Charlie Kiss, who has been selected by his local Green Party to stand in the Islington South and Finsbury constituency for the general election in May next year, appears, so far, to be the only out trans man standing in the upcoming General Election.
He will stand against the Labour Party incumbent, Emily Thornberry.
Charlie, now aged 49, started politically campaigning when at the age of 17 he joined the Greenham Common Women’s peace camp opposing the planned siting of cruise nuclear missiles. He identified as a lesbian at this time. After leaving Greenham common, he started a career in the printing industry which he reported had poor conditions for workers and a culture of significant sexism and racism. Later things improved when he started work at Calverts, a print co-operative. It was here that he realised that he needed to properly medically transition and so he started hormonal treatment in 2002 and, soon after, surgery.
Charlie Kiss said; “The two trans women politicians in Europe are both in the Green Party. It seems that I am another first for the Green Party which is to be the first trans man to stand for the UK parliament. However, this, and the small number of women in parliament, is woefully inadequate and not something for our country to be proud of. I remain committed to the feminist cause.”
“The Green Party recognises the importance of being inclusive and consistently strives to improve the gender imbalance in representative politics. Our leadership voted in by the membership demonstrates this. Brighton council, a minority Green Party-run council has excelled in its work for the local LGBT community and especially with the local trans community, carrying out consultations and making changes. For example, it has commenced trans swimming sessions and allows people to use different titles on forms which is very helpful especially when transitioning.”
The first time Mr Kiss stood for office was when he stood as a local council election candidate for Highbury East in Islington.
He continued; “I thought it was better to be upfront about it, so I explained that I had transitioned from female to male on all the election leaflets that were delivered. LGBT struggles are close to my heart and I will always support equality for all.”
“I recognise that home affordability, homelessness, low pay, discrimination and mental illness are all serious issues affecting many non LGBT people, but LGBT people, and especially trans and gender variant people, suffer these in disproportionate numbers.”