Presentation by Christine Burns on the 20th anniversary of the formation of Press for Change

1. Why Pressing Mattered
Christine Burns MBE
Monday 27th February 2011

2. Happy Birthday PFC !

3. About Press for Change
• Formed in 1992
• “To campaign to achieve equality and
human rights for all trans people in the
UK through legislation and social change”
• 7 Vice Presidents
• Non-hierarchic, facilitative, approach
• No office, no secretariat. A bedroom-
based campaign

4. Trans rights in the UK in
the early 1990’s
• Unchanged since 1970
• Defined by outcome of Corbett v
Corbett case (April Ashley) in 1970
and R v Tan 1974
• Not affected by Sex Discrimination
Act (1975)

5. Trans Rights in 1992
• Change name YES
• Change documents YES
• Change birth certificate NO
• Marry in assigned gender NO
• Employment protection NO
• Goods, services, housing NO
• Rape / sexual offences NO

6. Mark Rees

7. Stephen Whittle

8. Alex
Whinnom

9. Sarah and Myka

10. The Early Years
• 1992 – PFC formed in Grandma Lee’s Tea Shoppe
• 1993 – Drafting of the objectives, rules for
campaigners, first newsletters. Recruited myself
• 1994 – Fringe meeting at the LibDem conference.
Other modest appearances at meetings. Parliamentary
Forum.
• 1995 – Labour and Conservative conference fringe
• 1996 – Alex Carlile Bill / P vs S and Cornwall County
Council / First web site
• 1997 – Labour Party Landslide / PFC goes digital

11. We Gain Supporters

12. We Are Seen

13. We Rewrite The Rules

14. We Network with Allies

15. We Win Ground
• 1997 – Promises and invites from Labour
• 1998 – Legislative Consultation / Corrie
• 1999 – Employment protection / the
right to NHS treatment / Hayley gets
Married / the Interdepartmental
Working Group / Sheffield & Horsham
• 2002 – Goodwin & I vs UK

16. We Learn Lobbying

17. Adjusting to the Post-GRA World

18. We Move On
• 2005 – Implementation of the GRA /
Launch of LGBT History Month
• 2006 – Medicine and Media / SOGIAG
• 2007 – Gender Duty / Trans with
Pride / MS / Parting Company /
Personal Pursuits

19. Trans Rights in 1992
• Change name YES
• Change documents YES
• Change birth certificate NO
• Marry in assigned gender NO
• Employment protection NO
• Goods, services, housing NO
• Rape / sexual offences NO

20. Trans Rights in 2012
• Change name YES
• Change documents YES
• Change birth certificate YES
• Marry in assigned gender YES
• Employment protection YES
• Goods, services, housing YES
• Rape / sexual offences YES

21. A New Generation

22. The End of the Beginning