AN ACTIVIST and ‘part-time bearded lady’ who was suspended by his political party has said he was trying to raise awareness of a divisive issue.

David Lewis, pictured, from Basingstoke, went viral last week after he planned to stand in his Constituency Labour Party (CLP) as women’s officer, claiming that he identified himself as female on Wednesdays.

This week, David said he wanted to get a conversation going around the issue of self-identification of gender.

The 45-year-old said that he sincerely identifies as a woman on Wednesdays, from the moment he wakes up to when he sleeps.

Speaking to The Gazette yesterday, he said: “I always felt that there was something more to my identity than just being a man, even if that is just for one day where I can explore that more feminine side of myself.

“When the position of women’s officer became available, it was something that I was interested in and I thought it would be a good platform to get people talking about this issue.

“I thought I could use my self-identification as a way to get people talking about something that they don’t really know much about and should be talking more about.”

Currently, people wanting their acquired gender to be legally recognised in the UK must apply to the government by obtaining a gender recognition certificate, which requires a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and proof of living with the acquired gender for two years.

However, the government is looking to introduce an amendment to the law which would allow transgender people to self-declare, whereas currently to legally change sex it is on the basis of two medical reports.

David’s actions have been condemned as anti-trans in some quarters, with him being suspended the party.

However, he added: “With how things are at the moment, those who find themselves in the position of having to prove their gender, it can be extremely humiliating for someone to have to provide some form of qualification to say they identify as a man or a woman.

“I thought some people would react to what I was saying, and when it started to get some traction on the internet I thought ‘oh no, Labour aren’t going to be happy’ but I was surprised with the way they dealt with the suspension.”

Despite the reaction, David says his aim with standing for the role served its purpose.

He added: “It has brought the issue of self-identification into focus a lot more and that was my initial aim.”

“We must be talking about this issue and now people are.”

The reason given for David’s suspension from Labour was for subverting the intention of all-women shortlists and the party’s selection procedures.

A statement issued to several media outlets by the Labour Party said: “The Labour Party is committed to upholding the principle of affirmative action for women.

“Anyone attempting to breach Labour Party rules and subvert the intention of all-women shortlists, women’s officers or minimum quotas for women will be dealt with via our established safeguards, selection procedures and disciplinary measures.”