A SOUTHAMPTON Transgender charity has slammed a brand new "LGB" group which excludes trans people.

London based group, LGB Alliance, has been set up for people who are lesbian, gay and bisexual - but not trans and is being criticised by thousands of people online.

In a tweet, lawyer Allison Bailey of Garden Court Chambers said: "This is an historic moment for the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual. LGB Alliance movement launched in London tonight, and we mean business. Spread the word, gender extremism is about to meet its match."

Now, Chrysalis, a charity tackling transgender isolation, has joined thousands of people online who describe the new group as "transphobic" and "disgusting".

Andi Maratos, CEO of Chrysalis, said: "Any organisation that purports to support those of diverse sexualities yet which excludes those of trans and questioning gender identities actively conflates sexuality with gender identity since it ignores the obvious fact that trans people can be lesbians, gays, bisexual, straight, asexual or any other sexuality.

"Deliberate exclusion of trans people harms both those excluded but also their loved ones.

"Chrysalis sees first hand the impact of social exclusion, of how few spaces currently feel safe for trans and questioning people and would question the aims of any organisation which is set up to create an othering, a division where none needs to exist."

The LGB Alliance group will be formally launched in January 2020 to “counteract the confusion between sex and gender which is now widespread in the public sector and elsewhere”.

Andi added: "The response on line from the actual LGBTQ+ community will hopefully show this organisation that the exclusion of trans people is not, and will not be, acceptable and Chrysalis would like to thank every single ally who spoke up for trans people."

Katie Harris, co-founder of LGB Alliance, said: "We are pro LGB we are not anti-trans.

"We had a pre-launch to promote LGB rights, respect freedom of speech and to work towards every child growing up without being told they may have been born in the wrong body. In answer to anti transgender comments, they probably do not know anything about us which is not surprising as we do not exist officially yet.

"I would encourage Chrysalis or anyone to visit our Just Giving page to find out more about us.

"We are not a hate group."