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# Labour co-chair resigns over transphobia controversy
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/labour-co-chair-resigns-over-transphobia-controversy/
- Published: 2021-01-30T18:30:28.000Z
- Updated: 2021-01-30T13:24:25.000Z
- Description: Dr Heather Peto, a trans woman who was the co-chair of LGBT+ Labour, has resigned amid allegations that transphobia is becoming increasingly common in the political party.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Labour, LGBT Labour, LGBTQ, Transgender, UK News

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/heather-peto-labour-1.jpg)

**Dr Heather Peto**, a trans woman who was the co-chair of **LGBT+ Labour**, has resigned amid allegations that transphobia is becoming increasingly common in the political party. In Peto’s resignation letter, as cited by [**PinkNews**](https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/01/29/heather-peto-lgbt-labour-resigns-trans-transphobia-alex-beverley/?ref=scenemag.co.uk), she says she has been *“directly discriminated”* against, adding: *“I discovered that despite being co-chair I had been excluded from information and decisions by my other core officers. This exclusion included information and decisions about transgender matters.”*

**Eden Ladley,** a trans officer of LGBT+ Labour, disputed Peto’s claims: *“I feel that I’ve been well supported by LGBT+ Labour since being elected as trans officer in November, especially on work surrounding GRA reform and tackling transphobia in the party – which is why I do not recognise Heather’s allegations or find them plausible. I am determined that we do our best for trans people in the Labour Party and the wider country.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/heather-peto-1.jpg)

Dr Heather Peto

Labour has recently been criticised for failing to address internal transphobia, a handful of incidents seeing party members express anti-trans views or align themselves with trans-exclusionary groups. Labour MP Rosie Duffield resigned over a transphobia scandal, and London-based councillor, Dave Ward, publicly [shared his support](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/labour-politician-backs-lgb-alliance/) for the controversial anti-trans group, the LGB Alliance. As a result, the party recently launched [**Labour Trans Equality** ](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/labour-launches-trans-equality-campaign/)– a campaign with the goal to improve trans and gender diverse representation in Labour.

**Alex Beverley**, chair of LGBT+ Labour, responded to Peto’s decision, saying: *“We are very sorry to see Heather stand down and thank her for her time and work on the committee. As a committee and organisation, we remain committed to protecting and extending the rights of all LGBT+ people and have a broad set of priorities for the year ahead. Our officers and committee will continue working with our excellent trans officer to tackle transphobia in politics and the UK.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/labour-lgbt-pride-1.jpg)