Introducing Safe Space Whisky, an evolving list of bars and visitor centres that affirm Trans+ people
Safe Space Whisky is an Instagram campaign that calls on distillery visitor centres, bars and other whisky spaces to show they’re a safe space for Trans+ people following the UK Supreme Court ruling.
Back in April the UK Supreme Court UK delivered its verdict on the legal definition of a ‘woman’. According to the majority-men court, and against literal science, ‘gender’ in the Equality Act refers only to the binary biological sex assigned to someone at birth. The case itself was brought by a group that believes, based on totally unfounded tropes, that the existence of trans people somehow harms cisgender* women. You can read more about it all here.
While absolutely no legally binding changes have been enforced as a result of the ruling, the UK’s trans community has experienced an upswell of hate. Trans women have been removed from their sports teams. People have reported feeling unsafe and being excluded not just in bathrooms but in workplaces and beyond. A consultation on the interim guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission has only just opened – and yet businesses, organisations and events have rushed to introduce policies that segregate people by sex. Some have walked these back following complaints – looking at you, Download Festival – but it’s clear that Trans+ communities are facing not just increased hate, but real, tangible challenges to navigating life as a result of this ruling.
How does this affect whisky?
The whisky industry has become increasingly diverse over the last decade or so. This is obviously a hugely positive shift that benefits our community socially and economically. Many groups have championed equity in whisky – especially gender equality. All these moves are welcome and positive. But now, following the UK Supreme Court Ruling and the fall–out from it, we must double down and proactively affirm Trans+ groups, and trans women in particular.
This is where Safe Space Whisky comes in. The Instagram campaign comprises a growing list of whisky bars, distillery visitor centres and other public whisky spaces that are proud to stand with and affirm Trans+ people. It will become a living resource for Trans+ whisky lovers to use when planning nights out and distillery tours – because transphobia has no place in whisky.
Venues and the PR agencies that represent them are encouraged to reach out to me (Kristiane Westray - hello!) by email (kristiane [at] kristianewestray [dot] com for inclusion on the list. Bars, distilleries and other whisky spaces will be posted on the Instagram page for easy navigation.
To be listed on the page venues need to include:
A statement affirming the Trans+ community that will be posted in full on the Instagram page
Confirmation that the venue either has gender-neutral bathroom or that the team will never ‘police’ the gender of folks who use the facilities
A commitment that the team takes a zero-tolerance stance when it comes to transphobia
A logo to be posted on the Safe Space Whisky Instagram page.
Whisky can be a wonderful, welcoming space for all. We see this in the rise in tourism – there were over two million distillery visits in Scotland alone in 2022, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. But whisky can’t just be for some people and not others. A truly inclusive industry must welcome the Trans+ community, and in this climate that means being proactive and taking an active stance.
Safe Space Whisky shouldn’t need to exist. Trans+ people should be welcome everywhere. But that just isn’t the case right now. So let’s come together and loudly shout that whisky is for everyone – and that Trans+ folks are welcome here.
Distilleries, brands, bars and PRs – I can’t wait to hear from you!
*’Cis’ or ‘cisgender’ are terms that describe people whose gender ‘aligns’ with the sex they were assigned at birth. These terms are not slurs and do not carry any negative connotations.
