I would like to respond to your editorial comment about transgender people (The Argus, January 19).

As a transgender person myself, I think it was good of The Argus to highlight the fact we deserve recognition, respect and full equality in the eyes of the law.

In Brighton and Hove, campaigners are at the forefront of making this a reality. My particular thanks go to MPs Dave Lepper and Celia Barlow for their efforts to provide legal protection for our community.

However, there is still a long way to go. I find it disturbing that, six years into the 21st Century, there are still those with bigoted views about transgender people.

Even here in Brighton and Hove, transgender people are still subject to ridicule and abuse. This must cease.

No one should be in any doubt we have the right to be treated as equal citizens. Most of us pay National Insurance and Council Tax so why should we be treated as second-class citizens or worse?

Therefore, I would like to see an equality bill which makes any kind of abuse or discrimination against transgender people a criminal offence. This should also cover lesbians, gays, bisexuals, ethnic and religious minorities and disabled people.

To this end, the police should be given training and the powers to crack down on abuse and discrimination. After all, most of us are Council Tax payers who help fund the police.

As the comment piece so rightly said: "There is no place in a modern democracy for outdated laws or ideas which fail to treat each citizen as a member of it."

-Michelle-Louise Lewis, Address supplied