A trans, Kent-based author has said the decision by the Reform UK-run county council to remove trans-focused books from the children’s sections of its libraries will have a “devastating” impact on trans young people and their loved ones.

Last week, Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to announce the removal of “trans material” from all children’s sections of libraries in Kent. 

Headed up by right-wing populist figure Nigel Farage, Reform was founded in 2018 as the Brexit Party and has since rebranded and made a name for itself because of its controversial anti-immigration policies and Eurosceptic stance. Unsurprisingly, Reform UK has a poor record when it comes to the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

Following a sweeping victory in May’s local elections, Reform took control of Kent County Council with 56 councillors, the Liberal Democrats being the second largest party at the local authority with 12 councillors.

“Another victory for #commonsenseinKent my brilliant cabinet member Cllr Paul Webb has just got this trans material REMOVED from the children’s sections of all Kent’s libraries,” the post shared by Kemkaran read.

“Telling children they’re in the ‘wrong body’ is wrong and simply unacceptable.” 

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