In conversation with Roz Kaveney, Sabah Choudry and Jude Guaitamacchi
BY NANCY KELLEY, IMAGES PROVIDED
So much of the first-ever Trans+ History Week was magical, but my personal highlight was chairing a panel discussion with Roz Kaveney, Gay Liberation Front original, human rights activist, author and poet (yes, all of those things, and all of them brilliantly), Sabah Choudry, founder of Brighton Trans Pride, author, youth worker and co-chair of the Inclusive Mosque Initiative, and Jude Guaitamacchi, co-founder of #LWithTheT, #TransPeopleAreLoved and founder/director of Trans Solidity Alliance.
Exploring the question of how the trans+ community moves forward in winning recognition of their rights, the panel’s insights ranged from the need for solidarity, to movement cycles, burnout and self-care.
Roz spoke powerfully about the need to demonstrate generosity and solidarity in activism – recognising that our struggles are interconnected and also that oppression itself comes in waves. “Clause 28 activism, anti-censorship activism – everything is the same thing and it’s absolutely important to remember that. Always show up, and when it’s not your cause, show up and shut up!”
Jude spoke about building projects that unlock solidarity, reflecting on their experience of helping create #LWithTheT as a platform for cis lesbians to demonstrate their support for trans people. “There is real power in galvanising allies’ support, and we need it! We make up less than 1% of the population, and we need our allies if we’re going to see change.”
Sabah spoke about movement cycles and the ebb and flow of social change making – reflecting on trans+ activism and founding Trans Pride Brighton, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement and more. “The cycle involves a contraction phase, where we go to rest, to take some time to reflect. Most importantly, that’s where the growth happens because we don’t return to the same movement – we shouldn’t return to the same movement.”
Roz talked about decades of living and working through movement cycles, and Jude about the tensions within movements, when differences in approach can couple with external pressures to tear projects and even movements apart.
Running through their whole conversation like a ribbon was a powerful recognition of what activism asks of and takes from the trans+ community, particularly today as we live through transphobic moral panic. Sabah spoke about being a reluctant activist: “I don’t want to have to create these spaces and keep talking and writing and showing why it’s important for trans+ people of colour to be safe and recognised.”
Jude recognised “the sheer amount of personal labour – emotional labour, physical labour, financial labour… trying to keep up, trying to get people to care as much as we do.” Roz reminded us that “there are always more people” who can take up the fight, and that trans+ people are amazing, and deserve to live their freest, most joyful lives.
Full of compassion and fire, I wish you all could have been with us to hear these trailblazing trans+ activists in conversation. I’ll leave the last words where they belong – with Roz: “One of the most important things is not to be afraid. If you are afraid, you will silence yourself.”
Roz Kaveney’s latest poetry collection The Great Good Time and Sabah Choudry’s book Supporting Trans People Of Colour: How to Make Your Practice Inclusive are available from all good bookstores. You can support Jude’s Pride Month campaign TransIsHuman here.
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