MASS LOBBY

Unite for Trans+ Rights

Mass Lobby of MPs

June 25th, 1-4 Westminster

Trans+? Ally? We need YOU!

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has produced a draft code of guidance to the Equality Act that - if implemented - will have a devastating impact on the day to day lives of trans+ people in the UK, excluding them from settings ranging from specialist support services to gym changing rooms and toilets.

We need our parliamentarians to step up and speak out NOW to prevent this draft guidance becoming law.

The goal of the Unite for Trans Rights mass lobby is to show the depth and breadth of support for protecting trans+ rights in the UK, educate our lawmakers, and call on them to take concrete steps to prevent trans+ people’s lives being made less free and less safe.

We will be asking MPs to:

Contact PM and Equalities Minister Bridget Philipson:

asking for their assurance that any new Code of Practice to the Equality Act will not be laid without a process in place for full parliamentary scrutiny,
asking for their assurance that the government will not support changes to the Equality Act or its Code of Practice that reduce or limit the rights and protections afforded to trans people.

We will also be asking MPs to ask parliamentary questions on this matter, speak up in debates and meet regularly with their trans+ constituents, work with trans-led and LGBTQIA+ groups and advocate for protection of trans+ people’s right to live their day to day lives in dignity and safety.

What is a mass lobby?

A mass lobby is when a group of people contact their MP or contact members of the House of Lords and arrange to meet them in parliament on the same day and at the same time.

It’s a great way of making it clear to parliamentarians that their constituents (or in the case of the House of Lords, UK citizens) are passionate about an issue, and is an effective way of encouraging them to take action.

Unite for Trans Rights Mass Lobby – Step by Step

STEP 1: Registering to come

Please fill out this form to let us know you are coming. This helps us prepare to support the lobby, and also to get media engagement with our core messages.

STEP 2: Contact your MP

If you don’t know who your MP is or you haven’t emailed them before, you can find that information here: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons

Write them an email, asking them to meet with you in Westminster Hall on 25th between 1 and 4.

Feel free to use your own words, but here is some sample text here if you’d like to use it:

Dear XXXX

I am writing as a constituent to request a meeting with you on 25th June between 1-4 in Westminster, as I am taking part in a mass lobby as part of the Unite for Trans Rights campaign.

I’d like to speak with you to raise my concern about the draft code of practice to the Equality Act which has been published by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. This draft, if it becomes law, will have a devastating impact on the day to day lives of trans+ people, and make the UK a global outlier on LGBTQIA+ rights.

This issue is extremely important to me because [put your own reasons here].

Yours sincerely

XXXX

If you don’t receive a response from your MP, it is worthwhile sending a polite follow up email after a few days.

If your MP cannot meet, or does not respond, but you want to still be part of the Mass Lobby, you have two options:

Come to the lobby and ‘Green Card’ your MP.
Contact Trans Solidarity Alliance and let us allocate you a member of the House of Lords so you can contact them and ask to meet

Please let Trans Solidarity Alliance know once you have a meeting arranged, so we can update our records.

What is ‘green carding’?

‘Green Carding’ is a process of making a same day request for your MP to meet with you, by speaking to the Parliamentary staff and filling out a simple form. If your MP or their staff are free, they should come down to meet you. We will have people available to help you ‘green card’ your MP on the day.

STEP 3: Preparing to come

Travel arrangements

We have a small amount of money for travel bursaries, and will be fundraising for more. If travel costs are a barrier to you taking part, please let us know on the registration form, and if we can offer a bursary we will.

What can I bring?

The Houses of Parliament have tight security restrictions on what can come into the building. There are two things to bear in mind:

You will go through airport style security, with similar restrictions in place – though water / drinks are allowed into the Houses of Parliament.
There is a ban on political or offensive slogans on clothing – which can include badges. Posters and banners are not allowed, and flags will count as a banner or these purposes. Breaking these rules will mean having materials taken from you, or being refused entry. For full details, visit: https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/access/security/

Please note, no chanting is allowed inside Westminster Hall to avoid the risk of removal and missed meetings with MPs.

How do I prepare what to say?

We will have leaflets on the day that outline key talking points and will make detailed briefings and Q&A available a week in advance of the lobby.

Getting to Westminster – Transport and Accessibility

More information on getting to Westminster including transport and accessibility is available here.

STEP 4: on the day

Where should I go and when should I get there?

Please arrive at the Cromwell Green entrance of the Houses of Parliament and look for Trans+ Solidarity Alliance stewards if you need help.

The lobby will take place in Westminster Hall from 1–4pm, with organisers on site from 12pm to set up and support attendees. Entry to Parliament involves airport-style security, so please allow at least 30 minutes to get through. Meetings will usually happen in Westminster Hall or your MP’s office. If unsure, ask the stewards or Palace of Westminster staff for help.

You can book support to get through security. For more information on this, please go to this website: https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/access/disabled-access/getting-in/

What to do when you get through security

Follow the signs to Westminster Hall, which is a very short walk from the Cromwell Green entrance. When you reach Westminster Hall come to the Mass Lobby meeting point. If you have trouble finding the meeting point, ask any member of staff and they will direct you.

The Trans Solidarity Alliance team will be there to check you in, provide you with briefing materials and answer any questions you have.

If you don’t have a meeting arranged with your MP or a member of the House of Lords

If you have not got a pre-arranged meeting, do not worry, you will not be alone!

The team can direct you to Parliamentary staffers who can help you ‘green card’ your MP. Be aware that your MP or their staff member may not come to meet with you, but even if they don’t you will be able to leave behind a statement, and green carding is a way of showing that you are passionate about this issue.

While you wait for your MP

Practice your talking points while you wait for you MP to arrive

We will be providing an informative leaflet on the day, you will be able to find it at the registration desks.
Key points can also be found here along with a Q&A
Think about the ways the draft code of practice would impact your lives and the lives of people you care about – these are the stories that MPs and Lords will be most influenced by.

Guidance for Meeting Your MP

The most powerful thing for your MP to hear will be how these proposed changes to the code of practice would impact you and the people you care about. This is their opportunity to hear directly from their constituents.

Here are a few other tips for meeting your MP:

Thank them for meeting with you
Find out how much time they have to meet; some will be able to talk for longer than others, depending on their schedule and the number of constituents they have to talk to
Ensure they have heard the key messages – that they must prevent changes to the Equality Act or the code of practice coming into force without full parliamentary scrutiny, and that the draft code of practice, if implemented, would have a devastating impact on the lives of trans+ people in the UK.
Give them a copy of the briefing leaflet
Try and get a photo with them, share it on social media and tag Trans+ Solidarity Alliance [insert accounts here]. This is really useful for showing the groundwell of support for trans+ people.

STEP 5: Check out, and travel home safely

If you have time, please check in with the Trans+ Solidarity Alliance team before you leave, and give us feedback on the meeting.

We recognise that you may have had a meeting that has felt distressing. If you’d like to have a support conversation, please let the team know – we will have volunteers on hand to offer a listening ear.

On your way home, please post, including tagging us (Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky) and your MP.

We will be producing key points and Q&A document and making them available a week in advance of the lobby here (and emailing everyone who has already registered)

If you have any other questions email info@transsoldarityalliance.com

We will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.