Travelling as Transgender in the UK

Friend of mine is transgender and recently visited the UK for two weeks, visiting London, Edinburgh and Northumberland. Had absolutely no problems whatsoever.

Whilst by no means perfect on any measure the UK is a bit more advanced than the US on these issues, and a lot more advanced than some parts of the US I have visited.

What legal trouble is she she expecting? She isn’t doing anything illegal.

Who would even know that your daughter was trans-gender?
We probably have stricter equal rights legislation in the UK than the US.
I don't know if it's a federal or state matter there, but can imagine there could be some polarised opinion in some states there. Not here.
I can't even imagine that it is an issue to think about in the UK
It's not something that the overwhelming majority of people here would even consider, or be interested in.

There is protection in law for trans people under the Equality Act. There is absolutely nothing to worry about from a legal point of view.

In terms of harassment, I think it is highly unlikely your daughter would have any issues.

No legal issues. There maybe some looks in public toilets - depending on how your daughter presents - but they’ll mostly be just that - looks. Loads of trans young people here in the UK so I hope she’ll be met by tolerance and understanding.

Hi. I'm the "transgender daughter". The issue is, my documents still say I'm male, and I'm pre-op (haven't had "the surgery" yet). Is it safe for me to still present as female if I don't try to enter any female-coded spaces? As I understand it, there is an extreme amount of negative media coverage about trans people in the UK, mostly from self-professed "feminists" (TERFs) who think that deleting us from existence is a social justice directive. I'm afraid of getting arrested for looking at a woman the wrong way.

Hi. I'm the "transgender daughter". The issue is, my documents still
say I'm male, and I'm pre-op (haven't had "the surgery" yet). Is it
safe for me to still present as female if I don't try to enter any
female-coded spaces?

I'm cis so I have no personal experience. But I don't think you'll have any problems. Do you look like a cis woman? In that case noone will care. If not, people might look but you won't be unsafe. It also depends a bit on where you are going, in London people won't care, in smaller rural places you might get some attention.

As I understand it, there is an extreme amount of negative media
coverage about trans people in the UK, mostly from self-professed
"feminists" (TERFs) who think that deleting us from existence is a
social justice directive.

There are many corners of the internet filled with angry people. They are rarely representative of the general public's opinion.

I'm afraid of getting arrested for looking at a woman the wrong way.

Don't be.

Most of the negative stuff is centred on Twitter. The average British person will never have heard the term “Terf.”

I know several young transgender people and they’re absolutely free to present how they want to. There is no legal issue.

I've never heard of the terms Terf or cis, and have just had to google them. Even then I still don't really understand cis, and don't feel I need to. I don't think Badger needs to explain anything to us who are in blissful ignorance.

The vast majority of people in the UK don't care less what sexuality anyone is.

I'm not sure of how we on this forum can give more re-assurance. I do suspect it may be less of an issue here than it is at home. I'm sorry if you are having issues at home, as appears to be being implied.

Even if something were by chance to happen you would get a robust police response, with the law being firmly on your side.

The issue is, my documents still say I'm male,

That might be a problem if your passport photo and your current appearance make it difficult to confirm that the passport is 'yours'. ( I do not know, but it is what came to mind)

Gay American male here, spend a lot of time among the LGBT community throughout the U.K.

Please suggest to your daughter that they consider logging off social media and ignore the niche online fighting. Activists tweeting 25 hours a day about J.K. Rowling probably haven’t seen the sun since 2019 or so!

They will be absolutely fine legally and be socially accepted as well almost everywhere. You could run into a random bigot anywhere, just like the USA.

Some parts of the US left have pilloried the U.K. as ‘Terf Island’ because women have been increasingly speaking out where they perceive a rights conflict.

This does not mean that there is any animosity to trans people going about their lives. Don’t believe everything you read online.

Even then I still don't really understand cis, and don't feel I need
to. I don't think Badger needs to explain anything to us who are in
blissful ignorance.

For those who are interested, cis is the opposite of trans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisgender

That the photo of a male can be seen in the ID card, but a female is standing in front of the guy who is checking the document can of course lead to discussions. Otherwise it can't be an issue I would say.

A very close friend (married to a woman) has loved wearing women's clothing all his life. Until the age of 60 he only did this at home. But he always had painted finger- and toenails in public. Since his sixtieth birthday he is now wearing women's clothes and a wig in public as well. I have never seen anyone say anything negative to him.

Only during Corona there was a topic in a restaurant because during the ID check the photo showed a male and a female standing in front of the waiter. But that could be cleared up very quickly :-)

I just can't imagine there will be a problem when your daughter travels to the UK

As I understand it, there is an extreme amount of negative media coverage about trans people in the UK, mostly from self-professed "feminists" (TERFs) who think that deleting us from existence is a social justice directive.

News to me - I've never seen it and I watch the morning and evening news

Unfortunately many of the "feminist" newspaper columnists in the UK have TERF tendencies, but most members of the public couldn't care less. You would have no greater risk of harassment in the UK than you would in the more civilised parts of the US.

If you haven't already, I would recommend asking on the reddit travel, UkTravel, or UKtransgender subs for more real time/relevant information.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/7

The discussion of (redacted) is not a widely supported consensus for how the UK should treat transgender people. In fact there aren't very many people like that at all. I'll be surprised if you even meet someone like that in the time you're here.

Please don't let those bullies frighten you off. They are far overpowered by the law and general public opinion. The rest of us will find it a joy to give you a warm welcome.

She will be a lot safer in the UK then she would be here in the US.

Ensure that your response directly answers the OP's question (and the daughter's follow-up) please.