To: Darlington Borough Council

Defence of Darlington Transgender Residents

Darlington councillors amended the motion to remove the transphobia and reaffirm its commitment to public sector equality duty.

Reject the motion proposed by Conservative and Reform councillors, to be debated at a meeting of Darlington Borough Council on Thursday 26 March 2026. The Council should instead reaffirm its commitment to upholding the rights, dignity and equal treatment of its transgender residents.

Why is this important?

As residents of Darlington and other concerned citizens, we write to express our profound and unequivocal opposition to the motion put forward by Conservative and Reform councillors, scheduled to be debated at Darlington Borough Council on Thursday 26 March 2026.

We are appalled by the continued demonisation and dehumanisation of the transgender community implicit in this proposal. We strongly oppose any attempt to vilify transgender residents, who are simply seeking to live their lives in safety and with dignity. We urge Darlington Borough Council to reject this motion in full and to reaffirm its commitment to upholding the rights and equal protection of all residents of Darlington.

The text of the motion to be considered can be found at https://democracy.darlington.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=14624. We understand there will also be some amendments to this motion.

This letter is open to anyone who wishes to sign, but we would particularly encourage residents in Darlington to add their name. We would also ask that concerned residents contact their local councillors to express their opposition to this motion. Template emails and letters can be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AvZ8s9GiFi9cEaGkrqjup4CYYXCoIO3GzARZEgXIRgI/edit?usp=sharing

How it will be delivered

We plan to deliver the petition by hand to the council meeting on Thursday

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Links

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Updates

2026-03-27 18:52:26 +0000

Petition is successful with 530 signatures

2026-03-27 01:04:18 +0000

We passed the petition on to Stephen Harker, Leader of the council who told us that the Green Party had tabled an amendment the Labour administration were going to support. The motion as passed, amongst other things, affirms the Council’s commitment to women’s rights as foundational, while equally affirming its commitment to the rights, dignity and inclusion of transgender people.

This we're sure everyone will agree is a vast improvement on the original motion tabled by Dulston and Walker. Jonathan Dulston made quite a spectacle of himself attempting to shout down the Mayor and indeed lecturing the gallery on how no councillor in the chamber had done more than he himself had done for the LGBT community. There may even have been some tears. Thanks to those who signed, thanks to those who turned up in support of the trans community and thanks to both Darlington Labour and Darlington Greens who made impassioned speeches showing up Conservatives and Reform for what they are.

2026-03-26 23:44:25 +0000

500 signatures reached

2026-03-26 14:22:10 +0000

We've now passed 400 signatures with only a few hours to go before the crucial meeting. Trans Lib NE have called a rally for 5pm at Darlington Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington DL1 5QT. Come one, come all. Bring placards and banners. Bring friends and family. Above all bring yourselves, your voices and your support for Darlington's trans community.

2026-03-25 08:31:48 +0000

100 signatures reached

2026-03-24 20:33:44 +0000

50 signatures reached

2026-03-24 19:31:07 +0000

25 signatures reached

2026-03-24 18:51:29 +0000

10 signatures reached