Gender identity and expression

Trans Communities in Sussex

Sussex has a higher than average proportion of transgender people with an estimated 2700+ trans people living in Brighton and Hove. Brighton & Hove has plays host to the annual Trans Pride in July as well as a thriving community of peer support and social groups.

We recognise the transgender community includes people with a variety of gender identities and presentations. Whilst we may use the words transgender, or trans for short, we use this term broadly to include anyone who’s gender identity differs from the gender assigned at birth.

During significant days in the Trans community calendar we fly the Trans flag at Police premises across Sussex, including Brighton Police Station and at our headquarters in Lewes.

Hate crime

Hate crimes and incidents are taken to mean any crime or incident where the perpetrator’s hostility or prejudice against an identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is victimised.

This is a broad and inclusive definition. A victim does not have to be a member of the group. In fact, anyone could be a victim of a hate crime. For example, if someone shouts transphobic abuse at you, you are still the victim of a transphobic hate crime, whatever your gender identity.

The government currently asks police forces to monitor and record five strands of hate motivation, which include transgender identity.

We believe that every member of the community has the right to live without fear of harassment and abuse. If you are a victim transphobic hate crime, you can report it:

• Report online
• Call us on 101
• Call 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress

Read more information about hate crime.

Community Engagement Advisors (CEAs)

Sussex Police work closely with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) communities to promote equality and encourage the reporting of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic related hate crime.

We have a network of CEAs throughout the districts of Sussex so there are points of contact locally. 

Brighton & Hove have a dedicated CEA team who focus on this specific part of the community. As a team they build links with local trans organisations and take part in trans community events, including Trans Pride and Trans Day of Remembrance, as well as providing all year round links with Sussex Police. Within Sussex Police, the team provide support to colleagues throughout the organisation in understanding the specific needs of trans people.

You can keep in touch with Brighton & Hove's dedicated LGBT CEA team via social media.

Useful links

Support groups for transgender, non-binary and gender questioning people in Sussex.

Peer support groups include:

Clare Project is a self supporting group based in Brighton and Hove open to anyone wishing to explore issues around gender identity.

FTMB is a group for transgender men, trans masculine people, genderqueer people, non-binary people, those assigned intersex and/or female at birth that that fit somewhere else on or off the spectrum or those who are questioning their gender identity.

Transformers (Allsorts) is a trans group for under 25s located in Brighton.

Support for victims of crime, people affected by transphobia or trans specific services in Sussex:

LGBT Switchboard provides services including a helpline listening service, face to face counselling, information and signposting.

MindOut provides services including trans advocacy.

RISE has a specialist service which supports all LGBT+ people affected by domestic abuse.

National groups

Galop is the leading LGBT+ anti-violence & abuse charity.

Gendered Intelligence is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, working predominantly with the trans community and those who impact on trans lives; particularly specialising in supporting young trans people aged 8-25.

GIRES is a volunteer operated membership charity that, in collaboration with the other groups in its field, hears, helps, empowers and gives a voice to trans and gender non-conforming individuals, including those who are non-binary and non-gender, as well as their families.

Equality and Human Rights Commission is Britain's national equality body. Their job is to help make Britain fairer. They do this by safeguarding and enforcing the laws that protect people’s rights to fairness, dignity and respect.

The police, your rights and the law

Galop the LGBT+ anti-violence charity provide more information on a variety of topics relating to the above.