Across the public sector and the NHS, leaders are facing one of the most defining challenges of our time: whether to remain silent in the face of injustice or to actively oppose it.
In recent years, the social and political climate in Britain has shifted dramatically. Trans people are increasingly being targeted through policy proposals, public rhetoric, and cultural hostility. The rollback of civil rights is not theoretical it is happening now. Proposals that restrict access to healthcare, bathrooms, and legal recognition are part of a broader agenda that seeks to erase trans identities under the guise of “debate” or “concern.”
Why This Matters for Public Sector and NHS Leaders
These institutions exist to serve the public, particularly those most in need. Leadership in this context carries not only managerial responsibilities but moral ones. Public sector values, fairness, dignity, inclusion, are incompatible with policies that marginalise, dehumanise, or erase.
Trans people already live with daily discomfort: navigating hostile environments, being misgendered, excluded, or denied basic services. The question for leadership is not whether this is happening, but what role you are playing in response.
The Role of the Passive Bystander
A passive bystander might not directly support exclusionary policies, but silence and inaction serve the same function. When policies go unchallenged, when harm is minimised through ‘neutral’ language, or when leaders pre-emptively comply with unjust guidance out of fear or convenience, systemic harm continues unchecked.
Passive complicity can look like:
- Avoiding conversations about trans rights to prevent “divisiveness”
- Reframing oppressive practices as “difficult compromises”
- Silencing or sidelining staff who raise legitimate concerns
- Publicly expressing support while implementing policies that do the opposite
What Active Allyship Looks Like
Active bystanders, by contrast, recognise that inclusion is not performative. It’s not about rainbow logos or occasional visibility. It’s about consistent action that affirms human dignity, even when it’s difficult, even when it’s unpopular.
Active allyship includes:
- Questioning and challenging guidance that excludes or harms marginalised groups
- Advocating for trans-inclusive policies and language
- Refusing to sanitise injustice with ‘kind’ words or vague statements
- Supporting staff and service users who face discrimination
- Using organisational influence to push for equity across sectors
Now Is the Time to Choose
The gap between values and action has never been more visible. Leaders must choose whether to act as stewards of equity or guardians of the status quo. The cost of inaction is not just reputational, it’s deeply human. Lives, livelihoods, and wellbeing are at stake.
To those already standing up: thank you. Your work reminds us that public service can still be a force for good.
To those on the sidelines: there is still time to act. The call for justice is not going away, and history will remember who stood up, and who stood by.