been at the vanguard of bringing the accurate portrayal of LGB&T issues to our television screens - from the first lesbian kiss on Brookside to being the first channel today to deal with issues of transitioning head on.

I also want to pay tribute to all the team at Trans Media Watch for the hard work that gone into making this happen.

But we cannot let this begin and end here.

I believe that wider endorsement of Trans Media’s Watch’s Memorandum of Understanding has the potential to dramatically improve the way transgender people are viewed and treated in this country.

It is of course not the policy of Government to tell the media what they should be doing, and how they should be doing it. Indeed, your very existence as a voice wholly independent of Government is totally fundamental to our existence as a free society.

But what I hope to do is encourage all of you to really consider your responsibility in pushing forward trans equality.

TRANS INEQUALITY

We as a country pride ourselves on having successfully consigned the worst examples of discrimination to the past. And for the most part that is true. The days where we would see signs saying ‘no blacks, no dogs, no Irish’in the windows of pubs and B&BS have thankfully disappeared. 

But I believe – and I do not say this lightly – that for transgender people we have not been so successful. Everyday too many live with the reality and threat of prejudice, and sometimes even violence because of who they are.

I myself was shocked to discover 89% have been subject to physical assault. Here in 2011 that is a pretty alarming statistic.

While I cannot conclusively tell you why this is the case, I believe this treatment is caused by mass ignorance and a complete lack of understanding of gender identity issues. 

GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT

The Coalition Government is whole heartedly committed to tackling this, and ensuring transgender people are afforded the same opportunities, freedoms and rights as any other citizen.

Earlier today I announced the publication of our detailed action plan on LGB&T equality, clearly setting out how we will, right across government tackle LGB&T inequality.

In addition, later this year we will be publishing the first ever Government transgender action plan to address the specific issues faced by the transgender community – highlighting where distinct action is needed in addition to the measures outlined in the LGB&T action plan.

ROLE MEDIA

But we can’t do this on our own. If we are to achieve truly transformative change, change that lasts, we need to change behaviour, and we need to open hearts and minds and improve understanding of a community which has been misunderstood and misrepresented for far too long. 

And those of you who work in media can do this far better and far more effectively than us politicians can.

Because when you do it right, when transgender people are positively portrayed, whether it be on our television screens or in print, you not only improve visibility of this very small minority, you bring their personalities and the realities of their lives into millions of people’s homes.

You transform them in the public’s eyes from being ‘transgender’ people into just people, ordinary human beings, wanting to play their part in society, deserving of the same rights and freedoms as anyone else.

And that really makes people, particularly young people, rethink and challenge their prejudices and old way of thinking.

And for transgender people – to see themselves portrayed positively, not as a problem, not as something to be laughed at or ridiculed, can make all the difference between an individual transitioning and be able to live their life openly or having to spend their life in fear hiding their true self completely.

It is no coincidence that 20% of respondents questioned in Transmedia Watch’s survey reported having received negative reactions at work which they could trace to an item in the media, and - shockingly – 12% reported negative reactions from service providers.

The bottom line is this: you are the vehicle through which knowledge and values are transmitted and accessed in society. And with that comes great, great responsibility to deliver diversity and equality in everything you do.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

I hope each and every one of you here today as part of that responsibility will sign Trans Media Watch’s Memorandum of Understanding.

The trans community are not asking you to compromise your competitiveness or audience figures. We have seen through programmes like Hollyoaks and Coronation Street how positive transgender characters, far from compromising audience figures, have actually brought them pouring in.

They are not asking you to create a shopping list or tick boxes of obligation.

This isn’t about fulfilling quotas or political correctness. It’s about artistic and creative integrity. It’s about inspiring and educating people. It’s actually about making better programmes which connect with all audiences.

All they are asking you to do is apply a set of simple considerations to the creative process which could help change the lives and futures of a community of people, and help make Britain a more tolerant and fair society.

Thank you.