Gender Equality, But Make It Comfortable

Gender equality has become familiar language across the development sector. It appears in proposals, programmes, reports and organisational values. But solidarity becomes more complicated when the issue challenges social comfort.

Trans rights expose that gap. Supporting equality in theory is easy when everyone agrees on what equality should look like. Supporting people whose rights remain contested requires more courage.

If inclusion is a real value, it cannot depend on whether a funder is comfortable with the issue. Rights should not become negotiable just because the funding landscape changes.