Gemma Stone

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Gemma Stone is a transgender writer who has been covering the rise of transphobic hate campaigning in the UK. She has written hundreds of articles dissecting aspects of transphobia including debunking blatant disinformation. She is very tired and trying her best, and hopefully having a positive impact on such a beautiful community.
A big pile of books, stacked up to look like a brick wall.

JK Rowling not included on BBC reading list, like most other authors

Many have also remarked on the fact that the list describes itself as being there to promote books that "readers might not have read before". That includes Susheila Nasta, who worked on the project and spoke to BBC Radio 4 on the subject. She adds that the Philosopher's Stone was on the longlist of 153 books, but didn't make the final cut. With the reasoning for that being that "its a children's book".
Arts Council England logo. It is the words "arts council england" in a circle next to a tagline which reads "Supported using public funding by arts council england". All in black and white.

LGB Alliance granted funding by Arts Council England

LGB Alliance announced they had been awarded the grant from Arts Council England's #LetsCreate Jubilee Fund to make their film. The premiere is set for June 2022 but many in the LGBTQIA+ community have called the decision into question prompting a response from the grant-givers.
A photo of JK Rowling reading from The Philosopher's Stone at The White House in 2010

Where was JK Rowling during #BanConversionTherapy protests?

JK Rowling has begun trending on Twitter in the aftermath of the protest as trans people in particular remember that in June 2020 JK Rowling posted the following tweet; "I respect every trans person's right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I'd march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it's hateful to say so."
A photo from #BanConversionTherapy Downing Street Protest showing people holding a very long banner reading "protect trans kids".

#BanConversionTherapy Protest action begins!

The protest in London is at Downing Street, The protest in Belfast is at City Hall and The protest in Dublin is at British Embassy 29 Merrion Road. There is warning of high police presence at the Downing Street protest. I will update this list as any new information comes in.
A portrait of Boris Johnson wearing a blue tie, navy blue suit and a blurred out book case behind him.

Boris Johnson speaks on trans conversion therapy ban

Speaking to a Daily Mail report in Welwyn Garden City, Johnson said he was sad about the decision made by the LGBTQIA+ sector to boycott Government. He asserts his allyship, noting his involvement in passing the gay marriage bill and being enthused about flying pride flags over government buildings even in countries that don't share 'our values'. He did not comment on his infamously homophobic statements, such as "tank-topped bumboys".
A photo of the Palace of Westminster taken from across the river during the evening. There's a real beautiful contrast between the fiery oranges lighting up the walls of the palace and the peaceful blue sky above.

UK Government’s ‘Safe To Be Me’ cancelled

The need for queer solidarity really hit hard after the Government first announced it would not be banning conversion therapy at all. Then u-turned on that after backlash and subsequently announced it would ban it, but only for gay people. Meaning they would still allow people to attempt to torture the gender identity out of trans people.
A photo of Boris Johnson with some flags behind him.

Can a woman have a penis?

Specifically, it was viewed as such because it did not require any medical intervention. It respected bodily autonomy! You could and can still obtain a new birth certificate without ever desiring hormones and surgery. Sure, you are still subject to the intrusive Gender Recognition Panel's whims, about to be set back a bunch of cash you probably couldn't afford, gatekept by a crap healthcare system to hell and have no non-binary options at all. But theoretically, its totally possible to be a woman with a penis, by law.
A photo of Baroness Kishwer Falkner in a brown jacket against a grey gradient background

EHRC announce single-sex exemptions guidlines, they suck!

So far this language and the severity of the concept has helped to stave off attempts by transphobes to employ single-sex exemptions with a blanket approach. Meaning it can only be employed on a case-by-case basis and there must be a truly legitimate aim. However Kishwer Falkner's EHRC has been making moves to support transphobic groups who would like to see the exemptions employed more liberally.
A photo of JK Rowling reading from The Philosopher's Stone at The White House in 2010

JK Rowling claims she’s once again received a death threat

Taking to Twitter JK Rowling wrote: "I'm afraid I can't give a shout out to everyone promising to murder me - there are so many of you, and I'm a busy woman - but this one deserves a mention for the nineties rave vibe, @TrustFundOzu". I for one just wish she would post one that is a legitimate threat of violence and not like... some random child posting a bugs bunny meme.
A long exposure shot of a rocket being launched, the streak of light following its arc is visible due to the technique used to photograph it.

Post-Softlaunch Update

So we took the opportunity yesterday to have a little bit of Trans Day of Visibility just for us, as a treat. Trans Writes performed a soft-launch, just intended for people to know the site existed and to have an explore. There's still a lot of work we need to put in before we're ready to call the site fully open. Transgender people did not care a damn and just shouted "shut up and take my money!" at us instead, in an amazing outpouring of love and support for our little project.