‘I live in a country that hates me’: What’s next for trans people in the UK?
TThe image of two women emerging from the High Court building in London on a sunny April afternoon, arms raised in enthusiasm and champagne at the ready, is one of the most unforgettable photographs of 2025.
This comes after the UK’s highest court handed down its ruling on the legal definition of woman, ruling that under the Equality Act it must be based on biological sex.
But while these campaigners celebrated, others recall hearing the news and being “horrified”. Members of the trans community said they felt the country had taken a “huge step backwards” in what one woman described as a move that “turns the clock to a worse situation than it was several decades ago.”
Recently leaked Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) The guidance suggested that transgender people could be asked whether they should access single-sex services based on their physical appearance or behaviour.
The directive was rejected as “unworkable” by MPs and charities, who warned it could result in “discrimination, harassment and exclusion of trans and gender non-conforming people”.
Independent It spoke to five trans people about the impact the decision has had on their lives since April and what they believe the next year will bring for trans people in the UK.
‘I live in a country that hates me’
Chris Northwood, 38, a trans woman who works as a software engineer and councilor in Manchester, believes the Supreme Court ruling has opened the door for people to see trans acceptance as “illegal”.
“It looks like we took a big step backwards this year,” he said. “As a visibly trans woman, I have definitely seen an increase in harassment, both in doorstep polls and online.”
For him, the impact of the decision became most apparent after he experienced “terrible” anxiety after returning from holiday. “We landed in the UK and I had to go to the toilet at the airport,” he said. “I was worried about running into difficulties and suddenly realized it wasn’t a burden when I was away. I now feel like I need to get in and out as quickly as possible when using public toilets in the UK.”
Ellis, 40, who does not want to give his last name, is a trans man. He said the impact of the Supreme Court decision was “immediate and damaging”.
he said Independent She had gone from thinking the UK was “a relatively safe and welcoming place to live” to now worrying about how “livable” it would be to live safely here as a transgender person. He had noticed that since April some of his friends had stopped going to bars and restaurants to avoid using public restrooms.
“A lot of people I know have suicidal thoughts; people who never felt this way before are now saying, ‘I live in a country that hates me,'” he said. “That’s really the feeling.”
Marlo, who does not want to share her last name, identifies as transmasculine, a term used to describe someone assigned female at birth who identifies with masculinity. They had already experienced being kicked out of both men’s and women’s toilets since April.
“The effects of the Supreme Court decision are real and tangible,” the 37-year-old actor said. “This is depressing, sad and also horrifying.”
Fox Fisher, who is non-binary transmasculine (meaning they have masculine features but do not identify as male or female), said they stopped going to the gym after experiencing transphobia while using the sauna.
“There’s a lot of anxiety,” the 45-year-old actor said. “This is a result of the media and the government, and it has made it very, very difficult for people to exist and thrive. I think the UK government has failed its trans and non-binary citizens.”
flee the country
Dr Victoria McCloud was the UK’s first openly transgender judge. She moved to Ireland last year after feeling no longer safe in the UK and, following the Supreme Court ruling, set up the Trans Exile Network to support those wishing to do the same.
he said Independent she had been in contact with “hundreds” of other transgender people who were following suit, many of whom had particular fears about the future of healthcare.
“They don’t want to leave their homes,” he said. “These are people with successful careers and families. This is very traumatic.”
Chris Northwood said he and his partner were also considering leaving England. “We love our life here, but we had to think: is there a limit to how bad it can get?” he said. “If it gets to the point where access to healthcare is this difficult, then it would probably become impossible to live in this country.”
Ellis also said he and many of his friends were struggling to see a future where he would feel safe in the UK.
“I don’t use the term ‘escape’ lightly,” he said. “This is where a lot of trans people I know are forced to go. They don’t see a safe future in this country.”
Statistics show they are not alone. A YouGov poll in October found that 84 per cent of respondents, all of whom were trans, said the UK was “fairly unsafe” or “very unsafe” for trans people. Almost two-thirds (65 percent) of trans adults said they had experienced verbal harassment in public spaces, while almost a quarter (24 percent) said they had experienced physical violence.
hope for the future
But those who speak despite fear Independent He said there are glimmers of hope as we enter 2026. Some spoke of being inspired by the creative talents and kindness of those within the trans community.
“We’re seeing the community really come together to help others, which gives me hope,” Dr Fisher said.
“It’s wonderful to be reminded of the sheer magnetic power we have as scapegoated and vilified members of society,” Marlo said.
Others hope the decision will not survive. Dr McCloud is taking the matter to the European Court of Human Rights in a direct challenge to the Supreme Court decision. She argues that the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear her arguments as a transgender woman deprived her of her Sixth Amendment rights, namely her right to a fair trial.
He is hopeful the decision will be reversed, even if not through his own objection, but acknowledged the process could take years. Meanwhile, she believes the transgender community has become more united and coordinated since the decision.
“After some struggle, we are now organized, we are taking real steps that are really successful,” he said. “I actually believe this year can be better than we expected.”
Ellis agrees: “We’ve had a terrible shock this year, but I think we’re better prepared. We’re a little more united and we know how to take better care of each other now.”
A government spokesman said: “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We are clear that there are laws in place to protect transgender people from discrimination and harassment.
“The UK proudly supports a robust legal framework to protect LGBT people, and we are working to advance these rights, including bringing forward legislation to ban proselytizing practices and strengthening protections against hate crime.”
If you are distressed or struggling to cope, you can speak to Samaritans in confidence on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org or Samaritans Website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are a US resident and you or someone you know needs mental health help right now, call or text 988 or visit: 988lifeline.org To access online chat on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis helpline available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country you can go www.befrienders.org To find a helpline near you.
