Nicola Coughlan has helped to over £90k for a trans charity following the UK high court’s controversial gender ruling – find resources for the trans community below.
On Wednesday (April 16), judges unanimously ruled that the legal definition of a woman in the country’s Equality Act 2010 is based on biological sex. Though Judge Lord Hodge stressed the ruling was not a “triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another”, the decision will undoubtedly impact transgender communities across the country.
The ruling was met with outrage from LGBTQ+ campaigners, charities and members of the entertainment industry, such as Scissor Sisters, Perfume Genius and Garbage, who spoke out against the decision on Wednesday.
Among those speaking out is Doctor Who, Bridgerton, and Derry Girls star Coughlan, who launched a fundraiser for UK charity Not A Phase in the wake of the ruling.
As detailed on their website, the charity is committed to “uplifting and improving the lives of trans+ adults” through awareness campaigning, social projects and funding trans-led initiatives. Following the ruling, they shared a statement asking for support after losing “almost all” of their corporate partners, despite continuing to support “over 4,000” trans people.
Coughlan took to her Instagram to launch the fundraiser on Thursday (April 17), setting a fundraising target of £10,000 and pledging to match any donations up to that amount.
The initial target was exceeded within an hour, so Coughlan upped it to £70,000, which has also been surpassed. At time of writing, she’s helped to raise over £90,000 for the charity.
“Like many people, I’m completely horrified by the Supreme Court’s ruling about trans people, and to see an already marginalised community being further attacked and attacked in law is really stomach-churning and disgusting,” Coughlan said in a video shared to her Instagram.
“And to see people celebrating it is more stomach-churning and disgusting. I want to start a fundraiser for Not A Phase, who are an incredible trans charity in the UK,” she continued.
“I would urge you to donate and share and if you are a cisgender person who is an ally of a trans person, I think now is the time to speak up and make your voice heard and let your trans and non-binary friends and the community and large know that you’re there for them and you’ll keep fighting for them.”
In a follow-up post, Coughlan denounced those who feel the Supreme Court’s ruling is a “win” for cisgender women. “I have never been made feel unsafe by a trans person in my life. The only people I’ve been made feel unsafe by are cis people. You’re not fighting for women’s rights. You don’t speak for me. Bigotry is bigotry,” she wrote.
She went on to criticise HBO‘s upcoming Harry Potter TV series, writing: “Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole.”
The show has been mired in controversy due to J.K. Rowling receiving significant backlash for her anti-trans comments. This stance has seen her at odds with the three stars of the original Harry Potter films, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, all of whom have publicly disagreed with her views.
Last year, Coughlan released her first single, titled ‘Shoes, More Shoes’, in aid of LGBTQ+ charities.
In the US, a similar decision was made last January, where President Donald Trump ruled that the United States of America will only recognise two sexes, male and female.
Ariana Grande, Aurora and more reacted to the policy, with the latter writing: “I am in deep sorrow of how you have been failed by your own government.”
In other news, Lucy Dacus has pledged $10k for trans surgeries after Donald Trump’s gender executive order.
Resources for transgender communities and allies:
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