‘Manchester must keep leading’
Manchester campaigner Fiona Moinuddin has launched a new initiative asking city centre venues to show their support to the trans and non-binary community
A Manchester activist has launched a ‘loud and proud’ campaign that she hopes businesses across the city will get involved with.
Fiona Moinuddin, who recently launched a campaign to ‘save’ Northern Quarter’s Big Horn, has now asked businesses across Manchester to put up window stickers in support of the trans and non-binary community.
The campaign, which has launched ahead of Manchester Pride this Bank Holiday weekend, has been described as a ‘bold symbol of safety, solidarity and respect’ in light of the ‘adversity’ faced by the community in recent months.
Fiona, who lives in the city centre, is inviting businesses to reach out and request the free stickers to be displayed prominently in shop fronts, in restaurant windows, and other venues to show their support.
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“Right now, trans people are facing so much adversity, from politics, from parts of the press, from a hostile national conversation,” Fiona explained of the motivation for the campaign.
“But here in Manchester, I know there is love, solidarity and community for our trans neighbours. That’s why I’m launching this campaign for ‘We Support Trans Rights’ free window stickers for businesses across our city centre.
“It’s about painting our city with visible, unapologetic support -so trans people know they’re welcome, they’re valued, and they’re safe here in Manchester. Let’s show that Manchester stands with trans people – loudly and proudly. Let’s flood the city with pride and solidarity, because trans rights are human rights, and Manchester stands with you.”
A new campaign has been launched in Manchester city centre to show support to the trans and non-binary community
Three years ago, Councillor Jon-Connor Lyons successfully moved a motion at Manchester City Council, which passed unanimously, declaring that ‘trans men are men, trans women are women, non-binary people are non-binary, and trans rights are human rights’.
The councillor, who represents the Piccadilly ward, also readied a motion which urged for a review of council services ‘to ensure they are as accessible as possible to trans and non-binary people’.
Earlier this year, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex following a legal dispute between the Scottish government and the campaign group For Women Scotland (FWS) dating back to 2018.
The move, in April, confirmed the terms woman and sex in the 2010 Equality Act ‘refer to a biological woman and biological sex’. The ruling was met with a backlash from the trans and non-binary community and their allies, whilst there were also concerns that it could lead to an impact on the 2004 Gender Recognition Act, which rules that those with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) have the legal right to live in their acquired gender.
Councillor Jon-Connor Lyons, who represents for the Piccadilly ward, has backed the campaign
“Trans lives are under constant threat in the current climate,” Councillor Lyons said backing Fiona’s campaign. “That’s why Manchester must keep leading, not just in words, but in every café window, corner shop, and restaurant.
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“This sticker campaign makes that commitment visible: to trans people, our allies, and anyone passing through our city. It’s a simple act, but in a moment like this, the simplest of acts can speak volumes.”
The campaign has also been supported by people online. In a TikTok video posted by Fiona, one person commented: “Amazing campaign”. Another wrote: “I went into Manchester yesterday and I saw a few of them. it’s a little thing but it makes me feel so much safer. Made me able to enjoy myself so much more.”
Another said: “When shops and cafes put rainbow stickers in their windows back in the 90s it meant so much to me. This is just as important, because as a queer person I wanna know where to spend my tiny amount of disposable income.”
Businesses in the city centre can request a free sticker here. Stickers are available in two sizes to suit different window formats.