Why We Should Have More Open Conversations About Gender Identity
🏳️🌈 International Transgender Day of Visbility
💙 So today (31 March) is a day dedicated to celebrating the wonderful lives of transgender and non-binary people and raising awareness of the prejudice many people in this community face worldwide.
💓 NHS England estimates 1 in every 4,000 people suffer from gender dysphoria.
⚪ It’s something I’m increasingly learning more about and how to be a better ally. So many trans people face stigmatisation, alienation and discrimination on a daily basis and so many heartbreaking stories to count.
💓 Everyone should have the right to express their true selves without the fear of being rejected, ostracised from their community or even prosecuted for basic human rights just because of how they choose to express their gender.
💙 I think it’s so important to have transgender representation in the media and in our culture, whether you identify as trans, genderqueer, gender-fluid, gender-noncomforming, non-binary…
💓 Having a better understanding and more accurate depictions of trans lives can only mean a more inclusive & diverse place for everyone in our community. There is still a long way to go till more trans rights are recognised.
⚪ This is close to home for me and something I’m learning so much about every day. There are so many marginalised people in our society and just a little more understanding every day goes a long way till we have a more accepting & loving society to live in.
💓 I’ve recorded a short 5 min IGTV (see below or over on Instagram here) with some books on transgender, non-binary, queer & sexuality if you’re not sure where to start on this subject. Sometimes just having a conversation in a safe space can open up our minds.
💙 If you ever want to have an open conversation, I’m here to listen, learn & chat.
Books mentioned in the video plus a few extra resources to help you on where to start:
Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker & Jules Scheele
Life Isn’t Binary: On Being Both, Beyond, and In-Between by Meg-John Barker & Alex Iantaffi
In Their Shoes by Jamie Windust
Non-Binary Lives: An Anthology of Intersecting Identities edited by Jos Twist, Ben Vincent, Meg-John Barker & Kat Gupta
Queer Intentions : A (Personal) Journey Through LGBTQ + Culture by Amelia Abraham
Sexuality: A Graphic Novel by Meg-John Barker & Jules Scheele
Trans Like Me: A Journey for All of Us by C N Lester
Queer Sex: A Trans and Non-Binary Guide to Intimacy, Pleasure and Relationships by Juno Roche