As a resident of Brighton and Hove, I am deeply concerned about the recent transphobic tweets made by Labour Councillor Alison Thomson. These offensive remarks undermine the rights and dignity of transgender individuals and the fact that she remains a sitting councillor on Brighton & Hove City Council tarnishes the reputation of our diverse and inclusive city.

Cllr Thomson's tweets – in which she explicitly calls trans women men and compares transitioning to trying to become a dog – not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also contribute to an environment that fosters discrimination and prejudice against trans people. This goes against everything our city stands for – equality, acceptance, and respect for all.

Trans people face numerous challenges in their daily lives – from discrimination in employment to inadequate healthcare access. According to Stonewall's research on LGBT hate crime in England and Wales, 41% of transgender people experienced hate crimes or incidents within a 12-month period. Such statistics highlight how crucial it is to have representatives who champion inclusivity rather than perpetuating harmful rhetoric.

Brighton & Hove Labour have decided that the only action they are going to take is to remove her from a totally unconnected role and ask her to undergo ‘training’. We need to show them that this isn’t even close to being an adequate response to open hate against an entire group of people.

Brighton & Hove is known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community and has one of the highest proportions of trans people in the country. Our city deserves representatives who will work tirelessly towards creating an inclusive society where everyone feels safe and valued, regardless of their gender identity or expression. We cannot allow transphobia to go unchallenged within our local government. The role of a councillor should be rooted in representing all residents fairly without prejudice or bias and Cllr Thomson has fallen far short of that.

Let us stand together as residents of Brighton & Hove united against discrimination and demand that Cllr Alison Thomson take responsibility for her actions and step down from her position immediately. Together, we can send a powerful message that transphobia has no place in our community.

The full text of Cllr Thomson's tweets can be seen here, as well as some other actions you can take (TW for transphobia): https://bhcc-tweets.tiiny.site