Nottingham campaign signs up 100 businesses to back trans inclusion

More than 100 cafés, pubs, shops and other businesses across Nottinghamshire have joined a campaign aimed at showing they remain inclusive of TNBI people following the ECHR Code being published and the UK Supreme Court's ruling.

The initiative, called Your Spaces Too, was created by the Pastel Project, a Nottingham-based, trans-led grassroots advocacy organisation that campaigns for the rights and inclusion of trans and non-binary people. According to the organisation, the campaign was launched to provide businesses with guidance following the court judgment and to give venues an opportunity to publicly demonstrate their support for the trans community.

The Pastel Project said many businesses had concerns about how the code and judgment would affect practical arrangements in venues and workplaces.

Pastel Project director Sam Harvey said the campaign offers recommendations and guidance to businesses, while participating venues display stickers signalling their commitment to inclusion. Major Nottingham venues and organisations taking part include Broadway Cinema, BrewDog, Pitcher and Piano, NTU student bars and dozens of independent businesses.

The campaign forms part of the Pastel Project’s wider work to make Nottingham a “Trans Sanctuary City”. The group says it is focused on improving trans healthcare, education, community support and safety, while working with local partners to create a more inclusive environment for transgender and non-binary residents.

The campaign highlights a visible show of support for trans and non-binary people at a time of significant worry about access, inclusion and equality, demonstrating how local communities and businesses are responding following the Supreme Court ruling

Nottingham's approach demonstrates how councils, businesses and community organisations can work together to provide visible reassurance and practical support for trans and non-binary people at a time of uncertainty. The city's backing for initiatives such as the Pastel Project's wider ambition of creating a Trans Sanctuary City has helped foster a strong public commitment to inclusion.

Scene's Comment: Residents in Brighton & Hove and communities across England may wish to ask their local councils what lessons can be learned from Nottingham's example. If more than 100 businesses can publicly commit to trans inclusion and work alongside a trans-led organisation, campaigners may question why similar schemes have not yet been adopted more widely, including in Brighton & Hove, a city with a longstanding reputation for supporting LGBTQ+ communities.