“We stand with trans, non-binary and gender diverse young people today and every day”
BY LAURA MACKAY, CEO OF JUST LIKE US, THE LGBT+ YOUNG PEOPLE’S CHARITY
The LGBTQIA community is scared right now. Over the last few years, we’ve seen the trans members of our community facing increasing levels of vitriol and toxic misinformation online, from the media and from politicians.
Most recently, we’ve seen the UK Supreme Court vote to exclude trans women from the definition of the word “woman” in the Equality Act 2010, and the UK sliding even further down ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map ranking. The ranking reflects commitment to protecting LGBTQIA rights, and just over a decade ago, the UK held first place. We now sit at 22nd.
At Just Like Us, we work with LGBTQIA young people, schools and teachers every day. We listen to their fears and their hopes for the future, and navigating this time together can feel difficult and heavy. Although we don’t yet know what the future holds or how our lives and work will be impacted, when the validity of our identities is questioned, it can feel incredibly daunting and uncertain.
However, it can feel even harder when it is suggested that transphobia protects cisgender women and lesbians. As a lesbian leading a UK-wide charity that works with the entire spectrum of the LGBTQIA community, I can categorically say that this narrative is false.
Our research shows that of all LGBTQIA identities, cisgender lesbians are most likely to say they are “supportive” or “very supportive” of trans people (96%). We know that in our community, when harm comes to some of us, harm comes to all of us.
As a woman with short hair and stereotypically masculine attire, I have always felt a level of anxiety in customer-facing environments or gendered spaces. I am frequently misgendered in public because our society still insists on using gendered language as an odd form of politeness; told I am in the wrong toilet or sent to the male security guard at the airport. These are only a few examples of daily microaggressions that chip away at my confidence.
Sometimes I just shrink away and say nothing, sometimes I have the energy to challenge and educate, sometimes expletives follow which implicates me as the aggressor. Now, I am all too aware of how people may feel emboldened by the current rhetoric to challenge who I am. I also know that for my trans siblings, these situations not only invalidate who they are, but pose a threat to their safety. How is it possible that this is getting worse rather than better?
On IDAHOBIT, we raise awareness of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia because all of these forms of discrimination are linked. If we are to tackle one, we must tackle them all.
For those within the LGBTQIA community, this means refusing to allow fear or misinformation to divide us. It means amplifying trans voices, calling out transphobia even when it’s uncomfortable, and remembering that allyship is rooted in solidarity, and solidarity is our strength.
For our allies, this means standing up for the entire LGBTQIA community, proudly, visibly and urgently. For those with trans young people in their lives, including teachers, parents and carers, ensuring they know that they have a supportive and protective community around them is vital.
So to any LGBTQIA person feeling scared, to any trans or gender diverse person fearing hatred from your own community, know that the overwhelming majority of us support you exactly as you are.
At Just Like Us, we stand with trans, non-binary and gender diverse young people today and every day, and we will never stop working to make sure all LGBTQIA young people are able to thrive.
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