Earlier this week, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of “woman” excludes transgender women, in a landmark ruling.
Following the decision, public figures from the U.K. made their stances known, including author J.K. Rowling, who unsurprisingly celebrated the ruling, given her known history of transphobia.
But other public figures, including “Bridgerton” stars Nicola Coughlan and Charithra Chandran took to social media to passionately support the trans community.
Chandran, who is known for her role as Edwina Sharma — the “diamond of the season” — in the second season of “Bridgerton,” made an emboldened speech in a TikTok video.
“I have never felt unsafe around a trans woman — ever. My womanhood has never felt threatened by a trans woman — ever,” she said directly to the camera. “And if your womanhood has, I think that speaks more to the fragility of your womanhood than anything about trans women.”
Chandran’s video currently has over 2.4 million likes and over 9.6 million views.
“How pathetic to target one of the most oppressed groups in our society?” she continued. “Honestly? Loser behavior.”
Her “Bridgerton” co-star, Nicola Coughlan, who stole the season three spotlight in her role as Penelope Featherington, also spoke up in support of trans women this week.
“Like many people, I am completely horrified by the Supreme Court’s ruling yesterday about trans people,” Coughlan said in an Instagram Reel.
“To see an already marginalized community being further attacked in law is really stomach-turning and disgusting. And to see people celebrate it is more stomach-turning and disgusting.”
As a response, she rallied her online following to donate to Not A Phase, a U.K.-based nonprofit that provides resources and peer support groups to trans people nationwide.
Coughlan pledged to match donations up to £10,000 (or approximately $13,000 USD). As of the publishing of this article, based on the fundraiser attached to her Instagram profile, supporters have donated over £78,000 (about $103,835 USD).
The caption of Coughlan’s video reads: “Allies of the trans and non-binary community, time to come together. F–ck the Supreme Court, f—ck the TERFs, let’s raise some money.”
This is not the first time Coughlan has supported the trans community — or even the nonprofit.
Last year, during Pride Month, the actress released a song called “Shoes… More Shoes” and donated all of the streaming proceeds to Not A Phase and The Trevor Project.
“If you are a cisgender person who is an ally of a trans person, I think now is the time to just sort of speak up,” she concluded in the video she posted this week.
“Make your voice heard,” Coughlan added, “and let your trans and non-binary friends — and just the community at large — know that you’re there for them, and that you’ll keep fighting for them.”
Header image courtesy of Netflix
