The Equality and Human Rights Commission is “silencing trans rights activists”
Good Law Project (GLP) has said it plans to intervene after revealing the landlord of the offices of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has sought an injunction against protests outside its London offices at Tintagel House, Vauxhall, for the entire period for which the EHRC has a licence to occupy.
According to GLP, the injunction, if granted, will last until 31 January 2026 – the date upon which the EHRC’s licence to occupy presently terminates – and prohibits anyone (without the consent of the EHRC’s landlords) “entering, occupy or remain upon all or any part of the commercial premises known as Tintagel House”, including on the forecourt outside its offices.
In a move widely criticised by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, legal experts, politicians and community peers, EHRC published an “interim update on the practical implications of the UK Supreme Court judgment” in April. Non-statutory guidance that many experts believe misinterprets the court’s decision, is a huge over reach and undermines trans rights. Scottish Greens called it ‘Harsh, authoritarian and cruel’, the Scottish Trades Union Congress “hugely problematic”.
Despite the planned injunction, it is possible you may be able to protest on the public pavement or road outside its office – although you risk criminal conviction – but otherwise, GLP say, "the order creates a world in which someone protesting against its actions could be found in contempt of court – and would risk imprisonment if they even enter the forecourt".
The application was sparked by a peaceful encampment by Trans Kids Deserve Better outside Tintagel House which concluded as planned on Friday, 30 May when, to quote the landlord, the protestors “left several signs and placards affixed to the main entrance of the building but… otherwise left it tidy and free from rubbish.”
GLP say: "We are now in an upside down world. The EHRC was set up to “encourage good practice in relation to human rights” and “promote… protection of human rights.”
"Its chair, Kishwer Falkner, was appointed by Liz Truss. Under her, although it is obliged to defend free speech she has said it is “unacceptable to question the integrity of… the regulator”; although it is bound to protect protest rights it appears to be seeking to ban protests outside its offices; although it should protect trans rights her guidance represents an attack (one we believe unlawful) upon that targeted community.
"Good Law Project is intervening to resist the injunction application. We are not acting for Trans Kids Deserve Better – although we admire their courage. We are intervening because we think the right to protest – especially against the Government and especially when it does appalling things – is important."
