Following the recent comments from Lisa Townsend, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey and the
revelation that she is to be a guest speaker at the LGB Alliance Conference in October, we would like to make
the following statement;
On Monday 20th September, our Founder Stephen Ireland and Head of Communications, Kel Finan-Cooke
attended a meeting with the PCC to discuss her views regarding trans people, her assertion that trans women
should not be included within 'women only spaces' and her use of offensive language.
The meeting did not go well.
From the offset, Ms Townsend asserted that we would not change her mind and she fully believed that "male
bodied people" are not women and that the use of women's refuges should be for people who were born women.
Ms Townsend went on to assert that she "believes in sex, not gender".
When we queried with her if she intended to find the budget for refuges for trans people, she went on to say she
would look into it, however these refuges would be for both trans women and trans men.
We asked her if she would be prepared to take our advice on her use of language and explained that phrases
such as "pre transition trans women" were hurtful yet she refused advice and stated that she had run her words
past a police officer who had assured her that her language was appropriate.
We have previously stated that we wished to work with the PCC. Our position has changed since this meeting.
Pride in Surrey does not believe that a person holding elected office should be entitled to promote hateful
rhetoric, use offensive language or refuse to work with the community about which she holds such controversial
views.
Despite being horrified that Lisa Townsend is a guest speaker at the LGB Alliance Conference, we are not
surprised that she is engaging with a known trans exclusionary group. To engage with a group which affirms her
beliefs and opinions will only serve to strengthen her resolve that our trans siblings should and can be
marginalised from society.
We have begun to work on a Police and Crime Commissioner Action Group, to lobby for Lisa Townsends removal
from office. We welcome contact from our community, fellow professionals, those with political experience and
any other likeminded people who believe that can assist us in our mission.
At Pride in Surrey, our core mission is to Celebrate, Educate and Connect the LGBTQI+ community. Connect with
us now to educate those who feel that the equality act doesn't apply to them and let us celebrate when we
achieve our aim of removing those involved in hate speech from positions of power.