I think it is important to provide reviews on these sorts of books with honesty upfront. I am a transgender woman, a senior leader in my business and involved in the development of better awareness of trans people at work.
As such I spend a lot of time reading source judgements and original legislation to ensure that the positions I take are accurate and appropriately cited.
As a non-lawyer this is not as easy as it should be, and the availability of an overview like this, properly cited is essential.
The book is logically laid out, covering the most important aspects of anti-discrimination law as applied to transgender people - with clear citations and references; the use of which is essential for any individual (or business) seeking to understand something which should be simple, but because of opaquely funded and highly publicised campaigns has become more complex.
The book is not set out as a polemic or discussion of the environment surrounding trans people in the UK right now - for this I would recommend Shon Faye's new work, 'The Transgender Issue' - it is, rather, a legal text to use as reference for the preparation of policies and to guide legal thinking in businesses and governmental organisations, it neatly unpacks the application of (among others) the Equality Act 2010, the Gender Recognition Act as well as the case law to date. Helpfully it identifies emerging cases, some of which have been heard since publication (I believe updates to the text will be made available). What is incredibly important is that the work does not seek to 'second guess' the outcomes of these actions, nor does it make any value judgement before these cases are heard (which is crucial in the formation of good policies)
Throughout the book, the cases are shorn of the deep emotional import to those who have had to take them, which speaks to the legal seriousness of the material.
There are elements of the work which I have not had to use professionally, as they cover elements such as immigration and prisons, but given the state of 'discourse' it is important that these are covered. What was particularly useful was the reference to the rights of those who express views which may be discriminatory to the Transgender community, taking a level view on the difference between holding views and manifesting them - which was a point made clear in the subsequently published appeal in the Forstarter v CGD and Others appeal of 2021.
The book, whilst written before this appeal was handed down is careful to properly differentiate the difference between holding views and manifesting them at work - a sober overview cutting through a lot of media 'noise'
In short, I recommend this book for anyone involved in equality issues in the workplace or the public sphere and as a non-lawyer can recommend the accessibility of the language.
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Top reviews from other countries
Emily the Penguin
A concise, accessible and timely overview of law for Transgender people in the UK
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2021
Red Devon
A must have read for anyone involved in advising the trans Community
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2021Laurie Simpson
Fills an important gap - a very "practical guide" indeed!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 7, 2021
Laurie Simpson
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 7, 2021
Clear and concise enough to be readily understood by a layperson, but precise & complete enough to provide the specific references to relevant legislation & case-law needed to counter hearsay & rumours. An invaluable source in a field that, without it, is a quagmire of conflicting & misleading claims.
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Damo
An excellent work on a little known area of law.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2021