Today, Stockport Liberal Democrats are marking International Day of Transgender Visibility 2025. An opportunity to celebrate the contribution the Trans community have made to Stockport, and reflect on the challenges they continue to face.
Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport, Cllr Helen Foster-Grime, said
“When we commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance, it is clearly a very solemn affair where we remember those who have been killed because of their gender. It is therefore important to grasp the opportunity on days like today, to celebrate the Trans community and the brilliant value they bring to Stockport and beyond! As part of my portfolio, it’s been a real pleasure to liaise with some of our amazing friends in the Trans community who help to make Stockport as brilliant as it is.”
“Liberal Democrats are committed to ensuring all people are comfortable living their lives safely no matter who they are. At the moment, there are far too many harsh challenges for Trans people to live a happy and safe life. Celebrating their contribution to Stockport on days like today is one of the vital ways in which we can promote a safer, more understanding and tolerant society.”
But there continues to be challenges that transgender people face every day. Last year, Offerton councillor, Dan Oliver, put forward a motion that committed Stockport Council to expand its current outreach work in the borough.
Cllr Oliver said
“We have seen a concerted effort by public figures over the last few years to demonise, dehumanise and erase the history of the Trans community. This has severe consequences for one of the most marginalised communities in society and serves as an important reminder that progress isn’t linear and there is zero room for complacency. Consistently we see Trans people being statistically one of the most targeted groups of our society. Thousands of hate crimes are reported each year, yet Stop Hate UK surveys report that the vast majority of trans hate crimes remain unreported.”
“The Liberal Democrats have always been proud to stand up and advocate for tolerance in our society, this position has not wavered when it comes to the Trans community. This is a global problem, one that can very much feel bigger than us in Stockport at times. But the global picture underlines how important it is at home for us to champion our trans friends in our borough. On a local level we have consistently engaged with local groups to see how we can better support our trans friends and family. I was proud to put forward a motion last year alongside Forward Stockport and Stockport’s LGBTQ+ Network, that committed Stockport Council to further expand its outreach and education to achieve a more open and tolerant borough.”
