Activism

To me, the trans community is like a big bag of pick n’ mix – some are sweet, some are sour, some are soft, some are crunchy. We are strawberry laces and chocolate nougat and caramel buttons. Fruity gummy bears and rainbow Skittles. On days like Trans Pride London, surrounded by my family of trans candy; I felt as happy as a kid in a sweet shop.

The way the "41%" figure is used by transphobes is an attempt beat us down even further than they already do. But its just not what the data says. The data says that suicide isn't the inevitable out come of a transgender life, that you can and should fight for your survival because there is a light at the end of the tunnel and one day you will be free.

This isn't that article, this article is the one where we take Kellie-Jay's advice and we let women speak - but not just the women she personally approves of. I asked on Twitter - selection bias beware - for women to tell me what's important to them. You can find the full thread here and below you can find the first 100 responses.

I would prefer to centre desire and will when talking about transition. To me, transition is more than meeting a medical need, just like crossing the Rubicon was more than Caesar getting his feet wet. It’s taking your life in your hands and shaping it yourself. I think that’s beautiful. I didn’t transition to “alleviate my dysphoria,” I transitioned because I fucking wanted to. Who is the state, or a doctor, to tell me I can’t? 

I am writing to complain about the article originally headlined; "We are being pressured into sex by some trans women". In this letter I intend to set out what my issues with the piece were and how the 'solutions' offered by the BBC's ECU have not at all addressed that problem. The outcome I am searching for is a full retraction and apology for the piece. In my opinion this article does not mean journalistic standards and serves only to elevate gossip of known anti-trans agitators to a position it simply does not belong.

Trans Action Warwick regard this protest as a success. They say they achieved their aim of disrupting the event, using it to make a statement that we need to oppose transphobia and those who weaponise it against us. They believe we can’t gain liberation by attending and asking "difficult questions" alone and that doing so risks legitimising the answers and normalising the negative way transphobes talk about trans people.

As Arlene Foster, former Northern Ireland first minister, was made a Dame in the Queen's latest honours list, it reminded me of a speech...

My personal, Gemma Stone, opinion on this is that we should escalate it as far as it will go; and then keep on complaining if we have to. It seems like a minor thing, one article about us portraying us as sexually violent - but its more than that. In my opinion a victory here is getting the article taken down and sending the message to the BBC that what they did was dangerous, harmful and will not be tolerated.

As it stands, the government have made the UK unsafe for anyone to be themselves. Due to this, Trans Activism UK will be protesting at Parliament Square on Wednesday 29th of June at 12PM. Join us."

Around the world transgender people face discrimination, prejudice, harassment, abuse, sexual violence and even attempts on our lives. The transphobic moral panic coming out of English speaking countries is only ramping tensions up and making things more unsafe for those in coutnries that were already not safe. Internationally, transgender people are in danger and I for one welcome this initiative to help people escape that wherever possible.