“It is through sharing those stories that we will be able to humanise transgender people once and for all”
BY DIVA STAFF, IMAGE BY PAUL GRACE
Trans activist, screenwriter, and director Jake Graf joined TV presenter and queer ally Anna Richardson for an especially important episode of the hit podcast It Can’t Just Be Me on Wednesday (28 February). Joining Sarah Tayler and queer psychotherapist Chris Sheridan, the episode focused on how we can stop young trans people today feeling the same level of shame as previous generations and ultimately create a more accepting society for the future.
Anna Richardson has always been at the heart of British broadcasting and TV, but has swapped studios for podcast booths with the second series of her show It Can’t Just Be Me. Ready to solve the big dilemmas in life, Anna has used her podcast to platform the LGBTQIA community time and time again.
Sharing stories from his childhood as well as his own experience being a parent, Jake spoke about the necessity of listening to young trans+ children.
“It is honestly terrifying at the moment and I think it’s not the ignorance that there was back then,” he told Anna in the episode. “Now it’s misinformation, it’s lies, it’s fear-mongering, it’s hate-mongering, fed to us by the media, fed to us by the newspapers, and fed to us, unfortunately, largely by our government, who genuinely, I believe, have blood on their hands.”
As Anna noted in the episode, this conversation is especially vital due to the 11% increase in hate crimes in the UK against trans people between 2022 and 2023 according to the Home Office. It has never been more crucial that we give the trans community a voice.
Jake told DIVA: “I’ve known Anna for several years and have always admired her outspoken support for the LGBTQ community, so it was a huge pleasure being invited onto her It Can’t Just Be Me podcast.”
He continued: “As the media continues to vilify and spread lies about the transgender community, it is immensely appreciated when allies like Anna are willing to share their platform to help redress the balance and allow trans folks like myself and fellow guest Sarah Tayler to speak about their lived experiences. It is through sharing those stories that we will be able to humanise transgender people once and for all.”
Listen to Jake’s episode now:
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