Trans people and allies staged a bold and deeply symbolic protest outside Downing Street on Sunday (25 May), standing bare-chested to draw attention to the ongoing oppression of the trans community across the UK.
The protest, organised by advocacy group STRIVE (Standing for Trans Rights, Inclusion and Visibility Everywhere), was a passionate call for dignity, safety, and fair treatment for trans people. Marchers travelled from Marble Arch to the gates of Downing Street in what organisers described as a “powerful journey directly to the heart of political decision making.”
At the rally’s conclusion, protestors were invited to remove their tops as a voluntary act of vulnerability and resistance. Images from the demonstration show 10 trans women and one trans man standing outside Downing Street, holding trans flags and placards, including one that read: “Let Us Live Free. Give Us A Voice.”
The action was intentionally symbolic. STRIVE explained in a statement to PinkNews:
“This is a deeply symbolic act, one that reflects the raw truth of how exposed and vulnerable our community is made to feel under a government that continues to marginalise and ignore us… We are not activists. We are regular people. But like all trans people in the UK, we are now forced to stand up and say: enough.”
The protest also honoured the memory of Alice Litman, a trans woman who died three years ago. Her uncle addressed the crowd with an emotional tribute.
A small counter-protest by gender-critical activists took place nearby, with around seven participants.
STRIVE’s message was one of peaceful but resolute resistance:
“This is a peaceful protest, but it is not passive. It is bold. It is visible. And it is powerful because it is grounded in truth, in solidarity, and in love.”
The demonstration follows a wave of concern sparked by a recent UK Supreme Court ruling in the For Women Scotland Ltd v Scottish Ministers case, which defined “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 as “biological.” This ruling has significant implications for access to single-sex spaces, with trans people potentially being barred from facilities aligned with their gender identity.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) subsequently released interim guidance calling for access to gendered spaces to be based on biology, rather than gender identity — a move heavily criticised by LGBTQ+ advocates.
Sunday’s protest follows similar topless actions in Scotland earlier this month. Outside the Scottish Parliament, trans women stood with red-painted arms, holding white roses to symbolise the “death of transgender rights” in the UK. Tape across their mouths represented the silencing of trans voices.
Organisers have since announced plans for further protests in cities such as Glasgow, Cardiff, and Manchester, reaffirming their commitment to national mobilisation.
“To anyone seeing this statement, whether you’re trans, non-binary, questioning, or a supportive ally, know this: you are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone,” STRIVE said via social media. “Our futures are linked, and together, we can create a more just and compassionate world.”
